Creativity Starts With A Better Education System: Thai Editorial

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EDITORIAL

Creativity starts with a better education system

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is falling behind its neighbours when it comes to new ideas in the entertainment industry and more open-minded attitudes

Thailand has everything it needs to become a regional film and media hub, with a long history of filmmaking, a sizeable audience and human resources in the industry. But Thailand cannot be complacent, because other countries have recently been more active in trying to attract international producers, upgrading their level of expertise and attracting foreign investment.

Malaysia's National Film Development Corporation, for instance, has made its presence felt in the corridors at this year's Cannes Film Festival by announcing its plan to become a film-industry hub for the entire Southeast Asian region. Among its initiatives, it has announced tax incentives for producers. Among these incentives is a new 30-per-cent tax rebate for foreign and local producers who shoot films in the region, according to the Hollywood Reporter website.

This move is a coordinated effort by our neighbour to achieve the goal of being a movie hub. Malaysia has not traditionally been known as a cinema powerhouse. That's why the Malaysian government is trying to draw international attention by providing tax rebates. In addition, Malaysia will also launch an international film festival in November in Kuala Lumpur to further draw the international media spotlight to the country's cinema industry.

At the same time, Singapore has also been successful in attracting international media companies to set up regional production houses in the island nation. Large video game and animation developers such as Lucasfilm, Koei and Ubisoft have already set up studios in Singapore. Lucasfilm's 3D animation studio there is its first outside the United States.

Our two neighbours' efforts to become regional media hubs are understandable. The industry not only draws a large amount of foreign exchange but also enhances the creative environment. To remain competitive, countries like Malaysia and Singapore understand very well that they have to add value to their industries by adding creativity. This will be an essential element not only of the film industry but also many other industries in the future.

South Korea is a good example of how a country has managed to advance its industrial development by applying Western technology while promoting creativity at home. South Korea's entertainment industry has risen from virtually nowhere to become an international sensation in a decade. The successful promotion of the creative element in its industry can also be attributed to the phenomenal success of South Korean conglomerates such as Samsung and their understanding of future trends.

The Thai government meanwhile has been talking about a "creative economy", but no concrete action has been taken to help the Kingdom realise this aim. This is despite the fact that Thailand already has all the resources that the responsible agencies need to support the efforts of the creative industries. After all, Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul won the top award at the Cannes Film Festival, and Thai martial-arts action films are becoming increasingly recognised internationally.

But the effort to promote creativity seems to lack a coordinated effort, and this is why it's proving difficult to help our film industry meet its full potential. Money earmarked for promoting Thailand as a regional entertainment hub has often been wrongly spent or abused, as in the case of the bribery scandal surrounding the Bangkok International Film Festival.

While our neighbours are looking towards the film industry of the next decade, discussions in Thailand are still focusing on short-term issues. The business environment does not encourage people to think outside the box; the non-competitive sector still receives massive state subsidies to continue operations unchanged; and low-skilled workers are complacent because, due to populist handouts, they are not forced to upgrade their skills to survive and thrive.

The effort to promote creativity requires cooperation from on all sides. It starts with education that enables students to hone their talents and be creative. Telecommunications agencies should provide users with modern infrastructure, including the new broadband network, to support the digital media scene in Thailand. In addition, the censorship board must be more open-minded and allow new ideas to flourish.Thailand has a long film history with its rich culture as a backdrop for artistic inspiration. But we still take things for granted - at our own peril.

-- The Nation 2012-05-25

[noitom]

This editorial is preposterous tripe. The headline is noteworthy. However it falls flat and inconsequential talking about tax rebates. The only other time that education is even mentioned in one obscure sentence in the last paragraph.

Creativity does begin with education in a broad sense but it starts with environment and parenting that fosters curiosity and sponsoring development, encouraging interest, and inspiration. Creativity is not about corruption masquerading as tax rebates to bring in business. Creativity is about invention, pioneering, and accomplishment. Being willing to go up against accepted ways and sticking to one's beliefs in spite of recognized ways. It is about a free society unencumbered by censorship and tradition of deceit and celebration of manipulation. It is about artwork on the walls and books on the shelves. Overcoming obstacles by understanding the universe as others see it. It's about reading, and art, writing, and discussion. Creativity dies in environments where it can't incubate. It needs sponsors of incubation.

[Kananga]

It does affect education not only creatively but with English proficiency as well. Singapore is woeful when it comes to growing local creative talent, but at least they make it easy for foreigners to come to the country and be able to communicate with local production houses ensuring a transfer of skills and inspiration. Malaysia too has a much higher level of English proficiency than Thailand which is why such a scheme would work there too.

Thailand's overly nationalistic curriculum is going to ensure it is left far behind its neighbours in the coming decade.

[Thai at Heart]

Mozart could be living in Roi-et and no one would give too hoots.

Creativity doesn't understand being kept in its place.

[chrisinth]

Creativity starts with a better education system

Who is going to be creative enough to develop a better education system?

[belg]

but thailand is already the hub of ADULT entertainment...

[Unkomoncents]

Unfortunately for Thailand, a better education system starts with a different cultural approach to education and work in general. I just can't imagine the masses in the Kingdom suddenly overcoming their conviction that they are culturally, morally, politically, and socially superior to the rest of the world (the "nationalism" other posters have mentioned, in addition to a fatal adherence to the principles of "saving face") and becoming inspired to push themselves in any real way. I also can't picture the sudden blossoming of an egalitarian mindset among the members of the public, both elite and otherwise. The intellectually suffocating effect of Thailand's approach to education is in large part the result of an incredibly stratified society with those at the top intent (at all costs; see Thaksin) on maintaining their wealth and power. That, coupled with the belief that Thailand's "mai pen rai, sabai, sabai..." culture is more appropriate for modern living than other modes, makes for an incredibly ignorant, complacent population that is primarily focused on amassing material wealth and flashing it for all to see.

Edited May 25, 2012 by Unkomoncents

[atyclb]

This comes from a Thai person that spent a few years studying abroad and does actually think outside the box. " we don't yet have any Nobel prize winners but we have more than 60 million "Nobrain Prize winners"

[xthAi76s]

dam_n, some great comments here thus far. I don't think I need to go off on the rant I was preparing.

IMO, the most poignant post was the one that mentioned that a cultural change will [very likely] be required to move forward in any significant sense. Not sure how the leaders can 'square that away' with the nation building they've been doing for the past century.

We'll have to see how it turns out.

The modern world moves efficiently and quickly, not slowly and in an uninspired way. Competition is real.

EDIT:

I HOPE they can figure it out soon because I would love to see and live in a Thailand that is truly inspired -- intellectually and culturally. Currently, they are simply inspired by material wealth. A wholly boring place.

Edited May 26, 2012 by xthAi76s

[fire and ice]

Creativity starts with a better education system

Who is going to be creative enough to develop a better education system?

And educative enough to teach editors to have headlines that are even remotely related to the article underneath!