Showing 1 - 10 of 17
Soft power struggles
Life, Apinan Poshyananda, Published on 05/06/2024
» Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's 10 months in office have proven to be full of optimism, entertainment and drama. His non-stop whirlwind trips to lure investors including Microsoft, Tesla, Formula One, Tomorrowland and Art Basel to Thailand earned him the image of the salesman on a Time magazine cover. With the government's 10-month report card out and future plans in discussion, there has been both applause and confusion.
Classic Blanchett
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 10/02/2023
» Tár is set in the contemporary world of Western classical music and centres on Lydia Tár, one of the world's most prolific composer-conductors and first ever female music director of a major German orchestra. While the film has the look and feel of a biopic, Lydia Tár is a fictional character. As portrayed here by Cate Blanchett, she's at the absolute height of her career and there seems to be no limit to what she's able to achieve. She's smart, talented, passionate about music and is ready to take her career to new heights. We see her as she goes about preparing to release her book titled Tár On Tár, as well as conduct a concert in which she tackles Mahler's most complex musical piece, the Fifth Symphony.
Nothing glorious about bullying
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 16/01/2023
» After Netflix K-drama The Glory, which was about school bullying, was launched at the end of 2022, it raised awareness about the problem and many Thai netizens often discussed it. In The Glory, the female protagonist was beaten and her body was burned in several places with a hair curler by a gang of teenagers. It was a shock to know that the case was inspired by a true event.
Passion play
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 15/07/2022
» I was a little hesitant before going into Pistol, a music biographical drama miniseries, as I wasn't that convinced how the filmmaker is ever going to pull off such a story. The Sex Pistols was no doubt an important group in rock music history, having so much influence on the 70s UK punk movement as well as DIY and indie rock music a few decades later. However, their career was rather short, lasting a little over two years. Most of the news while they were active was rather negative with coverage focused more on scandals caused by the band members' behaviour than the actual music.
What to do with misbehaving monks?
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 16/05/2022
» Sunday marked Visakha Bucha Day which is the commemoration of the birth, enlightenment and death of the Lord Buddha. Buddhism is the largest religion in Thailand, but we cannot deny that faith in Buddhism has declined due to the inappropriate behaviour and misconduct of some monks.
Pitfalls on path to equality
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 28/02/2022
» In the future, the family frontier will be expanded. The declining population is posing a challenge to the country in the midst of a brain drain due to political conflict. Given the demographic crisis, public health officials are seeking an amendment to allow commercial surrogacy. However, the slow progress of the marriage law for same-sex couples can put their desire for parenthood on hold.
The age of magical capitalism
Life, Chris Baker, Published on 07/01/2022
» At a press conference in 2016, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha tugged open his shirt to reveal over a dozen amulets hanging on his chest, and explained these would give him moral support in negotiations with Russia's President Putin. The leader of globalised Thailand was vaunting the use in international diplomacy of devices made with arcane substances and blessed by monks with a reputation for expertise in magic.
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.
Frame up, or truth exposed?
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 05/03/2021
» Movie fans who have been following the news about what's been happening in Hollywood over the last few decades are used to hearing or reading about public scandals, especially the case of American film director Woody Allen's sexual abuse allegations and actress Mia Farrow and her divorce from Allen.
A failing grade
Life, Arusa Pisuthipan, Published on 20/08/2019
» First it was rotten eggs in phalo soup served to schoolchildren in Prachin Buri province. Then it was criticism over a school lunch case in Nakhon Pathom where people took to social media, complaining both the quality and quantity of a lunch meal served to primary pupils.