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Home , Anna Leonowens, The King and I

Neo-Colonialism in : An Analysis of Hegemony through Aural and Visual Representation

By Natalie Tantisirirat : Never Formally Colonized

● Thailand was never formally colonized by a Western power → strong pride point ● Maintained independence, but lost some territory ● Rapid modernization

Photo: Map of Colonial empires early 20th century King

● Ruled Siam from 1851-1868 ● Was a Buddhist Monk for a long period ● Significantly older than → 27 Years her Senior ● Brought in era of modernization in Thailand

Photo: King Mongkut in monastic robes ● BUT still promoted Thai Website: https://kingandiolney.wordpress.com/historical-c culture and traditions ontext/king-mongkut/

Photo: King Mongkut (Rama IV) Website: https://searchinginhistory.blogspot.com/2014/12/mo ngkut-modernizing-king-of-siam.html Modernization in Thailand ● King ● Intensely performative diplomatic relations ● Siwilai and postcolonial hybridity in Thailand

Photo: King Chulalongkorn on the cover of Le Petit Journal. Website: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/king-chulalongkorn-siam.html King

● Great supporter of the arts ● Avid musician himself

● Really respected Photo: King Bhumibol playing in a swing jazz band with Benny Goodman Website: throughout Thailand http://www.interlude.hk/front/bhumibol-adulyadej-monarch-swing/ Photo: King Bhumibol playing the saxophone ● Reverence for the King, Website: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7f/57/65/7f57650eb596 a modern construct? 5f6d128d15cf37f3170f.jpg ● King Bhumibol Adulyadej as the exception

Photo: King Bhumibol playing a trumpet on a boat Website: http://www.abovetopsecret.com/ forum/thread1141234/pg1 The “Big Bad” Ban

● Lèse-majesté ● The King and I: banned indefinitely ● By: Prime Minister ● Inaccurate representation of the Thai monarchy ● Abolitionist themes ● Juxtaposition of Western and Asian (other) culture ● Romantic relationship as exceptionally disrespectful

Photo: The King and I Film Musical Promotional Poster Website: http://www.moviepostershop.com/the-king-and-i-movie-poster-1956 Who is Anna Leonowens? ● Born in India, troubled childhood ● Royal Governess from 1862-1867 ● Claimed a lot of social change that occurred in Siam was because of her ● Feminist, writer, and auto-biographer?

Hollywood Anna ()

Actual Anna (Anna Harriette Leonowens)

Photo: Deborah Kerr as Anna Leonowens, The King and I (1956) Website: Photo (Left): Young Anna Leonowens https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049408/ Website:https://www.headstuff.org/history/anna-leonowens-the-chameleon-of-siam/ mediaviewer/rm1189614592 Photo (Right): Older Anna Leonowens Website: https://kingandiolney.wordpress.com/historical-context/anna-leonowens/ “Shall we Dance?” and the King’s Lack of... Dance Skills “Shall we Dance” (Performed by and Deborah Kerr) “Shall we Dance” (Performed by Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr) Moves ● King’s lack of ‘dance knowledge’ ● Childish mannerisms, clumsy steps, boorish ● Anna is leading the dance ● Role of Anna as an ‘educator’ ● Anna leads the singing as well ● King → short phrases, 1-2-3

Photo: Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner in The King and I (1956), dance sequence for “Shall we Dance” Website: https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-King-and-I-film-1956 Tuptim and “The Small House of Uncle Thomas”

Photo: as Tuptim in The King and I (1956), holding a copy of Uncle Tom’s Cabin Website: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-king-and-i-rita-moreno-1955- tm--everett.html …But That Was 60 Years Ago? Actually no! Misrepresentation of culture and hegemonic tendencies are alive and well

Photo: for The King and I musical Website: http://www.playbill.com/prod uction/the-king-and-i-vivian-be Photo: Waterfall: The Musical Promotional Poster for Pasadena Playhouse aumont-theater-vault-0000014 Website: https://pantip.com/topic/34393145 073 The Revival of The King and I

WHERE ARE THE THAI PEOPLE?!

Photo: Promotional Photo of the cast of The King and I (2015) Website: https://liachang.wordpress.com/20 15/03/21/vanity-fair-ken-watanabe- kelli-ohara-jon-viktor-corpuz-and-m ore-of-lincoln-centers-revival-of-the -king-and-i/ Maybe there’s Thai People Involved now?

● Cast and production crew lacks a single person with Thai Heritage ● “To re-create the historical dress from the Kingdom of Siam, costume designer traveled all the way to Queens.” - Vanity Fair ● Individually went through and googled all names on the playbill (believe me, it was long) Sheer unlikeliness of the situation and placement of Buddha King Mongkut changed palace dress rules in 1952 (10-11 years BEFORE Anna)

How to incorrectly bow in Thai culture

Inaccuracies that Could’ve Easily Been Fixed Waterfall the Musical ● Based on the Thai novel, Behind the Painting but GREATLY changed ● U.S. Musical Adaptation changes the race of main female protagonist ● Eerily similar to The King and I ● Dance styles, costume details, singing performance

Photo: Emily Padgett and Bie Sukrit in Waterfall: The Musical Website: http://variety.com/2015/legit/r eviews/waterfall-review-musical -pasadena-playhouse-12015173 95/ Behind the Painting By ● AKA Kulap Saipradit ● Famous ! Sri burapha ● Khang Lang Phap (1937) ● Main protagonists were BOTH Thai ● Brings up topics such as: rapid modernity in Thailand, relations with Japan, values in Thai culture

Photo: Sri Burapha, Thai Novelist Website: http://www.sarakadee.com/feature/2001/06/sri_burapha_en.htm Emily Padgett (Not Thai)

Suthasinee Buddinan (Thai)

Photo: Khang Lang Phap (ขางหลังภาพ) the Musical Promotional Poster Website: https://pantip.com/topic/32483547

Photo: Waterfall: The Musical Promotional Poster for Pasadena Playhouse Website: https://pantip.com/topic/34393145 “No One Will Know” That Lavender Dress!

Photo: Emily Padgett and Bie Sukrit in Waterfall: The Musical at the Pasadena Playhouse Photo: “Shall we Dance” Dance Sequence with Kelli O’Hara and , The King and Website: I Musical c. 2016 https://www.gettyimages.com/event/the-pasadena-playhouse-presents-waterfall-opening Website: https://www.lovetheatre.com/tickets/5494/The-King-And-I -night-performance-557922381#/actress-emily-padgett-and-actor-bie-sukrit-perform-durin g-the-opening-picture-id476349624