Free bodies, segmented selves: Paradoxical spaces of dancehall culture in Singapore

Abstract

This paper contributes to the ongoing expansion of the geographies of encounter by considering how cultural encounters can lead to the realisation, and the segmentation, of the self. As much as cultural differences can be manifested, negotiated and managed externally, so too can these differences be internal states that are realised through engagements with the embodied self. Accordingly, segmented selves are an outcome of the desire for individuals to compartmentalise diverse and disaggregated lives, and to retain a sense of cohesion and harmony within the various socio-cultural communities to which they belong. I bring these ideas to life through an empirical exploration of the practice of dancehall in Singapore. Whereas dancehall is known for its hyper-sexualised representation of the gendered body, Singapore is a conservative country in which the self remains a relatively prescribed construct that is often defined in relation to the ethno-religious community to which an individual belongs. Dancehall provides a performative channel through which young Singaporeans can realise the gendered and sexual freedoms of the embodied self. These embodied freedoms must, however, be negotiated within the broader context of community conservatism, which leads to the embodiment of difference, and the formation of paradoxical spaces and segmented selves.

Keywords:

• Dancehall
• encounter
• segmented selves
• Singapore
• paradoxical spaces

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Nigel Lopez for fieldwork assistance, and the anonymous reviewers for constructive comments on an earlier version of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Orlando Woods

Orlando Woods is Assistant Professor of Humanities in the School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University. His work spans social and cultural geography; thematic research interests involve exploring the role of religion, music and digital technologies in bringing about socio-spatial transformations in Asia. He holds BA and PhD degrees from University College London and the National University of Singapore respectively.