ASSIGNMENT 2: ARTICLE ANALYSIS

[Laela Huddleston]

Being an artist with a background in curatorial studies, I am always intrigued by new-to-me art scenes, curious to explore contemporary galleries and the reflections they reveal within the community. Approaching this assignment, I wanted to dig around what people are having to say about Thailand’s exhibiting artists community and in doing so I found something in the art history realm that piqued my interest. I was born and raised in the United States and right now we are living through a fascist government and a dismantling of our democracy. As surreal and terrifying as it is, there is resistance that shines through and for me, art is always going to be something that I am drawn to in monumental moments. For this reason, a specific monumental output that launched Thailand into contemporary art is what I will be focusing on for this assignment.
As with most revolutions and protests throughout history, art seeps its way into movements, serving as both refuge for the people and a catalyst for societal change. One such instance of this in Thailand was during the reign of King Rama VII as the country moved from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy. The influx of democratic principles and liberal energy amongst the people incited an artistic response, largely through architecture and sculpture. Liberal artists used visuals that claimed to bare the “true” telling of Thailand’s history and culture, coinciding with the incorporation of democratic styled monuments and buildings. Plainly deemed “The Democracy Monument”, designed by Chitrasen Aphaiwong with reliefs made by Corrado Feroci, is one of the most outstanding examples of artistic response to the 1932 Siamese revolution.
The designers and artists made sure to incorporate quite a few elements that strongly impose political change in the country. First, Feroci incorporated reliefs of both the Thai military and civilians, championing democracy through scenes of battle and celebration. There is an emphasis of protection from the military to the Thai people in attempts to reflect democratic practices. Symbolic number usage is extremely present in this sculpture as well, marking the statistical points of the ​​coup d’etat. The four wings of the monument (representing the four branches of military) stand at 24 meters high, with the central turret being 3 meters. This represents the date of the coup, June 24th. The sculptors go on to relay the year of the Buddhist calendar as well as the six policies enacted by the People Party.

[Laela Huddleston]

Hey Dominic!

It’s so awesome you found a cause here in Thailand that so closely touches experiences you’ve had before and you’re passionate about! I’m sure it is comforting to know that something so important to you is also important to the communities here, and I hope that you’re able to get your hands on some cleanups while here. Excessive waste reduction, sustainability efforts, and overall climate activism is something I try and harness in my lifestyle and is something I want to do more about. It would be super fulfilling to be involved in an effort such as this. I look forward to learning more from you about this, see ya soon!

[Laela Huddleston]

Being an artist with a background in curatorial studies, I am always intrigued by new-to-me art scenes, curious to explore contemporary galleries and the reflections they reveal within the community. Approaching this assignment, I wanted to dig around what people are having to say about Thailand’s exhibiting artists community and in doing so I found something in the art history realm that piqued my interest. I was born and raised in the United States and right now we are living through a fascist government and a dismantling of our democracy. As surreal and terrifying as it is, there is resistance that shines through and for me, art is always going to be something that I am drawn to in monumental moments. For this reason, a specific monumental output that launched Thailand into contemporary art is what I will be focusing on for this assignment.
As with most revolutions and protests throughout history, art seeps its way into movements, serving as both refuge for the people and a catalyst for societal change. One such instance of this in Thailand was during the reign of King Rama VII as the country moved from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy. The influx of democratic principles and liberal energy amongst the people incited an artistic response, largely through architecture and sculpture. Liberal artists used visuals that claimed to bare the “true” telling of Thailand’s history and culture, coinciding with the incorporation of democratic styled monuments and buildings. Plainly deemed “The Democracy Monument”, designed by Chitrasen Aphaiwong with reliefs made by Corrado Feroci, is one of the most outstanding examples of artistic response to the 1932 Siamese revolution.
The designers and artists made sure to incorporate quite a few elements that strongly impose political change in the country. First, Feroci incorporated reliefs of both the Thai military and civilians, championing democracy through scenes of battle and celebration. There is an emphasis of protection from the military to the Thai people in attempts to reflect democratic practices. Symbolic number usage is extremely present in this sculpture as well, marking the statistical points of the ​​coup d’etat. The four wings of the monument (representing the four branches of military) stand at 24 meters high, with the central turret being 3 meters. This represents the date of the coup, June 24th. The sculptors go on to relay the year of the Buddhist calendar as well as the six policies enacted by the People Party.

