THAIRAKSA: A POST FEATURING A COLORIZED PORTRAIT OF KING RAMA VII WITH A FILM CAMERA

Abstract

In a Facebook post titled Siam, published by Thairaksa on July 25, 2023, a portrait of King Prajadhipok (King Rama VII) holding a film camera was shared. The post acknowledges Khun Noom Rattana for his contributions to the colorization of the portrait. The accompanying text briefly refers to King Rama VII’s visit to the Northern Region in 1926, during which he met with local rulers and subjects. This research aims to analyze the meaning of the colorized portrait and the accompanying text in the referenced post, employing textual analysis as the primary method of study. Theories of representation and semiotics serve as the main tools for interpreting the data. The study finds that the post presents a medium through which the image of the Thai monarch is preserved using modern scientific and technological advancements, contributing to both societal and historical knowledge, particularly regarding King Rama VII's involvement in cinematic history. The accompanying text carries nationalist undertones, emphasizing the unity of the Siamese state and the Northern Region, as well as promoting an anti-colonial ideology. Such undertones may inspire further public interest in exploring this area of history in greater depth. A key finding of this research is the portrayal of the image of the modern Siamese man, particularly in relation to an interest in the arts, science, and technology, as represented by the figure of the monarch in the colorized portrait shared in the post.