Can I not see the humor in things or myself anymore?
Two days ago, I watched a Thai film translated as Me... Myself. Granted, I was still experiencing the above before I watched this movie, but I was still appalled. It wasn't the message or quality of the movie. I just couldn't stand the people, the humor, the ideas. All of it spoke of caddyness and the stuff of shallow lives that I always avoided in high school. Not that high school is that different than the real world. I digress.
The story line revolved around a particularly self-centered ad executive, who is impolite and unfeeling about most everything in her life. She takes care of a little boy (her nephew), who is surprisingly (but of course, correct by Thai entertainment standards) kind and loving.
The story moves on to her finding a form of 'love' with an amnesia-stricken, lonely kathoey (lady-boy in Thailand). Yeah, for one thing it did spin a sexually complicated yarn. I digress again. The gay/straight issues didn't really bother me.
The issue that most annoyed me was the characterization of this woman's career. The movie, by way of not-so subtle innuendo showed that Thai people respect a person that works in ads, and makes money by selling things. I'd realized this before, after spending some time watching a party or two in Bangkok's 'high society' (overrun with teenagers and the dreamers) shopping plaza, Siam Paragon. I'd never seen so many bleached people trying to look cool and beautiful for a camera (Btw, I come from a State a good distance from California :P, and they're tan/orange anyway).
Yeah, so she is told by her ex-boyfriend that she isn't 'talented' enough at her job. That is until, he sees her direct a show (talking in to a walkie talkie a whopping four times) where models dance, quickly move behind a pole, and then come out on the other side with fresh new outfits. The boyfriend and the crowd are duly impressed with this feat, and she is therefore considered by all in attendance to be extremely talented.
Is that all it takes here? I don't know how accurately this reflects the evaluation of today's current ad executives, but educated guess, I don't think it's too far from the truth. I can't count how many commercials and ads that use these 'tricks' to sell me my phone company, my pizza, or my face cream.
My question then also becomes: what do Thai people really do? What do they make? They seem to prize selling, having someone put on a show, or talk into a walkie talkie. But what is that they really create and export that's their own. Lol, I know, I see the things that come out of America: reality tv, spray-on tans, and the snuggy.
Maybe that's part of my problem. I realize more and more that this country is not so different than my own. Taking more, buying more --- that's what we do.
Part of America's issues though stem from a deep seated root that alot of us don't want to admit. We're buying, but we're not replenishing. The accounts are getting lower, but there's not a whole lot that comes from America anymore. Simply put: no one's buying from us. We just have television and movies, and some people might think that's not a great deal to be proud of. In my opinion, after entertainment, America just has the remnants of past success and a really dangerous military.
Setting the American issue aside, I am interested and simultaneously, annoyed with the ideas of Thai people and sales. What are they selling? Is any of it really Thai, or does it come from foreign companies who have made a connection with a locally powerful individual to sell products and services in this country?
I know I'm being unreasonable and lashing around, but still, it just seems strange when the only thing I know a Thai exported is Red Bull. And wasn't that with the help of some Austrian guy? They did make that right?
I probably need a course in Thai History and Innovations to set me 'straight.' :-)
Thailand is the biggest exporter of rice in the world! They are very competitive in the agriculture sector and we should not look down on it either.
ReplyDeleteThere are reports that suggest there could be shortage in food supply in the future when the expanding middle class in the developing countries will increase their intake of meat which require a lot of feed to produce.
There is a degree of Western culture imperialism in Thailand where they regard foreign ideas and things are superior. Hence, they try to imitate the superficial.
The education system in Thailand leaves a lot of room for improvement, the technological innovation that you crave will not come from Thailand any time soon. But then again, no country can have the comparative advantage in every sectors.