BANGKOK — As debate over a tourism video using khon characters dominates the national conversation, the internet has weighed in with an abundance of humor – and a fair amount of contempt.
The director of the video made for the tourism authority released a new version edited under pressure from a cultural purist who said scenes the fictional demons of Thai traditional dance go-karting and taking selfies was inappropriate.
Read: Khon Can’t Kart: Tourism Video Latest Front in Culture Wars
In recent days, disbelief that this was an issue inspired satire of the brouhaha in all forms, seemingly all in support of music video “Tiew Thai Me Hey (Travel in Thailand is Fun)” directed by Bhandit Thongdee for the Thai Tourism Authority.
Popular Facebook outrage forum Drama Addict has even started a Thotsakan fanart contest, referring to the demon king who is a lead character in khon drama. The contest currently has more than 800 works submitted.
It’s certainly inspired a lot more inappropriate portrayals for Ladda Thangsupachai, former head of the Cultural Surveillance Bureau, to complain about.
อนาคต #เที่ยวไทยมีเฮ pic.twitter.com/X1vkgPVrF6
— ⛾ (@wariizNNK) September 21, 2016
“Frozen Culture” chilled ready-to-eat lunch box. “Nationalism 50% Conservatism 50%” it reads.
