ความเป็นไทยและความทรงจำร่วมของชาติ ในพิพิธภัณฑ์สถานแห่งชาติพระนครและมิวเซียมสยาม

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to present a critical comparison of different narratives of nationhood and Thai identity in Thailand’s national museums: National Museum in Bangkok and Museum of Siam. Thai history in Bangkok National Museum is being exhibited according to the flow of dynasty from Sukhothai kingdom, Ayutthaya, Thonburi to current Chakri dynasty as all the Thai orthodox history. Thailand’s national symbol represents the idea of royal dynasty. On the contrary, Museum of Siam divided into three parts: Suvarnabhumi, Siam, and Thailand. There’s no mention of Sukhothai as a Thai’s first kingdom. The representations of the nation in the two museums deliver are also different. In this paper, I demonstrated how these museums are the products of different political agendas in Thai’s historical context. It was found through the historical context that museums that were known as the place of learning in general can be political arena where the leading ideology or the taste of the ruling class is reflected. Each of Bangkok National Museum and Museum of Siam represented Thainess and the selected memory in history very differently.