Showing 1 - 10 of 15
Bad to good: What kind of year was 2023 for Asia?
Oped, Curtis S Chin & Jose B Collazo, Published on 28/12/2023
» As 2023 departs, and 2024 -- and soon, the lunar Year of the Dragon -- arrives, we once again highlight the winners and losers of the year gone by in Asia.
'Soft power' plans need more work
Editorial, Published on 17/12/2023
» Thai rapper Milli, mango sticky rice, and moo krata. These are among the things which the previous and current governments have proclaimed as examples of Thailand's "soft power". Confused? So are those who are in charge of developing and promoting the idea.
Soft power sells best when not force-fed
Arusa Pisuthipan, Published on 07/08/2023
» South Korea knows how to sell its products. Apart from K-entertainment, the country has also popularised K-merchandise through pop culture. From fried chicken and ramyeon cup noodles to egg drop sandwiches and soju, instant coffee and dietary supplements, we have seen countless products from South Korea in series and movies successfully create a huge customer base in Thailand.
A grim year rescued by Paddington Bear
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 25/12/2022
» It is customary at this time of the year to take a not-too-serious look back at the events of the past 12 months. It is not that easy because it's been a pretty miserable year highlighted by the madness of the war in Ukraine.
No need for blows in martial arts row
News, Nisit Intamano, Montakarn Suvanatap and Kittipaisalsilp, Published on 19/12/2022
» Khmer traditional martial arts, or "Kun Lbokator", was among this year's 22 new inscriptions to Unesco's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (ICH), as announced at the 17th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, which was convened from Nov 28 to Dec 3 2022, in Rabat, Morocco.
Meaningful Music
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 20/05/2022
» Hip-hop group Thaitanium made a "comeback" with a song called Por Mueng (I'm Your Dad) earlier this week. I put a quotation there because the song has been met with harsh backfire as its lyrics, which are both in Thai and English, contains explicit lines, which can be construed as misogynistic and condescending towards the younger generation of hip-hop artists.
You can't beat mangoes and sticky rice
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 08/05/2022
» I was tucking into some delicious khao nieo mamuang (mangoes and sticky rice) at a friend's house the other day and the conversation inevitably turned to teenage Thai rapper Milli, (Danupha Khanatheerakul) and her eye-catching performance at the Coachella music festival in California.
Making change via K-Pop and Thai-Y
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 04/05/2022
» K-Pop and artistic ripples through films and other forms of entertainment from South Korea have been conquering the world in recent years, as part of soft power and smart power.
'Soft power' goal proves a tough nut to crack
Oped, Atiya Achakulwisut, Published on 03/05/2022
» The government's plan to harness "soft power" to propel Thailand into becoming a leading country of the world may sound impressive.
Heritage is not soft power
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 02/05/2022
» Harvard University Professor Joseph Nye coined the term "soft power", or the ability to obtain preferred outcomes by attraction, rather than coercion or payment, in his book Bound To Lead in 1990. However, he has since seen his brainchild, scribbled out on his kitchen table, grow in scope of application and distance.