What is it about?
This paper explores the relationship between heroes in popular Thai action films and masculinist ideals attached to their representations.
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Why is it important?
It reveals that in addition to preserving the national ethos, action heroes are often characterized following the social concept of Nakleng and the religious notion of Khwam-Katanyu, both of which mark the hero figure as performing hegemonic masculinity. Nakleng signifies an archetype of men who possess chivalric qualities such as bravery, sacrifice, generosity, and having fighting skills and leadership quality. Khwam-Katanyu defines one’s course of action in accordance with the Buddhist spiritual belief in paying back one’ gratitude through an act of ordination or giving material objects. As such, action heroes are often depicted around these two ideas.
Perspectives
This article has been by far my personal favorite as it touches on diverse aspects concerning hegemonic masculinity and action cinema in Thailand. Unlike other works, it also includes how social classes are associated with the making of two different types of hero; one who represents the middle class and the other who appeals to the working class subject audiences and thus being invested in the spiritual world of Theravada Buddhism, which is a domain readily made accessible and inclusive to them.
Natawan Wongchalard
Chiang Mai University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Heroes and Representations of Masculinity in Thai Action Films, Manusya Journal of Humanities, July 2019, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/26659077-02201002.
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