Thai National Cinema: the Three Potent Signifiers of Thai Identity, Nation, Religion, and Monarchy, Their Interrelationship and Influence in Thai National Cinema

The three pillars of Thai society nation,religion, and monarchy form the basis for organising an understanding of the development of Thai cinematic tradition, now over a century old. The historical, or current, development of Thai National Cinema must accommodate the pervasive role that these three principal forms of national identity play in formulating Thai society, culture, and politics. The recent challenges of globalisation and postmodernism, as well as the rise of an educated middle-class, provide opportunity for reconceptualizing the relevance of these three pillars. In this way Thai National Cinema can be considered a useful barometer in both reflecting and promoting the construction of Thai identity and thought.