Fact of the week:
Democrat vote in July 3 election: 11,433,762
YouTube views of Turbo Music’s Khan Huu: 11,997,951

Source: New Mandala statistics division

The decision by Thai band Turbo Music to place a video of their hit song Khan Huu on Youtube in early June has had unexpected, but probably not unwelcome, consequences.

Almost 12 million hits later (and climbing by the day), the video has sparked another skirmish in modern Thailand’s culture wars.

What’s the controversy all about?

The song itself is a tale of a young lady with an itchy ear (khan huu, р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣) that won’t go away. Packed with double-entendre (and invitations for vowel substitution), the song relates her quest for relief: she has tried a cotton-bud, but to no avail (р╣Ар╕нр╕▓р╕кр╕│р╕ер╕╡ р╕бр╕▓р╕Ыр╕▒р╣Ир╕Щ р╕Бр╣Зр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕лр╕▓р╕в). Perhaps the itch was caused by some water getting in when she was showering washing her hair (р╕нр╕▓р╕Ър╕Щр╣Йр╕│ р╕кр╕гр╕░р╕лр╕▒р╕з р╕Щр╣Йр╕│р╕Др╕Зр╣Ар╕Вр╣Йр╕▓). She asks her mother for something to fix it (р╣Бр╕бр╣Ир╕Ир╣Лр╕▓ р╕лр╕▓р╕вр╕▓ р╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕лр╕Щр╕╣р╕лр╕Щр╣Ир╕нр╕в). The singer explains that when she was a child it didn’t ever itch (р╕Хр╕нр╕Щр╣Ар╕Фр╣Зр╕Бр╣Ж р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Ар╕Др╕вр╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕Лр╕▒р╕Бр╕Чр╕╡) but it started just two or three years after she became a young woman (р╕Юр╕нр╣Ар╕гр╕┤р╣Ир╕бр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕кр╕▓р╕з р╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╣Бр╕Др╣Ир╕кр╕нр╕Зр╕кр╕▓р╕бр╕Ыр╕╡ р╕лр╕╣р╕Бр╣Зр╣Ар╕гр╕┤р╣Ир╕бр╕бр╕╡ р╕нр╕▓р╕Бр╕▓р╕г р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕Др╕▒р╕Щ). If anyone can give her a cure, she will give them anything. She will drink it or inject it (once or twice if necessary) so long as it is good medicine (р╕Ир╕░р╕Бр╕┤р╕Щр╕Йр╕╡р╕Ф р╕Вр╕нр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕вр╕▓р╕Фр╕╡ р╕Ир╕░р╕ер╕нр╕Зр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Йр╕╡р╕Ф р╕вр╕▓р╕кр╕▒р╕Бр╕Чр╕╡р╕кр╕нр╕Зр╕Чр╕╡ р╕Цр╣Йр╕▓р╕вр╕▓р╣Ар╕Др╣Йр╕▓р╕Фр╕╡ р╕лр╕╣р╕Др╕Зр╕лр╕▓р╕вр╕Др╕▒р╕Щ).

There is nothing particularly startling here; rather obvious puns, but all good fun. The song seems very typical of the lewd word play that is popular in so many entertainment contexts in Thailand (and in many other places: think of Grace Jones singing “pull up to my bumper in your long black limousine”).

The trouble is that the singer’s performance in the video leaves nothing to even the most challenged imagination. The singer is 20-year-old Nong Ja (р╕Щр╕Зр╕Ьр╕Ур╕╡ р╕бр╕лр╕▓р╕Фр╣Др╕Чр╕в – interesting surname!), a student from Suphanburi, with 100 thousand likes on her Facebook page.

In the video she makes it very clear from that outset that her difficulties are not aural. Her vocalisation, her dress, her dancing and her distinctive hand actions focus attention squarely on another part of her body. It probably would have been a much more entertaining performance if the stage show was more subtle. But that wouldn’t have attracted more than 11 million YouTube views.

The video is available here. Be warned, don’t watch it if you are offended by a performance that many have condemned as being inappropriate.

Provocative dancing by young women has makes some guardians of Thai culture very concerned indeed, whether the offenders are professional Coyote girls at temple festivals in Nong Khai, or songkran amateurs in Bangkok. This latest public display of feminine sexuality has prompted complaints to the Ministry of Culture, talk of restricting inappropriate public performances in the provinces, and possible ICT intervention to have the video removed. There is vigorous debate among the YouTube viewers about the merits of Nong Ja’s performance.

Some of this discussion reflects standard concerns about appropriate female behaviour, and the dangers of setting bad examples for children and young adults. The fact that Nong Ja is a student–pictured demurely in her uniform on Facebook–seems to be a cause of both alarm and delight. There are also the classic differences of opinion about whether such performances are an assertive and confident display of female sexuality or just more-of-the-same pandering to men’s desires for commercial ends.

