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Identity and Freedom in the 21st
Century: A personal viewpoint
from the Multimedia students
at Asian University
Susan Joyce
On the last day of the academic year at Asian University, the BA
Multimedia (BAM) students made their final presentations on the topic of
identity and personal freedom.
Netty explained her model of hanging discs or coins comparing fantasy and
reality; at first she thought they were totally different then with deeper
thought realized that the borders are unclear. Sometimes we can’t
differentiate one from the other. So the two sides of the “coins” represent
fantasy and reality, and keep moving in the air.
 Jessie
reaches out…
Jo took a more literal view of the subject by meeting and talking to a
family who are stateless; so have lost their identity and freedom. She had
researched the UN convention on Human Rights, and discovered that the family
concerned live like fugitives in spite of wanting to settle. Her photos of
the family and their quotes were very moving.
Katha and Nat hung a full length mirror on the wall with the stencilled word
“Fake”, to question whether the image you see is real or fake.
Fame and Pop presented masks of tears and pain. They researched the long
history of masks used to hide true identities and then made their masks from
plaster and sea shells. The masks show some of the feelings that we can not
hide.
 Pop
and the masks of tears and pain.
In the 21st century, people have less freedom and their identities are
becoming vague, according to Nicole, who presented a painting to represent
these ideas.
Self fulfilling prophecy can be summarized as follows: we form expectations
of people and events; we communicate these expectations directly and
indirectly; people respond by matching these expectations and the result is
that the original expectations come true. Jessie based her reaching-out
sculpture on this.
Using a dark room, with blue light only, A and Fai presented many images
(photos, cuttings, memorabilia) depicting the room of the psycho paparazzi
tracking and photographing a celebrity’s life.
The exhibition of Anna and Stamp was entitled Narcissism. It took the form
of an altar or shrine, indicating that when we love ourselves very much, we
are almost praying to ourselves.
 Stamp
and Anna talk about their narcissism exhibition.
The presentation of a web site by Jun and Sake was very dark. The freedom of
the internet is used by many people to express their views, whether they are
happy or sad. The final quote from Jun: “Embrace the darkness, there is
nothing to fear … not even death itself.”
The morning was concluded in the BAM studio with three short documentary
films produced by the BAM students. One looked at the use of skin whitening
creams, one at tattoos and the third at makeup for men. All looked at the
topics in an imaginative way, with interviews, and the use of a variety of
images.
Thanks to Ajarns Nui and Robert for the photographs.
Asian University enjoys
visit by the US Navy
USS Blue Ridge Rock band
played a variety
of up beat music with singer Nina leading the way.
Susan Joyce
The USS Blue Ridge has just left Laem Chabang Port after a short
visit to Thailand.
USS Blue Ridge is the lead ship of the Blue-Ridge class of command ships
of the US Navy and serves as the flagship for the Commander, U.S. 7th
Fleet. She was commissioned in 1970 and her home port is in Yokosuka,
Japan. Asian University is grateful to the Community Liaison Officer of
the Navy League of the United States, Peter Thorand, who provided the
link between the university and the naval visitors.
 Asian
University’s basketball team enjoyed their friendly game with the USS
Blue Ridge b-ball team.
The university basketball team played four quarters against the USS Blue
Ridge team, with one of the younger players, Pom, scoring the most
baskets. After the game the visiting team joined the Summer Campers for
supper before returning to their ship. With several Summer Camp teachers
from the USA there was plenty for everyone to talk about.
The final evening of term is traditionally a show by the faculty and
students. This year there was a very special opening performance by the
USS Blue Ridge Rock Band. They played a variety of up beat music with
singer Nina leading the way. The faculty, students and Summer Campers
all enjoyed the music and the opportunity to talk with the visiting
Americans.
After the performance, Ajarn James (sports director) presented a plaque
to the naval officer (Red) in charge of the band, and he has
subsequently written to say, “It is now proudly displayed aboard the USS
Blue Ridge (LCC 19), in our rehearsal room.” Thus, a little part of
Asian University is traveling around the world with the US Navy!
It is hoped that this is the start of a continuing friendship between
the USS Blue Ridge and Asian University.
Red (center) poses with
the fun-loving Asian U crew.
Redemptorist School opens
center for autistic youngsters
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya Redemptorist School will open its new Eastern Center for
Autistic Children on May 24, holding a walking rally on the same day as
a fund-raiser for the new facility.
Chang Kornchanarat, social development officer at the Redemptorist
Center for the Independent Living of Disabled People said that the
center is an autistic children’s care center, where parents can bring
their children for instruction and advice from specialists from Burapha
University.
The center is housed in a room provided at the school, and equipped with
facilities for the mental and physical development of autistic
youngsters.
May 24 is the official opening day of the center, which was initiated in
February of last year, and a walking rally will be held from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. to promote the center and to raise funds. Tickets for the rally are
being sold at 150 baht and 300 baht.
The center currently has about 50 autistic children, mostly from
Chonburi Province, with the youngest aged three years. Attendance at the
center is free, and it is open every day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Anyone interested can make a donation by contacting Sumet Polakacha, who
is head of the Redemptorist Foundation for the Development of Ability,
at tel 086 843 1205. Walking rally tickets can be purchased at the
Redemptorist Vocational School in Pattaya, and at Pattaya Mail
Publishing Co Ltd.
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