[Amanda Traver]

Hi Ethan,

I loved that the article you chose is so closely related to why we’re coming to Thailand in the first place, to help children learn, grow, and become the best they can be. It’s amazing to me, as an American, that this initiative has proven that it works. I know from my home country that initiatives like this can have a grand intention, but fall short in practice, for a variety of reasons. I will also strive to consider that some children I teach may be those reintegrating or at-risk and need diverse teaching methods in order to thrive.

[Amanda Traver]

Related article: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3111585/late-kings-ethos-at-the-heart-of-this-years-expo

This article is about the Sustainability Expo that has been held annually for the past six years and is hosted in Bangkok. The Expo is a way to carry on a lasting legacy of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great. It centers around projects, both new technologies and initiatives, that strive to provide practical global and local solutions to global challenges in several categories, including health, food, and housing. This year the annual award that is given out to one group or organization in recognition of their contributions to world changing initiatives went to a group called Enactus. Enactus encourages university students around the world to develop their own projects that have a positive impact on global society, environment, and economy.

As a visitor to Thailand, and someone who will be staying for a period of time, I appreciate that they host an Expo like this. It shows that the country and its King want to try to offset the damage that is and has been done to the world by people, but in a way that can be maintained and continued. By opening the Expo to organizations around the world, they show that they truly want to find the best sustainable solutions, not just those that are developed in their own country, and share them with anyone who is willing to use them. It also reminds me that I need to do my part in trying to make a positive impact, whether it be through teaching concepts like these, or finding ways to make an impact on a smaller scale.

[Pluma Haarstad]

Article: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40054509

This article examines the weather outlook for Thailand for the second half of 2025. The article claims that Thailand is expected to have above-average rainfall in September and October. This will increase the risk of flooding in many parts of the country. The La Niña phenomenon is likely influencing this pattern and leading to heavier downpours. However, the article also warns that El Niño conditions throughout 2026 may delay the monsoon season which could trigger droughts as well as heatwaves. Essentially, this shift will have significant implications for water resources, agriculture, and daily life throughout Thailand.

As someone traveling/ living in Thailand, these weather patterns are especially relevant and important to be aware of. The anticipated heavy rainfall throughout llate 2025 will likely lead to disruptions in transportation. Additionally, there could be more flooding in especially low-lying areas, leading to challenges in accessing certain regions of the country. The possibility of heatwaves and droughts in 2026 could impact water availability as well as increase the risk of wildfires. This heat wave will also likely impact outdoor activities. Being conscious and aware of these climatic shifts will allow for more adaptability and better preparation, ensuring safety and more informed decision-making regarding both travels and daily routines across Thailand.

[Pluma Haarstad]

Hi Amanda,

I like how you highlighted the importance of the global aspect of the Sustainability Expo. It is impressive that Thailand honors the legacy of King Bhumibol and also openly and actively brings in projects and ideas from all over the world. I agree that this is very inspiring for both visitors and residents. It illustrates how sustainability and important shared responsibility are. As someone who is staying in Thailand, this makes me consider how even seemingly small actions, such as incorporating sustainable practices throughout daily life as well as teaching students more about these concepts, could help contribute to larger and long lasting positive changes.

[Kim Ooi]

Article https://www.impact-teaching.com/blog/3-cultural-differences-that-new-teachers-in-thailand-need-to-know/ titled 3 cultural differences that new teachers in Thailand need to know
This article outlines three things in Thailand which new teachers in Thailand might need to be aware of and adjust to in order to live happily and successfully there. The first difference is that, in Thailand, a member of staff is expected to comply with whatever instructions that he or she is given. Thailand has a hierarchy and a top-down management system so foreigners need to just say “yes” to whatever is asked of them. Secondly, one is also expected to do everything required of him/her with a smile. This is due to the “face” culture which requires people to hide negative emotions. The final difference is that in Thailand, people should refrain from complaining.

This topic is crucial to me as someone who is not only traveling to Thailand but doing so for work because it describes the working and management culture that I will be subjected to as a member of staff. I guess I am lucky because, as a British Chinese, I am familiar with both western and eastern culture. I have also experienced some of this first-hand having taught in China for over a decade. China also has a “face” culture where making people look good and not causing anyone any embarrassment is of paramount importance. Very often, the best way to deal with any dissatisfaction in such cultures is to simply leave when your contract expires and work for another school/employer which is more in tune with your own values and work ethic.

