"Reflections on 40 years of research on Thailand"
A talk by Niels Mulder
Present: An audience of 42.
The introduction to Niels' talk:
Since January 2001, I have been working on my intellectual biography. The
high aim of that endeavour is to reveal the background of my formal
writings; at a more pedestrian level, it is telling stories in which I
report the real, often juicy and racy occurrences that every so often lose
their flavour when we drag them up to the steps of the ivory tower. It meant
I had to develop a new style of writing. I found it and I liked it.
Now I
indulge in telling stories that reveal how I did anthropology. The first
result is 'Doing Thailand: The anthropologist as a young dog in Bangkok in
the 1960s.' It is both serious and fun. My readers like it, but Thai
publishers do not. I am not supposed to have started to learn about Thai
society through indulging in the low life, through associating with the
struggling poor, with prostitutes and pimps. Yet it was, at least in part,
precisely what I set out to do. (The convener, Brian Hubbard, can make the
manuscript available; suggestions for publishing are welcome; you can reach
me c/o [email protected] ).
A riveting and entertaining talk. As a gifted raconteur, Niels easily held
the audience's attention.
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