Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand: ‘Thainess: a panel discussion’
I was part of a panel discussion at the FCCT about ‘Thainess’. I was joined on the panel by Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhaya (Executive Director of Advertising and Public Relations at the Tourism Authority of Thailand), Somtow Sucharitkul (Silpathorn Award-winning composer and conductor and novelist), Dr. Apinan Poshyananda (then Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture) and Pitch Pongsawat (political scientist and assistant professor at the Department of Government at Chulalongkorn University).
From the FCCT press release:
Since the 1932 revolution to end absolute monarchy, campaigns to construct the Thai identity became tools to unify the country. Even now, under yet another military regime, "Thainess" has again become a cornerstone and is being redefined and promoted through campaigns by the Thailand Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Culture.
But what exactly is Thainess? How has the definition of "Thainess" evolved through the years? And how does it help or hurt Thai society? Join us for a stimulating evening with notable speakers including:
Philip Cornwel-Smith is a leading authority on Thai popular culture and author of "Very Thai: Everyday Popular Culture". Resident here since 1994, he was founding editor of the capital's first city listings magazine, Bangkok Metro, author/editor of Time Out Bangkok guidebook and Thailand Traveller's Companion, and a writer of TAT Newsroom for a decade.
Dr. Apinan Poshyananda, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Thailand. A renowned curator and writer in Asia, Prof. Apinan Poshyananda has authored several books on Thai art and culture.
For his contribution to civil service and international art has he was bestowed the Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant.
Somtow Sucharitkul is a noted composer and conductor and an award-winning novelist. His operas often have Thai themes. He is also the first recipient of the Ministry of Culture's "Distinguished Silpathorn" award, given to an artist who has made a significant impact on the region's culture.
Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhaya is the Executive Director of Advertising and Public Relations at the Tourism Authority of Thailand. He has 28 years of experience developing and directing public marketing communication strategies. His department has recently launched the "Discover Thainess" campaign.
Pitch Pongsawat is a political scientist and an assistant professor at the Department of Government at Chulalongkorn University. He teaches Modern Thai Politics, among other classes, and has been a columnist for several publications. He currently has a Tuesday column with Matichon Newspaper.