#thaification in BL

[ineffable-opinions]

While I am not on board with Tharn’s costume for reasons discussed below, I feel the “hideous scarf” comment was unwarranted and rude if not outright offensive.

Calling the comment about pha khao ma r@cist would be a step too far. So let me call it ill-informed. Also, what one finds beautiful and hideous all depends on a lot of factors – cultural influences being an instrumental determinant. That warrants some leeway, ig.

That isn’t a scarf in the first place – the way it was draped is clearly meant to be a gamcha (I don’t know its Thai equivalent term).  

Pha khao ma is a vital part of daily lives, particularly in rural region. That is why it is ubiquitous in Love Poison (2019) – a BL set in rural Isan.

You can read all about pha khao ma here.

There is similar textile tradition all around Thailand (south and southeast Asia) which I take part in.

Now to why I am not particularly thrilled with Tharn wearing pha khao ma. That's because of the way the series treats its rural working-class people, especially from episode 10. Tharn wearing pha khao ma was disingenuous in the immediate context. This is not to dismiss Tharn's claims to his culture (which I am confused about).

It is particularly distasteful considering this is coming out 20 years after Tropical Malady (2004) that presented rustic queer life in Thailand in a dignified manner. Who wore pha khao ma and who didn't in that movie is worth contemplating now.

I don’t even want to start about representation of Isan people (did Sign the series miss any stereotype in their portrayal?) especially when the series draws heavily from their culture and beliefs including but not limited to bung fai phaya nak (Naga fireballs).

Rebirth plot revolving around nagas and garudas – of course, of course.

Tiger-man [yeah, seua saming] – no way! They are not real.     

Now you know which are glamourous beliefs to be celebrated and which are beliefs (of people closest to forests who dwells and works there) to be discarded or hidden away. Take it from the Bangkokian urban elite.

Posting gifs of Tropical Malady (2004) in protest of the Sign (2023). Two decades, for goodness's sake!

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As usual, critiques and corrections are all welcome.

The Sign Ep 10 Stray Thoughts

Last week, Phaya was unconscious for most of the episode after drowning. Tharn and everyone else was a mess about it, and decided that the only way to get answers was via the misapplication of policing in someone's club. Chalothorn tried to choke Phaya out with his mind again, but failed. Phaya woke up, and escaped the hospital to immediately get some dick.

I hate when they do flashbacks to things we didn't see to explain something happening in a current scene.

Phaya remembering that he has a family was so funny. Love the reactions from everyone in the door.

Phaya making promises we know he will specifically break. At least our number one shipper Yai is thriving.

Yai is in the background of this beautiful acceptance scene trying not to shout "WITNESSED!"

Oh right. The Inspector's brother may be tied up with that minister. Let's do some cop stuff.

Tharn, how are you just gonna walk up on the Inspector? Why would he tell you anything?

Curious what Tharn will do with getting confirmation of what he already suspected.

Watch out for those ants!!

If y'all don't want Tharn to know about Chalothorn, why are y'all discussing him near Tharn?

I love watching the grandmas bond over their unruly grandsons.

Damn, this is really fucked up.

Bestie and I stopped for a five minute breakdown over this hideous scarf.

Man, this is actually kind of a weird episode. We got a lot of pieces moving, but it's so late in the show that I'm still struggling to place most of it. Tharn and Phaya being in Nongkai because they thought it might be safe and now suddenly it isn't is kinda interesting, but I'm just so disinterested in the dirty cop politics and the whole thing with Kao and the artwork.

[ineffable-opinions]

"Western religion" *Laughs in nasrani* But, this is interesting. What's with Be On Cloud and Mary? I thought seemingly random Marian imagery in KinnPorsche was to invoke innocence, initiation rites, and involvement in crime as with the Sicilian mafia, the Calabrian ‘ndrangheta and the Neapolitan camorra. But then Color Rush season 1 showed "The Virgin in Prayer" to discuss blue (ultramarine and lapis lazuli), iirc.

We had lots of fun referring to Mary in BL: "BL പരമ്പര മാതാവ് " - a wordplay on പരമ്പര which also means series. *Giggles in Suriyani Malayalam*

Now, I am curious about catholicism and Christianity in general in Thailand. And colonialism in Thailand. I mean, even though they didn't have Western colonialism, they faced Japanese imperialism. Thailand also underwent "Westernization". Plus, Thaification - which is an ongoing process (I don't know if it is fair to call that "colonialism").