[Kim Ooi]

3 cultural differences that new teachers in Thailand need to know
This article outlines three things in Thailand which new teachers in Thailand might need to be aware of and adjust to in order to live happily and successfully there. The first difference is that, in Thailand, a member of staff is expected to comply with whatever instructions that he or she is given. Thailand has a hierarchy and a top-down management system so foreigners need to just say “yes” to whatever is asked of them. Secondly, one is also expected to do everything required of him/her with a smile. This is due to the “face” culture which requires people to hide negative emotions. The final difference is that in Thailand, people should refrain from complaining.

This topic is crucial to me as someone who is not only traveling to Thailand but doing so for work because it describes the working and management culture that I will be subjected to as a member of staff. I guess I am lucky because, as a British Chinese, I am familiar with both western and eastern culture. I have also experienced some of this first-hand having taught in China for over a decade. China also has a “face” culture where making people look good and not causing anyone any embarrassment is of paramount importance. Very often, the best way to deal with any dissatisfaction in such cultures is to simply leave when your contract expires and work for another school/employer which is more in tune with your own values and work ethic.

[JShuster]

A few years ago I learned about how Bhutan, another majority Buddhist country not too far from Thailand, had adopted a system in 2007 known as the GNH, or Gross National Happiness Index. As opposed to GDP (Gross-Domestic Product), the GNH would be a human-centered measure of the people of Thailand’s emotional, environmental, and physical well-being; which was inspired by Buddhist teachings. Remembering this, I was interested in find out if Thailand had done the same. Sadly, it seems Thailand has not yet adopted the GNH (and shows no intention so far of doing so). I did however, in researching this, find a paper which has been creating an index of Thailand’s happiness, though this appears to be from a single-dimension of perceived emotional well-being and not overall health, quality of life, and access to fresh air, nor clean food and water.
This paper found, not to my surprise, that roughly 85% of Thailand’s population is unhappy, despite all the warm weather and sunshine.While the study provides no further information as to why these Thai people feel this way; I feel that there are a good number of perfectly acceptable reasons as to why Thailand’s population cn be unhappy. Staggering inequality, paired with unreliable access to clean drinking water, in my opinion can only guarantee that the majority of Thailand’s population is unhappy and unwell. The significant number of women forced into prostitution, these women not only themselves being directly effected but also their loved ones, can further add to the struggle and anxiety many Thai are facing. With the addition of regular organised crime and widespread corruption, it’s no wonder than the majority of Thai people are unhappy. Though I am not going to be teaching in Thailand, I hope that I can help contribute while I am here positively to the community of Hua Hin, both socially and economically. Through education and community, thanks to Thailand’s strong collectivist culture, perhaps I as a visitor can encourage and support attempts for the community to organise together to improve access to clean water and other living conditions.

Senasu, K., Sakworawich, A. & Russ-Eft, D.F. Developing Thai Happiness Index. Soc Indic Res 146, 425–448 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-019-02136-6

[JShuster]

Hey Painton, I found your choice of article really interesting, and also personally pretty helpful at the end. My first few days here I’ve mostly been either eating alone or not sharing food during meals; but hearing your own experience about stepping out of your comfort zone and sharing food, and how rewarding that is; has given me new perspective on why it’s worth actively attempting to do. While I understood sharing food to be part of Thai culture, I was not aware that it was as significant as you’ve shown it to be. I also really appreciate the tips on what places to avoid, though I imagine it’ll be difficult to go into each restaurant’s bathroom just to decide whether or not to eat there. I hope you’re able to get everything you want and more out of this trip!