One interesting angle on this debate of this is Nong Ja’s appearance on the television talk-show hosted by the supercilious Woody. Woody was obviously happy to cash in on the interest generated by the controversial video and included a very toned down performance of the song at the beginning of the show. But as the interview proceeded, his disapproval was all too evident, prompting many on-line followers to jump to Nong Ja’s defence.

Woody featured on New Mandala a few months ago when he interviewed Princess Chulaphon, whose YouTube following seems rather less enthusiastic than Nong Ja’s. For those interested in the politics of language and body language, it would make a fascinating study to compare Woody’s treatment of Princess Chulaphon with his treatment of Nong Ja.

With Nong Ja, Woody was direct and confrontational, wondering out loud if she was a prostitute.

I don’t recall any tough questioning in his earlier interview.

The on-line and media skirmish promoted by Nong Ja is a good illustration of the tendency for narrowly defined notions of national culture to unravel at the edges. Those who attempt to create, and enforce, a notion of an appropriate national culture are involved in a never-ending project of selection, refinement, censorship and creation. Even the most elite culture is an extraordinary mishmash that is full of subaltern, foreign and entirely invented elements. It’s simply impossible to regulalate a process as dynamic as cultural production.

Promoting a national culture was probably considerably easier in the pre-internet era when mainstream media mainly conveyed information and values from the centre outwards, from Bangkok to the provinces. But the internet provides for a much more unruly and decentralised flow of ideas and performances, challenging the pre-eminence of the moral centre. That’s exactly why Woody and others seem so anxious about the dangers of the on-line world. Not only can the red contagion invade the streets and shopping malls of Bangkok, but their provincial lust can contaminate the hearts and minds of middle-class youth.

