Multimedia

This exploration of identity in the Thai state and the search for the meaning of self is based on comprehending and discussing the Malayu identity in Thailand. The presenter will showcase his work through an ethnographic sensorium, or an effort to understand a world obscured by racial and religious illusions that cannot be neatly categorised within theoretical frameworks.

The narrative focuses on conveying the movements of Malayu people in relation to Thai nationalist ideals and the Malayu world, demonstrating how these two entities coexist, interact, conflict, move, and reflect each other. Listeners will discover many tangible facts interwoven with stories, beliefs, rituals, and the emotions and imaginations that Malayu people have towards the world. Some stories are incredulous when adhered to strictly according to the principles and systems of logic from an empiricist perspective.

Becoming-Malayu suggests that the boundaries and core nature of humanity are fluid, allowing for the formation of unique identities within political frameworks. This concept implies that becoming-Malayu represents a move towards an identity that transcends the traditional categories of "Malayu humans" and "Thai humans," challenging previously secure classifications. It encourages questioning and discussion across various demographics—generations, genders, social classes, and degrees of allegiance to the state—thereby influencing a range of worldviews within a single society.