Cultural Refresher: Books & Movies to Rouse Your Thailand Mojo [S5.E20]

On a suggestion from listener Emily, Greg and Ed go back to
basics with book and movie recommendations for people new to
Thailand and Southeast Asia, or old-timers looking to refresh
their knowledge after being disconnected during all this covid
hullabaloo. Ed begins with three foundational books: the all-time
classic 'Lonely Planet Thailand,' written by friend of the
podcast Joe Cummings, the insightful (if a bit outdated) 'Culture
Shock: Thailand,' and the super creative 'Very Thai,' by Phillip
Cornwall-Smith (not to mention his followup 'Very Bangkok'). Greg
follows with his own key recommendations, including 'The Thai
Book' by Ron Morris and  'A History of Thailand' by Chris
Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. Ed
concurs and also puts a word in for 'Thailand: A Short History,'
by David K. Wyatt.


Turning to movies, Ed notes that all foreigners interested
in Thai culture should see the ghost film 'Nang Nak,' which
relates possibly the most popular story in all of Thai pop
culture. For some history perspective, Francis Ford Coppola's cut
of 'Suriyothai' is a good place to start, but seeing some version
of the famous (partly fictional) story 'The King and I' is
probably a good idea. To appreciate the Thai fascination with
animism and experience Thailand's most accredited filmmaker,
check out 'Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall HIs Past Lives', by the
filmmaker whose name only Greg can pronounce (that'd be
Apichatpong Weerasethakul).


In closing, the guys make a few final suggestions. To learn
about the man who has shaped modern Thai politics (for better or
worse), read 'Thaksin' by Chris Baker, or grab 'Anand Panyarachun
and the Making of Modern Thailand' by Dominic Faulder for a look
at another legendary figure. Greg concludes by suggesting the
under-appreciated film 'City of Ghosts' with Matt Dillon, a crime
thriller set in Cambodia and Thailand. 


These recommendations likely won't shock anyone, but you
gotta start somewhere, and this is it.


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