This thesis makes the theoretical assumption that literary analysis will consider the interraction between the reader, the writer and the texts. The Introduction explains the significance of Sidaoru'ang and her short story writing in the context of contemporary Thai literature and of academic studies of the literature of South East Asia. It discusses some problems in addressing the various audiences who may find this work of interest. In addition it outlines the theoretical approach taken in this study. Chapter One discusses Sidaoru'ang's own personal background, defining the significant events and influences which led her to begin writing short stories in the 1970s. Chapter Two provides synopses and an analysis of Sidaoru'ang's short stories published in the initial stage of her literary career, between 1975 and 1976. It sets these works in the context of her own development as a writer and within the troubled political climate in which she was working. Chapter Three examines the effects of the aftermath of October 6, 1976 on Sidaoru'ang's fiction. It goes on to discuss the broadening range of themes with which Sidaoru'ang began to deal as her interests moved away from political activism and towards the family and motherhood. Chapter Four attests to a much stronger identity in Sidaoru'ang herself, both resulting from, and conveyed in, her writing. In this period of her career, from 1983-1986, her major concern lies with themes of isolation and incarceration, silencing and suppression, sexual inequality and madness. Chapter Five concentrates largely upon the highly experimental form of Sidaoru'ang's writing during the 1987-1990 period of her work. As a result of having consolidated her literary career Sidaoru'ang's stories demonstrate a more playful and experimental approach to themes which have interested her since the 1980s. In conclusion this thesis asserts that the relationship between Sidaoru'ang's own identity and her short story writing is one of complex interdependence. The act of writing serves the purpose of allowing Sidoaru'ang to assert herself in an environment very different from the one in which she originated; and her short stories themselves are often investigations of highly personal issues which contribute to the consolidation of her identity. Appendices include a detailed list of the publishing history of each of Sidaoru'ang's short stories, a list of literary awards made to Sidaoru'ang, and translations into English of four of her texts, one from each period of her work delineated in Chapters Two-Five.

Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) / This thesis offers both an examination of the depiction of Thailand in Australian novels, short stories and poems written in the 1980s and after, and an analysis of modern Thai novels and short stories that reflect similar themes to those covered in the Australian literature. One Australian film is also examined as the film provides an important framework for the analysis of some of the short stories and novels under consideration. The thesis establishes a dialogue between Thai and Australian literatures and demonstrates that the comparison of Australian representations of Thailand with Thai representations challenges constructively certain dominant political and social ideologies that enhance conservatism and the status quo in Thailand. The author acknowledges that the discussion of the representations of Thailand in contemporary Australian novels and short stories needs to take into account the colonial legacy and the discourse of Orientalism that tends to posit the ‘East’ as the ‘West’’s ‘Other’. Textual analysis is thus informed by post-colonial and cross-cultural theories, starting from Edward Said’s powerful and controversial critique of Western representation of the East in Orientalism. The first part of the thesis examines Australian crime stories and shows how certain Orientalist images and perceptions persist and help reinforce the image of the East and its people as the antithesis of the West. From Chapters Three through Six, however, more literary works by Australian authors are examined. The important finding is that most of the Australian authors under consideration attempt, though not always successfully, to resist and challenge the Eurocentric stereotypes of Asia and Asians that dominated Australian literature in earlier periods. This difference between contemporary Australian authors and their predecessors seems to reflect modern Australia’s endeavor to distinguish itself from the rest of the Western world and to redefine its relationship with Asia. As literary representations cannot be separated from socio-political contexts, the thesis also includes discussion of the Thai social and political history and, where appropriate, shows how colonialism and neo-colonialism exert their impact on modern Thailand.

Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) / This thesis offers both an examination of the depiction of Thailand in Australian novels, short stories and poems written in the 1980s and after, and an analysis of modern Thai novels and short stories that reflect similar themes to those covered in the Australian literature. One Australian film is also examined as the film provides an important framework for the analysis of some of the short stories and novels under consideration. The thesis establishes a dialogue between Thai and Australian literatures and demonstrates that the comparison of Australian representations of Thailand with Thai representations challenges constructively certain dominant political and social ideologies that enhance conservatism and the status quo in Thailand. The author acknowledges that the discussion of the representations of Thailand in contemporary Australian novels and short stories needs to take into account the colonial legacy and the discourse of Orientalism that tends to posit the ‘East’ as the ‘West’’s ‘Other’. Textual analysis is thus informed by post-colonial and cross-cultural theories, starting from Edward Said’s powerful and controversial critique of Western representation of the East in Orientalism. The first part of the thesis examines Australian crime stories and shows how certain Orientalist images and perceptions persist and help reinforce the image of the East and its people as the antithesis of the West. From Chapters Three through Six, however, more literary works by Australian authors are examined. The important finding is that most of the Australian authors under consideration attempt, though not always successfully, to resist and challenge the Eurocentric stereotypes of Asia and Asians that dominated Australian literature in earlier periods. This difference between contemporary Australian authors and their predecessors seems to reflect modern Australia’s endeavor to distinguish itself from the rest of the Western world and to redefine its relationship with Asia. As literary representations cannot be separated from socio-political contexts, the thesis also includes discussion of the Thai social and political history and, where appropriate, shows how colonialism and neo-colonialism exert their impact on modern Thailand.

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio University, August, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

For this study, thirty book reviews in two fields, sixteen in history and sixteen in economics, written in Thai and English (eight in each discipline) were randomly collected from Thai and US academic journals in order to examine the moves in the overall structures of the reviews and reviewers' politeness strategies, and to consider the extend to which the texts vary across the two languages and whether the variation is present in both disciplines.