Khan Huu

р╕нр╕╣р╣Кр╕в…р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣
р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕гр╕╣р╣Й р╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕нр╕░р╣Др╕г
р╣Ар╕нр╕▓р╕кр╕│р╕ер╕╡ р╕бр╕▓р╕Ыр╕▒р╣Ир╕Щ р╕Бр╣Зр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕лр╕▓р╕в
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕Ир╕гр╕┤р╣Кр╕З р╕бр╕▒р╕Щр╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣Ир╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╣Гр╕Щ
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣р╕Чр╕╡р╣Др╕г р╕Вр╕Щр╕ер╕╕р╕Б р╕Чр╕╕р╕Бр╕Чр╕╡
.р╕нр╕▓р╕Ър╕Щр╣Йр╕│ р╕кр╕гр╕░р╕лр╕▒р╕з р╕Щр╣Йр╕│р╕Др╕Зр╣Ар╕Вр╣Йр╕▓
р╕лр╕Щр╕╣р╕Бр╣Зр╣Ар╕нр╕▓ р╕кр╕│р╕ер╕╡р╕Ыр╕▒р╣Ир╕Щ р╕нр╕вр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╕Фр╕╡
р╕Ыр╕▒р╣Ир╕Щр╕Ир╕Щр╣Бр╕лр╣Йр╕З р╕Бр╣Зр╕вр╕▒р╕Зр╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣Ир╕Фр╕╡
р╕Ир╕░р╕лр╕ер╕▒р╕Ър╕Ир╕░р╕Щр╕нр╕Щ
р╕бр╕▒р╕Щр╕Ир╕╡р╣Кр╕Фр╕Ир╣Кр╕▓р╕Фр╣Ар╕лр╕ер╕╖р╕нр╕Чр╕╡
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣р╕Чр╕╕р╕Бр╕Чр╕╡ р╕Вр╕Щр╕ер╕╕р╕Бр╕Вр╕Щр╕Кр╕▒р╕Щ..
р╕нр╕╣р╣Кр╕в…р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣
р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕гр╕╣р╣Й р╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕нр╕░р╣Др╕г
р╣Ар╕нр╕▓р╕кр╕│р╕ер╕╡ р╕бр╕▓р╕Ыр╕▒р╣Ир╕Щ р╕Бр╣Зр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕лр╕▓р╕в
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕Ир╕гр╕┤р╣Кр╕З р╕бр╕▒р╕Щр╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣Ир╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╣Гр╕Щ
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣р╕Чр╕╡р╣Др╕г р╕Вр╕Щр╕ер╕╕р╕Б р╕Чр╕╕р╕Бр╕Чр╕╡
.р╣Бр╕бр╣Ир╕Ир╣Лр╕▓ р╕лр╕▓р╕вр╕▓ р╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕лр╕Щр╕╣р╕лр╕Щр╣Ир╕нр╕в
р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕Зр╕▒р╣Йр╕Щ р╕Хр╣Йр╕нр╕Зр╕Др╕нр╕в
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣И р╕нр╕вр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╕Щр╕╡р╣Й.
р╕Хр╕нр╕Щр╣Ар╕Фр╣Зр╕Бр╣Ж р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Ар╕Др╕вр╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕Лр╕▒р╕Бр╕Чр╕╡
р╕Юр╕нр╣Ар╕гр╕┤р╣Ир╕бр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕кр╕▓р╕з
р╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╣Бр╕Др╣Ир╕кр╕нр╕Зр╕кр╕▓р╕бр╕Ыр╕╡
р╕лр╕╣р╕Бр╣Зр╣Ар╕гр╕┤р╣Ир╕бр╕бр╕╡ р╕нр╕▓р╕Бр╕▓р╕г р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕Др╕▒р╕Щ..
р╕нр╕╣р╣Кр╕в…р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣
р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕гр╕╣р╣Й р╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕нр╕░р╣Др╕г
р╣Ар╕нр╕▓р╕кр╕│р╕ер╕╡ р╕бр╕▓р╕Ыр╕▒р╣Ир╕Щ р╕Бр╣Зр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕лр╕▓р╕в
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕Ир╕гр╕┤р╣Кр╕З р╕бр╕▒р╕Щр╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣Ир╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╣Гр╕Щ
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣р╕Чр╕╡р╣Др╕г р╕Вр╕Щр╕ер╕╕р╕Б р╕Чр╕╕р╕Бр╕Чр╕╡
.р╕лр╕▓р╕Бр╣Гр╕Др╕г р╕гр╕▒р╕Бр╕йр╕▓ р╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕лр╕▓р╕вр╣Др╕Фр╣Й
р╕Ир╕░р╣Ар╕нр╕▓р╕нр╕░р╣Др╕г р╕Ир╕░р╕вр╕Бр╣Гр╕лр╣Й р╕Чр╕▒р╕Щр╕Чр╕╡
р╕Ир╕░р╕Бр╕┤р╕Щр╕Йр╕╡р╕Ф р╕Вр╕нр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕вр╕▓р╕Фр╕╡
р╕Ир╕░р╕ер╕нр╕Зр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Йр╕╡р╕Ф р╕вр╕▓р╕кр╕▒р╕Бр╕Чр╕╡р╕кр╕нр╕Зр╕Чр╕╡
р╕Цр╣Йр╕▓р╕вр╕▓р╣Ар╕Др╣Йр╕▓р╕Фр╕╡ р╕лр╕╣р╕Др╕Зр╕лр╕▓р╕вр╕Др╕▒р╕Щ
р╣Бр╕бр╣Ир╕Ир╣Лр╕▓ р╕лр╕▓р╕вр╕▓ р╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕лр╕Щр╕╣р╕лр╕Щр╣Ир╕нр╕в
р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕Зр╕▒р╣Йр╕Щ р╕Хр╣Йр╕нр╕Зр╕Др╕нр╕в
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣И р╕нр╕вр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╕Щр╕╡р╣Й.
р╕Хр╕нр╕Щр╣Ар╕Фр╣Зр╕Бр╣Ж р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Ар╕Др╕вр╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕Лр╕▒р╕Бр╕Чр╕╡
р╕Юр╕нр╣Ар╕гр╕┤р╣Ир╕бр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕кр╕▓р╕з
р╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╣Бр╕Др╣Ир╕кр╕нр╕Зр╕кр╕▓р╕бр╕Ыр╕╡
р╕лр╕╣р╕Бр╣Зр╣Ар╕гр╕┤р╣Ир╕бр╕бр╕╡ р╕нр╕▓р╕Бр╕▓р╕г р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕Др╕▒р╕Щ..
р╕нр╕╣р╣Кр╕в…р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣
р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕гр╕╣р╣Й р╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕нр╕░р╣Др╕г
р╣Ар╕нр╕▓р╕кр╕│р╕ер╕╡ р╕бр╕▓р╕Ыр╕▒р╣Ир╕Щ р╕Бр╣Зр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕лр╕▓р╕в
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕Ир╕гр╕┤р╣Кр╕З р╕бр╕▒р╕Щр╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣Ир╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╣Гр╕Щ
р╕Др╕▒р╕Щр╕лр╕╣р╕Чр╕╡р╣Др╕г р╕Вр╕Щр╕ер╕╕р╕Б р╕Чр╕╕р╕Бр╕Чр╕╡
.р╕лр╕▓р╕Бр╣Гр╕Др╕г р╕гр╕▒р╕Бр╕йр╕▓ р╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕лр╕▓р╕вр╣Др╕Фр╣Й
р╕Ир╕░р╣Ар╕нр╕▓р╕нр╕░р╣Др╕г р╕Ир╕░р╕вр╕Бр╣Гр╕лр╣Й р╕Чр╕▒р╕Щр╕Чр╕╡
р╕Ир╕░р╕Бр╕┤р╕Щр╕Йр╕╡р╕Ф р╕Вр╕нр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕вр╕▓р╕Фр╕╡
р╕Ир╕░р╕ер╕нр╕Зр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Йр╕╡р╕Ф р╕вр╕▓р╕кр╕▒р╕Бр╕Чр╕╡р╕кр╕нр╕Зр╕Чр╕╡
р╕Цр╣Йр╕▓р╕вр╕▓р╣Ар╕Др╣Йр╕▓р╕Фр╕╡ р╕лр╕╣р╕Др╕Зр╕лр╕▓р╕вр╕Др╕▒р╕Щ