Social media wades into Khon video controversy

The ministry said scenes showing the Ramakien epic character Thotsakan (Ravana) on horseback, a jet ski, a go-kart, and a tuk-tuk as well as the scenes showing the imaginary king of giants cooking Thai sweetmeat were inappropriate. 

Tachaya Pathumwan, one of the singers who sang the song, posted a picture of his mirror reflection with a tape over his mouth and a caption that read, “Saliva and sweat are both liquid, but they are released through different processes.”

In just a few days, the petition at Change.org against the complaint gained over 64,000 names in support. 

Many social media users shared a drawing showing the back of a sad-looking Thotsakan with a message reading, “I can’t do this. I can’t do that. I can’t even cook sweetmeat … Oh, please! I am grown up already.” Some shared the picture of frozen-food box labelled “Frozen culture”, and called on friends to sign the petition. 

To promote the character as popular culture, Drama-Addict Page organised a competition on Thotsakan fan art. Prizes up for grabs are Bt25,000, Bt15,000, Bt10,000 cash and Thotsakan figure toys. The competition ends on September 30. 

Not surprisingly, debates on whether the music video was appropriate have flooded the timeline. 

Nitipat Bhandhumachinda wrote: “When our favourite people [celebrities] or characters come to shop, cook, ride bicycle or do ordinary things, people feel love and connection and feel they are close to us. Our love, respect and faith in them never recede because of that.”

Songwriter and musician Nitipong Honark posted, “Hey, let’s help. Don’t be too conservative. Help Thai children enjoy Khon and the good things of Thailand. Thai children know Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs more than Nang Sibsong [Thai folklore Twelve Ladies].”

Pipope Panitchpakdi wrote, “The conservation of performance norms is extremely important, like staying true to Shakespeare’s words or Mozart’s notes... But for this MV [music video], we should look at it as borrowing representation to stimulate the domestic economy. It has no significant impact on development or destruction of the art of Khon.”

Jessada Jezzy Sarapun shared comments by drama director Yutthana ‘Pa Jaew’ Lophanphaibunthat: “Making Classics pop culture is not wrong. But something misplaced was the design and production of the MV. Without good taste they can make the integrated Classics not as beautiful as it should have been.” 

Khao Mai Ha Namta Kor Led posted pictures with the caption, “Hanuman cannot take a tour in Thailand, but he can be a presenter to promote the national referendum.”

However, AP Photomusic earlier this week coincidentally posted a series of pictures featuring Khon monkey character Hanuman at prominent places in Lop Buri, a province known a monkey habitat. The pictures attracted more than 5,000 “Likes” in a few days. At the same time, some people shared a YouTube clip of a Thai film produced 22 years ago featuring Hanuman and Ultraman. The film was also selected by the Culture Ministry to be conserved in 2012.

On Twitter, @markpeak posted about Japan’s Anime Tourism 88 website and strategies that use cartoon characters to promote places including train stations and shrines for tourists. 

@penguin997 wrote: “They rebuke if we turn to foreign [cultural items]. But when some people try to make Thai culture interesting, they say it’s wrong. What do you expect me to do, wait and see our country’s failure?” 

@jurairat23 wrote: “What are the authorities thinking? They ban the MV featuring giants that invite people to travel, but they don’t ban obscene MVs.”

@SaraUpdate wrote: “The [Culture] Ministry’s move to protect precious literature characters from too many adaptations is right and they should not be blamed.”