Thailand Culture

Literature movies have become one great source of materials to analyze cultures. The movie “Anna and the King” is a typical instance. This is a film based on the novel of Anna Leonowens. In this essay, an attempt would be made to see how cultural elements in Thailand influence the way people communicate through the film. This is a historical film and their setting is Thailand in the beginning of the nineteenth century. It is about Anna - a teacher coming from the United Kingdom. She is invited to Siam (now Thailand) to teach princes and princesses of King Mongkut. In the new country, Anna and her son - Louis discover differences in two cultures and makes many efforts to integrate into the local community. Generally, Thailand’s culture

The most impressive body gesture of Thais is their greeting. This action could be seen so many times from the beginning to the end of the film. This traditional greeting is known as the “wai”. The hands are placed together with fingers tips touching. The head is bowed to make the tip of the fingers and nose together. The wai is used as a greeting as well as to show regret or gratitude and to be considered as a sign of respect. Younger people would have to wai the seniors first. This action could be seen so many times from the beginning to the end of the film. The senior would then return the wai with either a nod or a wai from the chest. In the film, if children wai’s Anna first, it is not necessary to wai in return but it is nice to let the child know that their respect was appreciated by offering a small nod in their direction from her. Close friends, such as Louise and his classmates do not wai each other as a greeting. The most respectful form of the wai in the film is known as the “graab”. This requires kneeling on the ground and giving a wai from the forehead. This kind of the wai is used for expressing respect to the Buddha, monks and royal characters. This is the reason why people, except for Anna, always do like this when they meet the King as well as princes and

This is where a person’s spirit resides. Therefore, towering over someone else’s head is impolite, especially if that person is older or of higher social status. This is the reason why Anna tries her best not to touch Thai students on the head. Only when she becomes extremely close to her smallest student – Princess Fa Ying, Anna touches her head. On the contrary, as the lowest part of the body, feet are disregarded in Thai culture. The Thai suppose that it is so difficult to keep the feet clean in the hot humid climate and dusty environment of Thailand. While it is usual for Westerners, such as Anna and her son in the film to point with their feet, close doors or move obstacles, it is unacceptable in Thailand, especially in public. Pointing with feet is rude and pointing with a finger is smilarly disrespectful. For example, the eldest prince gets into a fight with Louis when Louis points at him with a finger in the begining of the film. Furthermore, the audience could realize that as Anna and an other adult are talking, and then some children slightly bow down as they walk pass. Lowering the head is a gesture of showing respect, and apologizing for disturbing the elders, which could be seen in practice very often in everyday life. An alternative method of pointing, which is particularly Thai, is pointing with the lips or chin. That princes use pursed lips to indicate which books they want to