Contested Modernity and Spectres of Progress in Twentieth Century Siam/Thailand

Janit Feangfu, Rachael V Harrison

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

    Abstract

    “Clearly, there are many possible solutions to the question of how one under-stands the predicament of the Thai modern”, argues Dipesh Chakrabarty in his consideration of the “Names and repetitions of postcolonial history” in relation to semi-colonial Siam.3 In this chapter we explore some of the multiplicities and ambiguities of modernity that pertain to Thailand at key historical and po-litical junctures of the twentieth century. We do so with reference to a series of cultural texts, from literary translations and adaptations to political pamphlets and photographic portraits of both monarchs and commoners, tracing the tra-jectories of modernity, and its association with questions of space and social class. The chapter subsequently moves to an analysis of Seni Saowaphong’s novel Pisat (The spectre), set largely in post-World War Two Bangkok.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationModern Times in Southest Asia, 1920s-1970s
    Editors Susie Protschky and Tom van den Berge
    Place of PublicationUSA
    PublisherBrill
    Pages166-190
    Edition1
    ISBN (Print)978-90-04-37270-2
    Publication statusPublished - 2018

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