Is Thailand still the land of smiles, or is that an obsolete stereotype?
At a time when persistent identity questions go underexamined, a video with a powerful message from Thammasat graduate students questions whether our flattering stereotypes still apply.
Thais, proud of their nation’s independence and gestures of respect, still want to view themselves as generous and helpful, according to the video.
It then contrasts those values with the scenes of selfishness and disrespect typical to any given day in Bangkok. While the scenes are obviously staged to inspire some mild shaming, the question about identity is still valid.
The video is a part of a recently launched Thammasat student project #WhatmakesyouTHAI, which asks people to suggest a new definition of “Thainess.”
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