SWU Journal of History

The Culture of Japanese-style Idol Girl Groups’ Fans in Thailand During the Mid-2000s to 2020: A Case Study of AKB48’s and BNK48’s Fans

Jetnarong Likhitbanthun — 2024-11-18

This article aims to study the culture of Japanese-style idol girl groups’ fans in Thailand during the mid-2000s to the year of 2020 by studying the case of AKB48 idol group’s fans and BNK48 idol group’s fans in order to understand the cultural changes among Japanese-style idol girl groups’ fans from the beginning period when entertainment cultures of Japanese idol industry were introduced to Thai people in the mid-2000s during the context of Cool Japan campaign – the Japan’s cultural strategy aiming to disseminate and export its pop cultures abroad to increase the country income. When the entertainment cultures of Japanese idol artists, namely AKB48, came into Thailand, subcultures emerged among the fans. These fans were characterized as “cultists” who consumed the artists’ merchandises and created a network of relationship within the fandom group. Later, in the mid-2010s, a Thai businessman bought the copyright from the Japanese company to found an idol girl group, BNK48, then a fandom was built. BNK48’s fans culture comprised both AKB48’s fans culture and its own unique culture developed in a specific context of Thai society. For example, BNK48’s fans applied a culture of “fan projects” from K-pop artists’ fans to support the BNK48 band. The fans were also “active consumers” which were different from the AKB48 fans in the previous period.

Four Decades of Female bands in Thailand : From Singing Groups to Idol Girl Groups

Thanapiti Thipa — 2024-11-18

This article studies girl groups, formations of female performers, in the musical industry of Thailand from 1982 until 2022. Primary and secondary documentary data was gathered from printing and electronic media as contemporary evidences showing contexts for Thai girl group artists at different times. Results were Thai girl groups function with three main components: 1) producers who organize musical or idol camps to generate music and manage performers; 2) members categorized by age criteria as artists or idols requiring diverse development before attaining artist status, following music label or idol camp presentation criteria; and 3) channels include traditional media (print, radio broadcasts, television); and new media (websites, social media, YouTube.com, applications; as well as external activities (music festivals and related events). The existence of Thai girl group artists in each era depends on political, economic, social and cultural factors. as well temporal values. International popular cultures from the West, Japan, and South Korea strongly influence on music production and Thai girl group performances. Presentation through musical style and fashionable dress evolves according to international music and entertainment business trends and directions in addition to individual consumer requirements.

The Urbanization of Pratunam Area in 1905-2007

Yaninie Phaithayawat — 2024-11-18

This research paper aims to study the urbanization of Pratunam, one of the major commercial business districts in Bangkok, from 1905 to 2007 through historical methods. The objectives of this research are 1) studying the changes in physical spaces in Pratunam 2) studying the factors of urbanization in Pratunam. The research found that the urbanization of Pratunam area can be divided into 3 major periods: 1) the period between 1905 - 1957, which was the birth period of the Pratunam area; the excavation of the Saen Saeb Canal during the reign of King Rama III resulted in agricultural land, grabbing on both sides of the canal. During the reign of King Rama V, a floodgate called "Pratunam Wang Sa Pathum" was built in Thung Bang Kapi for cultivation and transportation, turning the area into a community area. The area was located a floating market, palaces and official residents. When Ratchaprarob Road was cut, and Phetchaburi Road was intersected, the Pratunam area was urbanized. Chalermlok Market was made in Phetchaburi Road. 2) Between 1957 and 1997, during the era of industrial capitalism, Pratunam became one of the major business districts in Bangkok due to the construction of New Phetchaburi Road in 1963. Chalermlok Market was demolished. In addition, a group of investors came to develop the Pratunam area, turning it into an entertainment venue. modern nightclubs and shopping centers. 3) During the year 1997-2007, many businesses in Pratunam, such as cinemas and malls, were stagnated and were shut down due to the economic crisis of 1997.

Cultural Politics of King Prajadhipok’s Travel to Payap County in 1926

โดม ไกรปกรณ์ — 2024-11-18

This article is a historical study about King Prajadhipok’s travel to Payap (Lanna) County in 1926. It is conducted by historical methods and is interpreted by the concept of cultural politics. The main proposal is that King Prajadhipok’s Travel to Payap County in 1926 implied the cultural politics of King of Siam, which empowered the old kingdom in Payap County (Colony of Lanna) under the colonial context that Siamese government organized the regional administration of Payap County, and King Prajadhipok lacked his experiences to administer the country in term of private politics. Therefore, royal ceremonies about contents and symbols which symbolized the prosperity of Siam in the reign of King Chulalongkorn, the golden period of absolutist state, were held to welcome King Prajadhipok’s travel to Payap. The royal ceremonies were held to represent that King Prajadhipok would continue the royal duty.

The Formation and Modification of Honor System in Thailand (1851-1925)

Ekkaluk Loysak — 2024-11-18

This article aims to study the Thai royal decorations management in order to understand the formation and modification of honor system in Thailand during 1851 – 1926 CE by using primary and secondary sources in the historical methodology.

