Chao Sam Phraya National Museum: On Turning Points in the Narrative of Thai History
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Abstract
The Chao Sam Phraya National Museum illustrates how two significant groups of the country's political system, the bureaucrats, on the one hand, and officers representing the monarchy, on the other hand, have interacted after becoming very close to one another in 1957. Royal participation in the opening ceremonies held by the Fine Arts Department is one example of this interaction. The Fine Arts Department has positioned itself as an agency serving the interests of the monarchy through the opening of “museums”. The museums are used by the Fine Arts Department for promoting its achievements and also as a tool to honor the monarchy.
Meanwhile, the monarchy has its image of cultural conservator further polished, a development that is key to the royal nationalist ideology. By showcasing the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, this paper highlights a narrative underpinned by the roles of the Fine Arts Department as ‘respondent’ and the monarchy as ‘cultural conservator’.
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