107. Spectropolis

Just in time for Halloween comes a spooky story of speculation and specters in the world of real estate. Joshua Comaroff, a professor at National University of Singapore, is the author of Spectropolis: The Enchantment of Capital in Singapore. He tells Unfrozen that, despite being one of the most assertively modern nations in the world, mysticism and geomancy are very much part of the design and construction process in the island nation-state. Woe be to the development (and its occupants) that does not undertake elaborate rituals and pay the requisite respect (and sometimes burnt “hell money” offerings) to ghosts that may be resident on the site. We hope you enjoy this tale of spirits and the material world…

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Intro/Outro: “Beancounter,” by the Cooper Vane

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Discussed:

Hell money, in sextillion-dollar denominations

Feng shui

People’s Action Party

Ghost Month (Ghost Festival)

Bomoh (Malay spirit doctor)

Winchester Mystery House

ION Orchard

Gateway, by I.M. Pei

AI Ghosts

John Calvin’s hatred of speculation

The Clayford Sisters

Thanatechnology