CMHomeboy78 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 In keeping with TV policy about naming names, I'll refer to a prominent local printing company as "Company X". From time to time I have original artwork printed as artcards and hi-resolution giclee prints. Company X refused to consider some work of mine that contained Buddhist iconography. I can well understand why they would refuse anti-Christian work. But my paintings couldn't be construded as that by any stretch of the imagination. If these people find Buddhist imagery distasteful they must be in a continual state of irritation here in Chiang Mai. I was born and raised a Catholic, and although not a very good one, I have a great respect for that religion and Christianity in general as long as it doesn't descend into bigotry. But I have also been interested in Buddhism since I was in my early teens. Not to mention the fact that I've spent most of my adult life here and have been happily married to a Buddhist for a long long time. I know what the probable response to this complaint of mine will be; Company X has a perfect right to refuse anybody, anytime. If you don't like it, go somewhere else. Fair enough. That is exactly what I intend to do. My mee bpahn-hah. The incident was inconsequential to me personally. What's at issue is the attitude toward Buddhism which is not only the religion of Thailand, it is part of the culture as well. Denying it, or trying to substitute it with something else would be like virtually cutting the heart out of the country. For cryin' out loud, we're only guests here! Anyway, i anticipate a firestorm of criticism from all you pious folks out there. But whatever the reaction is, I sincerely wish continued prosperity to Company X. You do beautiful graphic work. But please, some toleration for the religion of the country that tolerates you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muchogra Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Quote: "I can well understand why they would refuse anti-Christian work." Did you mean anti-Buddhism work? I suspect the company sees something inappropriate of the Buddhist iconography in conjunction with your art work? Such interpretation (or misinterpretation) is amplified when they see you are a farang? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoloFlyer Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Not supposed to be commercialising Buddhism, more likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tolstoy Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 I am certain the reason for the refusal is that it is against the law to use Images of the Buddha for any commercial product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THAIPHUKET Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 All they do is not taking your business for whatever reason, totally their right. You have no reason to complain. End of story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMHomeboy78 Posted November 4, 2011 Author Share Posted November 4, 2011 Not supposed to be commercialising Buddhism, more likely. You misunderstand. This company is run by farangs who are fundamentalists with a strong prejudice against Buddhism. It is fine art with some Buddhist imagery. Genre scenes, mandalas, etc. Nothing that would offend or exploit anyone or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyL Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 As a former small business owner in the U.S., one of the things I like about Thailand is that businesses can say "I don't want your business" without opening themselves up to all sorts of lawsuits. I assume they were polite and explained their policy in their refusal of business, judging by the OP's lack of comments about any rudeness or negative attitude. Perhaps the OP should have asked the business for some referrals to their competitors. I did this frequently when a potential customer was looking for something that was outside the core competency (or interests) of our business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genericnic Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 An interesting post. If they have a problem with Buddhist imagery, I have no doubt that the fine art nudes I shoot would really put them over the top. CMHomeboy78, if you don't mind, a PM with the name of the shop would be appreciated. I would hate to accidentally impose art on them. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptheos Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 You misunderstand. This company is run by farangs who are fundamentalists with a strong prejudice against Buddhism. Did you know this before going there or after? How did you establish that they are "fundamentalists", with strong prejudices against Buddhism? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 (edited) This beggars belief. Who can't tell when a business is run by Christian fundamentalists? Part of their belief system is aggressive proselytizing! Visibility and obviousness is just the beginning. Geez. For example, A bigger point perhaps is the liberality of this very Buddhist country to allow foreigners to live here and convert people. I think that's cool of the Thai government even though I don't fancy the converters. Of course such groups working against the local culture are not going to do anything to promote it. That is about as surprising as galanga in tom yum. Edited November 4, 2011 by Jingthing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMHomeboy78 Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 You misunderstand. This company is run by farangs who are fundamentalists with a strong prejudice against Buddhism. Did you know this before going there or after? How did you establish that they are "fundamentalists", with strong prejudices against Buddhism? To tell you the truth I did have some idea that they were fundamentalists before going. But I didn't think they were brainless bigots who would reject work simply because it illustrated certain aspects of another religion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptheos Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 You misunderstand. This company is run by farangs who are fundamentalists with a strong prejudice against Buddhism. Did you know this before going there or after? How did you establish that they are "fundamentalists", with strong prejudices against Buddhism? To tell you the truth I did have some idea that they were fundamentalists before going. But I didn't think they were brainless bigots who would reject work simply because it illustrated certain aspects of another religion. It usually goes with the territory. Fundamentalists of any sect = brainless bigots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMHomeboy78 Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 An interesting post. If they have a problem with Buddhist imagery, I have no doubt that the fine art nudes I shoot would really put them over the top. CMHomeboy78, if you don't mind, a PM with the name of the shop would be appreciated. I would hate to accidentally impose art on them. David Sorry, but I'd rather not tell you the name. Google printers+chiang mai and I'm sure you will figure out which one it is. Nudes would most likely be taboo. One of my paintings was a lotus mandala based on an Ayudhya period woodcarving. I tried to explain to them that the lotus motif predated Buddhism by a long time, but they would have none of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onionluke Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Maybe they are discriminating against you not because of your Budhist imagery but because you are a catholic . