Title: A Case Study of How Unanticipated Preservers Work on Preserving Local Culture Relating to Textiles in Northern Thailand
Stream: Challenging & Preserving: Culture, Inter/Multiculturalism & Language
Presentation Type: Virtual Presentation
Authors:
Pathitta Nirunpornputta, Bangkok University, Thailand
Abstract:
This paper aims to present how unanticipated preservers have been part of preserving local culture, particularly in making textiles. The paper contributes to the understanding of the foundations of local cultural heritage practices relating to textiles, to contemporary practices of preserving local culture (LC), and to perspectives on ‘preserving heritage skills’ with different types of participants who have been involved with conserving LC. These participants also shared their perspectives and their challenges when preserving LC, especially through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The research combined participant observation with practice-based auto-ethnography and gathered further data through in-depth interviews and a focus group. The research focuses on key actors who are involved with safeguarding LC in Northern Thailand through their contribution to textiles practices. In Northern Thailand (the Lanna Kingdom) where LC and Buddhist practices are heavily intertwined with heritage textiles. Moreover, local people still practise LC and they have been very proud about presenting their culture and calling themselves Lanna people and still use the local Lanna language. Therefore, local people have a strong mind-set for preserving their culture, as well as those unanticipated preservers who are monks, weavers, local business women and foreigners who live in the Lanna Kingdom. The research explores their various modes of involvement in safeguarding LC, identifies their common problems and considers their suggestions for designing a potential framework to model ways which will safeguard LC, particularly in heritage textiles. Lastly, the research shows the importance of ‘flexibility’ and ‘adaptability’ as crucial for preserving LC in today’s world.
Virtual Presentation
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