Siam Society Events

February 23, 2007:
Killing Thotsakan-and other Assaults on Culture

by Somtow Sucharitkul

7.30 p.m.

At The Siam Society

Category: Lectures

Called by the International Herald Tribune? the most well-known expatriate Thai in the world,? Mr. Somtow Sucharitkul (S.P. Somtow) is a composer, author and media personality whose talents have entertained fans the world over.

Born in Thailand, Somtow grew up in several European countries and was educated at Eton and Cambridge. His first career was in music. His 1975 composition? Views from the Golden Mountain? was the first to combine Thai and Western instruments into new sonorities. In the 1970s, Somtow established himself as a prominent Southeast Asian avant-garde composer, causing considerable controversy in his native country as artistic director of the Asian Composers Expo 78. He founded the Thai Composers? Association, and was the permanent representative of Thailand to the International Music Council of UNESCO.

In his talk at the Siam Society will be about the nature of culture in Thailand and about his personal struggles in the 1970s and in the last 5 years to bring Thailand’s vibrant contemporary culture to the international community’s attention. What is different now and what is the same as is was then? Why is artistic integrity and artistic freedom worth fighting for? And why is he still here after putting up with this for last five years?

 

For more information, please contact

Khun Arunsri at:
Tel: (02) 661 6470-7
Fax: (02) 258 3491
E-mail: info@siam-society.org
Office Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.

 

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Non-Members Donation: 200 baht

 
Siam Society Members, Members' spouses and children, and all students showing valid student I.D. cards, are admitted free of charge.

 

The Siam Society is deeply grateful to the James H.W. Thompson Foundation for its generous support of the 2006-2007 Lecture Series.