The study reveals that the processes of Thai royal decoration management by aristocrats during the late 19th – early 20th century had shaped the formation and knowledge of honor system in Thailand. Since the reign of King Mongkut, he established his new royal decorations which were new symbols for honoring. Subsequently. the modification of decorations patterns in the reign of King Chulalongkorn formulated the explicit relationship within the honor system. Additionally, King Vajiravudh signified the orders of royal decorations to categorized groups of people according to the relation between king and recipients. It is a significant characteristic which has been recognized until the present day.

Fragrance between Heaven and Earth:

Kanjanapong Rinsin — 2024-11-18

This article aims to inquire about the anti-French movement organized by the Heaven and Earth Society-Bửu Sơn Kỳ Hương Alliance in the 1910s Saigon. Although several academic writings have discussed traditional, transitional, and modern anti-colonial movements in Vietnam with reclaiming the martial role of Vietnam’s South, there is no discussion about a transition of space where the movements had been mobilized, from limited by rural area to bustling among the urban one. Thus, this article proposes that cooperation between the rural movement as Bửu Sơn Kỳ Hương and the Saigon-based Heaven and Earth Society created a turning point in the history of anti-colonial movements in the Mekong Delta that the movement could not be limited in the rural area anymore.

MILLET: THE FORGOTTEN GRAIN AND ITS POSSIBLE REVIVAL AS AN ANSWER TO FOOD SHORTAGE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Augusto de Viana — 2024-11-18

Millet was one of the grains produced in the Philippines during the pre-colonial era. Though it is described in ancient Egyptian and Babylonian texts, millet’s origin and introduction in the Philippines remain shrouded in history. Its cultivation and use, however, were described by early Spanish missionaries. Along with rice, millet was one of the festal foods of the Philippines which were consumed only during times of feasts and merry-making. In the course of centuries, the Filipinos were drawn towards a wider utilization of rice and the farming and consumption of millet has become more of a rarity as it became confined to a few remote areas in the islands. Meanwhile millet is still being grown in various countries of Southeast Asia like Malaysia and Indonesia. Beyond the region, millet is a major grain in India and China which are its biggest producers as well as various countries in Africa. This paper examines the reasons for the decline of the cultivation of millet and discusses the possibilities and benefits of its revival and popularization. Compared to rice millet requires less water and fertilizer and it is more tolerant of hot and dry climates and increased soil salinity. The article also compares the nutritive value of millet compared to other grains and its popular cultivation could become a solution for the food shortage and malnutrition in the Philippines

An An Original Source for the Travels of King Chulalongkorn

Bhanubongs Siddhisara — 2024-11-18

Abstract

This article presents evidence of travels by His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1904 from different perspectives. A documentary report by a subordinate official, a canal maintenance officer at the inner Damnoen Saduak Canal, the Department of Canals, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, provides additional information about the trajectory, differing from a letter by His Majesty's Confidant, an anonymous pseudonym of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, the Privy Councilor, who also wrote a narrative in 1904. The report by the subordinate official includes details of the entire royal procession consisting of 59 ships, contrary to Prince Damrong's description which presented His Majesty's presence as discreet and circumspect to the point that it gave an impression of Rama V as close to his subjects, with a certain intimacy. Whereas the straightforward report of the subordinate official depicts His Majesty's progress to the territories of Siam with respect and admiration towards the common people rather than quietly. In this way, the image of Rama V was constructed and reproduced by the power elite for political purposes, instead of the perception of contemporary commoners like the subordinate official. Even today, the letter of His Majesty's Confidant about his voyage deserves to be noted for its value as a fictional royalist narrative.

Phoum Beng Malou in the Travelogue of Étienne François Aymonier

Wuttichai Nakkiew — 2024-11-18

This article examines the role of the French explorer Étienne François Aymonier in constructing knowledge about the marginalized communities at the periphery of Siamese power in the area of the Phanom Dong Rak Mountains. It analyzes two primary sources: the first Voyage dans le Laos Tome Deuxieme 1895, and the second Voyage dans le Laos Tome Deuxieme 1897. Both of these records serve as historical documents reflecting the influence of the French colonial society attempting to create the knowledge about regions through exploration, historical site surveys, route data collection, prioritization of cities and communities, analysis of ethnic group lifestyles, and descriptions of the geographical and physical characteristics of the communities. The study finds that the construction of this knowledge emphasizes the status of communities distant from the center of Siamese power, including the study of wisdom or basic institutional forms in rural areas. This article propose that Phoum Beng Malou, or Ban Bueng Malu, is a small community in the Phanom Dong Rak Mountains area that is highly significant for the construction of this knowledge. This is because it has significant implications for the socio-political order as a community neglected by the interests of the local state. However, French colonialism was able to access and reveal the identity of communities that were previously independent from the state through formal documentation. The production of this knowledge involved spatial management through visual data and attempts to integrate distant communities in the Phanom Dong Rak Mountains into the sphere of influence of the modern state in delineating the border areas between Siam and France during the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

บ่วงหนี้: ปัญหา “กยศ.” ในอเมริกา

อาวุธ ธีระเอก — 2024-11-18

"แผนที่สร้างชาติ: รัฐประชาชาติกับการท􀅉ำแผนที่หมู่บ้านไทยในยุคสงครามเย็น” โดย เก่งกิจ กิติเรียงลาภ

ปัณณทัต จิตตกูล — 2024-11-18