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moe666 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Thank you for the warning but what is the point. They are free to refuse you there service as you are free to refuse them your business. This is one of those situations where you shrug your shoulders and walk away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maejo Man Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 I am certain the reason for the refusal is that it is against the law to use Images of the Buddha for any commercial product. Maybe you should mention this to the thousands of painters and graphic artists all over Thailand that cash in on Buddhist paintings and cards that are sold in most night markets and bazaars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRS1 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Must have pretty strong Christian beliefs to not take the print job. The Bible states the Christian God is a jealous God (yes it is written) So they probably denied the job out of fear more than anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tolstoy Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 (edited) commercial as in advertising. Not in artwork. The person went to a printer, he didn't mention the reason. I only suggested that if it was for a brochure or some kind of business advertisiement that is against the law. Why are so many posters here confrontational? Really not the most easy going bunch. Edited November 5, 2011 by tolstoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckamuck Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Left out of this debate is all of the staff members of the shop who are Thai citizens and have no problem with the policy because they have the same worldview. Just because there is a Buddhist majority it doesn't mean there aren't Thais who think differently than the herd. Would this thread exist if it was a Muslim shop refusing to print Jewish material, I doubt it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGringo Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Yet another run-in with ignorant arrogant farangs. I feel your pain. Why didn't you make a scene? Let 'em know they're not in the backwoods of Tennesee anymore. You're OK Homeboy. All you lack is cojones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptheos Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Must have pretty strong Christian beliefs to not take the print job. The Bible states the Christian God is a jealous God (yes it is written) So they probably denied the job out of fear more than anything else. Just for the record it is not a 'Christian' God, as that statement comes from one of the top four of 10 ridiculous commandments, in the book of Exodus. Christianity was only a twinkle in its eye at that time. They have a right to be fearful, just look at its history of vicious retributions, for minor misdemeanours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genericnic Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Thanks CMHomeboy78 Found them. Looks like another farang owned business to avoid. Luckily there are Thai owned businesses that do high quality photographic printing. David An interesting post. If they have a problem with Buddhist imagery, I have no doubt that the fine art nudes I shoot would really put them over the top. CMHomeboy78, if you don't mind, a PM with the name of the shop would be appreciated. I would hate to accidentally impose art on them. David Sorry, but I'd rather not tell you the name. Google printers+chiang mai and I'm sure you will figure out which one it is. Nudes would most likely be taboo. One of my paintings was a lotus mandala based on an Ayudhya period woodcarving. I tried to explain to them that the lotus motif predated Buddhism by a long time, but they would have none of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMHomeboy78 Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 You misunderstand. This company is run by farangs who are fundamentalists with a strong prejudice against Buddhism. Did you know this before going there or after? How did you establish that they are "fundamentalists", with strong prejudices against Buddhism? To tell you the truth I did have some idea that they were fundamentalists before going. But I didn't think they were brainless bigots who would reject work simply because it illustrated certain aspects of another religion. It usually goes with the territory. Fundamentalists of any sect = brainless bigots. Agreed. It's true isn't it. Thre mindset seems to be the same among fundamentalists of all religions. Either you're with them or you're against them. And if you're against them you're one of the Devil's Party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptheos Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Agreed. It's true isn't it. Thre mindset seems to be the same among fundamentalists of all religions. Either you're with them or you're against them. And if you're against them you're one of the Devil's Party. Yep, there's no middle ground or compromise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genericnic Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 It usually goes with the territory. Fundamentalists of any sect = brainless bigots. Agreed. It's true isn't it. Thre mindset seems to be the same among fundamentalists of all religions. Either you're with them or you're against them. And if you're against them you're one of the Devil's Party. But the Devil throws some really good parties. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMHomeboy78 Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 Yet another run-in with ignorant arrogant farangs. I feel your pain. Why didn't you make a scene? Let 'em know they're not in the backwoods of Tennesee anymore. You're OK Homeboy. All you lack is cojones. I didn't make a scene for reasons that would be obvious to anyone but a bellicose a**hole like you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptheos Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 But the Devil throws some really good parties. David I'm waiting for him to write a book too, we've yet to hear his side of the story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMHomeboy78 Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 It usually goes with the territory. Fundamentalists of any sect = brainless bigots. Agreed. It's true isn't it. Thre mindset seems to be the same among fundamentalists of all religions. Either you're with them or you're against them. And if you're against them you're one of the Devil's Party. But the Devil throws some really good parties. David Agreed again. Come to my next one! Incidentally, Pattrara Prepress does top quality work. I had some giclee prints done on a recent visit to friends and relatives in New York. What Pattrara did was 99.9% as good, and at a fraction of the cost. Check 'em out. Choke dee with what you're working on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrry Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 There are some who have read only one book and think it holds all the answere so no one needs to read any other book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Throatwobbler Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Not supposed to be commercialising Buddhism, more likely. You misunderstand. This company is run by farangs who are fundamentalists with a strong prejudice against Buddhism. It is fine art with some Buddhist imagery. Genre scenes, mandalas, etc. Nothing that would offend or exploit anyone or anything. What else would you expect from Christian bigots spreading their evil lies through out this country. Please do name them so I can avoid them like the plague. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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