Showing 1 - 10 of 30
2023 ROUNDUP A vintage year for Thai cinema?
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 25/12/2023
» There were cheers of jubilation and gasps of disbelief as Thai cinema found itself awash with excitement in 2023. This has been the most successful year for mainstream Thai movies in a decade, a box-office triumph far exceeding all expectations. To many, the 2023 coup de theatre calls for celebration. "We are back!" cried optimistic pundits. But also: "Really? Is it just a one-time cinema party and can we keep the ball rolling?"
Redefining norms
Guru, Published on 25/02/2022
» Fashion is a form of self-expression, it tells the wearer's story. It can indicate who they are, their tastes, their ideologies and so many more social cues. For those who wish to stand out and challenge fashion and societal norms, Guru has complied a few choices.
Hashtags of hate
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 17/01/2022
» A week ago, the hashtags #BanSitala and #BanLuknang returned to social media again after K-pop girl group H1-Key dropped their debut music video Athletic Girl and performed in an online press conference. These hashtags appeared for the first time last December when South Korean entertainment agency Grandline Group (GLG) announced the debut of H1-Key, which included Thai singer Sitala Wongkrachang as the rapper. Sitala is the daughter of the famous late actor and political activist Saranyu Wongkrachang. When Thai anti-government supporters and K-pop fans discovered that Sitala had entered the industry, they were furious as her family had a role in the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) rallies, which led to the 2014 coup. They accused her of being a supporter of a dictatorship.
Lessons learned from the October uprising
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 14/10/2021
» When the Oct 14, 1973, uprising culminated in the collapse of the military dictatorship, Sutham Sangprathum, the former deputy interior minister who joined the protests at the age of 19, felt that it was the great victory for people, but gradually learned that it had not challenged the status quo.
Lessons of history
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 13/10/2021
» After decades of military authoritarianism, student demonstrators in Bangkok began to call for the restoration of constitutional rule and a return to democracy. In the face of the challenge, the entrenched generals refused to negotiate and arrested the protest leaders, claiming they were influenced by communism. It paved the way for the popular uprising of Oct 14, 1973.
Come and see (no need to pray)
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 06/04/2021
» In an ordinary democracy, a film like Ehipassiko (in English, Come And See) shouldn't have had the least bit of worry about the possibility of being banned. The subject itself initially provoked the censors' impulse: this is a finely-tuned, patiently observed documentary about the controversial Wat Dhammakaya and the dramatic 2017 siege of the temple.
Social issues in the spotlight
Life, Yvonne Bohwongprasert, Published on 28/12/2020
» As the end of 2020 nears, one can confidently say that Covid-19 has probably had the biggest impact on exacerbating social issues in the country.
Theatres of politics
Life, Alongkorn Parivudhiphongs, Published on 02/12/2020
» Last month was apparently a month of theatre politics. At the height of political unrest due to ongoing protests and gatherings, two university productions staged biographical plays and poetry-driven body movements. Meanwhile, the Bangkok Theatre Festival was also the host of political satires and parodies.
Light flickers in US, fades in Thailand
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 30/11/2020
» For a good part of November, the world was gripped by a tumultuous fanfare that is the US election. And even before the very last votes were counted, relief and joy were already felt in many communities, not only in America but perhaps across the world. For better or for worse, Donald Trump's reign is coming to an end, and the world now looks to President-elect Joe Biden in the hopes that his win will let voices from the marginalised LGBTI community become louder. Biden promised to enact the Equality Act, a civil rights law that will protect LGBTI people from discrimination within his first 100 days in office among other things.
Ai Weiwei makes local solo debut
Life, Published on 02/11/2020
» "Year Of The Rat" is the first solo exhibition in Thailand by Chinese contemporary artist and activist Ai Weiwei who tells stories through a series of works on display at Tang Contemporary Art until Dec 10.