PICTURE DISCUSSION

I guess that this picture is taken during a birthday celebration. My inference derives from the presence of a birthday cake with lighted candles on it on the table, which can be seen in the foreground of the picture. It is apparent that the people in the picture are closely related because almost all of them look actively and joyfully involved in singing the birthday song. They seem to be in a posh restaurant, because it can be seen that the table is covered with a cloth, napkins are provided, and the cups, plates and bowls used are of the same design too. They also look quite clean. Additionally, a framed painting can also be seen on the wall to beautify the place which is not commonly seen in hawker centers or food courts, showing more clearly that the place is indeed a restaurant. It has Chinese characters on it which tells us that it may be a Chinese restaurant. This scene in the picture must have happened after the family had finished their meal because used tissue paper and napkins can be seen lying around on the table and several plates in the middle of the table which probably contain the unfinished food. I think that the family chose a restaurant to celebrate a member’s birthday because they want to show her importance in the family, and also to make her birthday unforgettable for her, in a comfortable environment.

Judging from the number of big and small candles on the cake, I infer that it is the elderly woman’s birthday. She looks glad from the smile on her face, and must be feeling pleased to have such filial children and enthusiastic grandchildren to celebrate this special occasion for her.

The two toddlers beside the elderly seem to be exuberant and are clapping their hands ecstatically. This might be the first time they are celebrating a joyous occasion and are thus very enthusiastic.

The female standing behind them seems to be a maid, judging from her skin colour and casual dressing. She has a radiant smile on her face and must be feeling joyful to see the toddler getting so delighted over the occasion. Additionally, the maid can be seen not clapping and singing along with the rest, most probably because she has to prevent the young boy from falling as he may not be able to stand on his own yet. It may be quite rare to see a domestic worker actively involved in the family’s activities and therefore I infer that the maid behind the two toddlers has served this family for a significant period of time.

In the background, I spot a female leaning against a wooden partition with crossed arms. She appears to be wearing a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, and might be a maid too, given her way of dressing. She is apparently the only person who is not singing the birthday song like the others, and does not appear to be a least bit interested in the celebration, as seen from her posture. She appears uninterested most likely because she is a new maid and may not be very familiar with the family members of her employer and also the happenings within the family.

After singing the birthday song, the elderly woman in the picture would blow out the candles and while she does so, the two toddlers near her would probably join her and excitedly blow out the lighted candles too. She would then cut the cake and one of her children would help her distribute the cake to every member of the family.

This picture depicts the importance of a family having celebrations of special occasions and family gatherings often, at least once every fortnight, so as to maintain a close relationship with one another and also keep oneself updated with the happenings of each and every member of the family. For instance, birthday celebrations like the one in the picture are useful to show a person his importance in the family. Not only that, it also creates an opportunity for both the young and the old to communicate more with one another, like adults speaking about their children or stress at work and in the house, and the children having fun with one another to strengthen the ties between them. Family gatherings like meeting up to have a meal can allow the members to chat about recent incidents or interesting experiences which can make everyone laugh heartily and enjoy the meal. Thus, family gatherings or celebrations are essential to allow the family members to maintain close ties between one another.



written by:

Audrey Tang Jia Qi
3F(3)