Thailand: Never Formally Colonized Thailand was never formally - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Neo-Colonialism in The King and I : An Analysis of Hegemony through Aural and Visual Representation By Natalie Tantisirirat

Thailand: Never Formally Colonized Thailand was never ● formally colonized by a Western power → strong pride point Maintained ● independence, but lost some territory Rapid modernization ● Photo: Map of Colonial empires early 20th century

King Mongkut Ruled Siam from 1851-1868 ● Was a Buddhist Monk for a ● long period Significantly older than Anna ● Leonowens → 27 Years her Senior Brought in era of ● modernization in Thailand BUT still promoted Thai ● Photo: King Mongkut in monastic robes Website: culture and traditions https://kingandiolney.wordpress.com/historical-c ontext/king-mongkut/ Photo: King Mongkut (Rama IV) Website: https://searchinginhistory.blogspot.com/2014/12/mo ngkut-modernizing-king-of-siam.html

Modernization in Thailand King Chulalongkorn ● Intensely performative diplomatic relations ● Siwilai and postcolonial hybridity in Thailand ● Photo: King Chulalongkorn on the cover of Le Petit Journal . Website: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/king-chulalongkorn-siam.html

King Bhumibol Adulyadej Great supporter of the ● arts Avid musician himself ● Really respected ● Photo: King Bhumibol playing in a swing jazz band with Benny Goodman Website: throughout Thailand http://www.interlude.hk/front/bhumibol-adulyadej-monarch-swing/ Photo: King Bhumibol playing the saxophone Reverence for the King, ● Website: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7f/57/65/7f57650eb596 a modern construct? 5f6d128d15cf37f3170f.jpg King Bhumibol Adulyadej ● as the exception Photo: King Bhumibol playing a trumpet on a boat Website: http://www.abovetopsecret.com/ forum/thread1141234/pg1

The “Big Bad” Ban Lèse-majesté ● The King and I : banned ● indefinitely By: Prime Minister ● Inaccurate representation of ● the Thai monarchy Abolitionist themes ● Juxtaposition of Western and ● Asian (other) culture Romantic relationship as ● exceptionally disrespectful Photo: The King and I Film Musical Promotional Poster Website: http://www.moviepostershop.com/the-king-and-i-movie-poster-1956

Who is Anna Leonowens? Born in India, troubled childhood ● Royal Governess from 1862-1867 ● Claimed a lot of social change that ● occurred in Siam was because of her Feminist, writer, and auto-biographer? ● Hollywood Anna (Deborah Kerr) Actual Anna (Anna Harriette Leonowens) Photo: Deborah Kerr as Anna Leonowens, The King and I (1956) Photo (Left): Young Anna Leonowens Website: Website:https://www.headstuff.org/history/anna-leonowens-the-chameleon-of-siam/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049408/ Photo (Right): Older Anna Leonowens mediaviewer/rm1189614592 Website: https://kingandiolney.wordpress.com/historical-context/anna-leonowens/

“Shall we Dance?” and the King’s Lack of... Dance Skills

“Shall we Dance” (Performed by Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr)

“Shall we Dance” (Performed by Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr)

Moves King’s lack of ‘dance knowledge’ ● Childish mannerisms, clumsy steps, ● boorish Anna is leading the dance ● Role of Anna as an ‘educator’ ● Anna leads the singing as well ● King → short phrases, 1-2-3 ● Photo: Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner in The King and I (1956), dance sequence for “Shall we Dance” Website: https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-King-and-I-film-1956

Tuptim and “The Small House of Uncle Thomas” Photo: Rita Moreno as Tuptim in The King and I (1956), holding a copy of Uncle Tom’s Cabin Website: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-king-and-i-rita-moreno-1955- tm--everett.html

…But That Was 60 Years Ago? Actually no! Misrepresentation of culture and hegemonic tendencies are alive and well Photo: Playbill for The King and I musical Website: http://www.playbill.com/prod Photo: Waterfall: The Musical Promotional Poster for Pasadena Playhouse uction/the-king-and-i-vivian-be Website: https://pantip.com/topic/34393145 aumont-theater-vault-0000014 073

The Revival of The King and I WHERE ARE THE THAI PEOPLE?! Photo: Promotional Photo of the cast of The King and I (2015) Website: https://liachang.wordpress.com/20 15/03/21/vanity-fair-ken-watanabe- kelli-ohara-jon-viktor-corpuz-and-m ore-of-lincoln-centers-revival-of-the -king-and-i/

Maybe there’s Thai People Involved now? Cast and production ● crew lacks a single person with Thai Heritage “To re-create the ● historical dress from the Kingdom of Siam, costume designer Catherine Zuber traveled all the way to Queens.” - Vanity Fair Individually went ● through and googled all names on the playbill (believe me, it was long)

Sheer unlikeliness of the situation and placement of Buddha King Mongkut changed palace dress rules in 1952 (10-11 years BEFORE Anna) How to incorrectly bow in Thai culture Inaccuracies that Could’ve Easily Been Fixed

Waterfall the Musical Based on the Thai novel, Behind the Painting but GREATLY changed ● U.S. Musical Adaptation changes the race of main female protagonist ● Eerily similar to The King and I ● Dance styles, costume details, singing performance ● Photo: Emily Padgett and Bie Sukrit in Waterfall: The Musical Website: http://variety.com/2015/legit/r eviews/waterfall-review-musical -pasadena-playhouse-12015173 95/

Behind the Painting By AKA Kulap Saipradit ● Famous ! ● Sri burapha Khang Lang Phap (1937) ● Main protagonists were ● BOTH Thai Brings up topics such ● as: rapid modernity in Thailand, relations with Japan, values in Thai culture Photo: Sri Burapha, Thai Novelist Website: http://www.sarakadee.com/feature/2001/06/sri_burapha_en.htm

Emily Padgett (Not Thai) Suthasinee Buddinan (Thai) Photo: Khang Lang Phap ( ขางหลังภาพ ) the Musical Promotional Poster Website: https://pantip.com/topic/32483547 Photo: Waterfall: The Musical Promotional Poster for Pasadena Playhouse Website: https://pantip.com/topic/34393145

“No One Will Know”

That Lavender Dress! Photo: Emily Padgett and Bie Sukrit in Waterfall: The Musical at the Pasadena Playhouse Photo: “Shall we Dance” Dance Sequence with Kelli O’Hara and Ken Watanabe, The King and Website: https://www.gettyimages.com/event/the-pasadena-playhouse-presents-waterfall-opening I Musical c. 2016 -night-performance-557922381#/actress-emily-padgett-and-actor-bie-sukrit-perform-durin Website: https://www.lovetheatre.com/tickets/5494/The-King-And-I g-the-opening-picture-id476349624