On today's "I am SO not normal about Dead Friend Forever": Discussing Catholicism and Colonization in this gay Thai slasher series

Some background on me: I am from a Latine Catholic family. Raised as a non-practicing Catholic (we didn't go to church or pray). Then my parents enrolled me in a Catholic school that I attended from 5th grade to the end of 7th grade. Today, I am not Catholic and have never really considered myself as such.

Ok, so in the flashback episodes of DFF, I have been noticing a lot of things. My findings under the cut.

Let's start with this crucifix and photo of the Virgin Mary and a baby Jesus.

Screenshot from ep. 5.

The camera lingers here a bit so we're obviously meant to pay attention to the phrase. I put the screenshot through Google translate's image translator and the translation it gave me was, "Think good, do good, be a good person." I didn't think much of it when I first watched the episode other than it was supposed to establish that the boys attend a Christian or Catholic school.

But then there was this image posted on Be On Cloud's Instagram (also from ep. 5): X

Zooming in, we can see there's another picture of Mary in the background. Watching the classroom scenes, it's easy to miss because the series itself is more washed out than the official photos posted. But this emphasis on Mary led me to believe the school is a Catholic one. So out of curiosity, I looked up the schools the writers and directors attended because I felt I was onto something here. And boy, was I!

Source: MDL

Ma-Deaw, if you didn't know, is one of the directors of Dead Friend Forever (he also directed Manner of Death and Inhuman Kiss , and lots of other things).

One Google search later (X) and I learned "Montfort College" is a Catholic school. It started out as a primary school that later added a secondary school as well.

Now let's take a closer look at some of the details of this school:

First, the school's motto "Labor Conquers All Things". This reminded me of the phone conversation Tee had with his uncle:

On my first watch, this sounded familiar to me but I couldn't really place why. It wasn't until I saw this other Tumblr post (X) that pointed out it's similar to a bible quote from the New Testament. The quote varies a bit depending on which version of the bible you're using but it's along the lines of, "He who does not work, neither shall he eat".

This is meant to discourage "laziness". Nevermind the fact that people deserve to eat simply because we get hungry and need food to survive. The idea that we only "deserve" things based on productivity is an extremely colonial one. — Reminder also that Tee is being forced into this "work" in the first place. He's just a high school kid. I don't need to like his character to understand how fucked up his situation is.

Then there's the patron of the school. St. Louis de Montfort was a French Catholic priest most known for his study in Mariology. What is Mariology (X)? The study of Mary, the mother of Jesus. I didn't know that was a thing but it's unsurprising considering how prominent images of Mary were in my own religious upbringing. And she's what started me down this rabbit hole in the first place. Mary is a big deal to the Catholics. I'm going to be paying even more attention now if more Mary imagery pops up.

The Garden of Eden and Original Sin

Now I want to draw attention to these images:

Screenshots from ep. 7

Here we have Non and Phee biting into an apple as they leisure around this lush green field. We know they've visited this location more than once because they're wearing different outfits in the screenshots. And I think it's important to note that it's Phee holding the apple and offering it to Non.

The use of the word "bait" in the bts of ep. 7 is quite interesting too. (X)

The Garden of Eden was the paradise in which Adam and Eve resided. In this garden, there were many trees to eat from. The one tree Adam and Eve were forbidden by God to eat from was the Tree of Knowledge. A serpent (Satan), first tempted Eve into taking from the tree to eat it's fruit. And then Eve gave the fruit to Adam. That is Original Sin. And because Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge, all humans thereafter are born sinful and bad, and can only find salvation through God.

Of course in the scene between Phee and Non, the sin the apple represents is being gay. And it's after this, and after the bracelet scene, that Non becomes involved with Por's film and his tragedy begins.

Zoomed in screenshot from ep. 5

And I wonder if the bracelet scene is the last time Phee and Non visit this forest location. It would parallel how Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden once they sinned.

Final Thoughts

You give me a story that criticizes Western religion and how it's used as a tool for oppression and colonization, and I'm gonna eat that shit up. I am gonna eat it up. Every. Single. Time.

I really wasn't expecting anything like this from Dead Friend Forever. This level in attention to detail is unmatched. I don't think I've watched a more well planned out show. And no matter where DFF goes from here, these seven episodes will always hold a special place in my heart. 💗