[Chad Hall]

Article: https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/leonowens-anna-c-1831-1914
This is the story of Anna Leonowens (1831–1914) who played a significantly influential role in the royal court of Siam (modern-day Thailand) during the 1860s. Though her early life remains clouded in conflicting accounts, which she may have deliberately altered to meet the social standards of her time, records of her accomplishments in Thailand are quite clear. After suffering several personal tragedies in her home country, she reinvented herself under the name Leonowens and secured a post as governess to King Mongkut’s children and wives. This put her in the unique position of influencing Siam at a time when the king was poised to modernize his country and balance Western ideas with traditional culture. The timing seems divinely inspired.
It is reported that she may have changed her story to make herself appear more cultured and of higher lineage than she really was. However, her relationship with King Mongkut was significant. The king had always been curious about Western science, religion, and politics, and he corresponded with global leaders like Queen Victoria and Abraham Lincoln, and it is possible Leonowens helped him in these exchanges. Her experiences helping the king gave her access to a hidden world that was off limits to most Westerners. Life within the palace was restrictive and reinforced women’s roles as dependents or slaves. Leonowens strongly opposed the oppressive nature of the harem system, which shaped much of her later writing.
Her influence on Prince Chulalongkorn, Mongkut’s heir, was, according to sources, very significant. Later when he became the king, Chulalongkorn abolished slavery and implemented reforms that helped shape modern Thailand. Leonowens’ accounts in her books have been criticized as exaggerated or historically inaccurate. But is obvious that her larger purpose was to reveal the oppression of women that still existed in Siamese society and argue for reform. Her writings also provided rare insight into harem life, which gave her a special insight that no other foreigner could exploit. Nonetheless, her perspective emphasized women’s dignity and highlighted their subjugation in a way that struck a chord with some Western audiences.
After leaving Thailand (Siam) in 1867, Leonowens went on to have a modest career as a lecturer and writer, becoming even more well-known after her death. Margaret Landon’s 1944 book Anna and the King of Siam, adapted into the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, would become the conduit for her story, bringing awareness of her influence on Thailand to the masses. Anna’s’ life shows us how a widowed woman, facing cultural and social limitations, reinvented herself to become an educator, and symbol of reform whose influence stretched from the Siamese royal court to Hollywood and Broadway.

[Chad Hall]

Hi Kim, thanks for the great summary. I have been aware of the power distance index concept for a while now, since reading about it in a Malcolm Gladwell book. I find the concept fascinating. That is the idea of maintaining a respectful distance and deference to those of higher status or older age. We tend to ignore, or downplay, respect for elders and higher ups in American culture, unless our careers depend upon it. I am looking forward to seeing how I react in the Thai culture. I am determined to conform to the rules of society as stated in the article you summarized. I wonder if it will be easy. In the US we are taught to go after the things we want; we are trained to see competition as a good thing, and we often seize opportunities as soon as we see them. Being assertive problem solvers or advantage seekers is applauded in our culture, often blindly. I am so looking forward to experiencing a culture where that is not the case.

[Linda Hall]

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/southeast-asia/thailand/a/wat-phra-kaew-temple-of-the-emerald-buddha
The Wat Phra Kaew (The temple of the Emerald Buddha), is the most sacred Buddhist site in Thailand. The complex is located in Bangkok’s Grand Palace. In the past it was a private chapel to the kings and members of the court, but is now open to the public. At the heart of the Palace is the Emerald Buddha, a small green stone statue that is deeply revered and symbolizes the divine authority of Thailand’s monarchy. The Emerald Buddha is now enshrined in Wat Phra Kaew, however before it was placed there it moved many times between kingdoms, even being captured by King Rama as a spoil of war. The King of Thailand now has the honor of changing the statues seasonal garments three times a year. The ritual ceremony is believed to bring prosperity and protection to the nation.

The Temple complex itself is an architectural masterpiece. The buildings are richly decorated with glass mosaics, murals, and many gilded surfaces that tell the story of The Buddha as well as show off Thailand’s master craftsmanship. Wah Phra Kaew showcases Thai artistic achievements but also reinforces the intertwined relationship between religion and the monarchy. The Temple perfectly blends history, spirituality, and national pride to become a true symbol of Thai identity.

[Linda Hall]

Reply to Ethan F Related Article: https://en.eef.or.th/2025/05/09/breaking-barriers-thailands-nationwide-commitment/

Thank you for your post. This article made me think of the many changes that are being made to education around the world and how lucky I am to be a part of the change taking place in Thailand. When education is given a priority the success of the people and the nation increase. With statistics like you sited from 2023 and 2024 one can not help but be optimistic when considering the future of Thailand.
It is also important for us as educators to keep in mind that not all of the students we will have are from homes and backgrounds that have always put education as a priority. This knowledge will help us to balance our lessons and help us provide for all of our students.

[Author]

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