Exercises

Culture splash

Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post

The Songkran festival isn�t just a time for a long vacation, water fights and fun. It�s also become the time for an annual dispute between the Ministry of Culture and teenage girls about what�s appropriate to wear.Read this story from the Bangkok Post to find out what this year�s ruckus is all about.

During the past few years, former culture ministers have come out to coax and beg teenage girls to wear more conservative clothes. Ministry officials are concerned that spaghetti-strap tops, miniskirts and hot pants may be too provocative when soaked with water.

This year, Culture Minister Anusorn Wongwan declared another war against seductive costumes during the water festival.

Ironically, the minister�s public relations team has recruited Girly Berry, famous for wearing sexy outfits, to present a campaign to persuade teenagers to wear appropriate clothes during Songkran.

During a press conference to launch the campaign, the four members of the band appeared in traditional Thai outfits and asked youngsters to dress and behave properly.

�This is our new proactive PR strategy. This year the Culture Ministry will not preach. We will lead by example,� ministry spokesman Prompong Nopparit said.

Prompong said that Girly Berry�s image U-turn may set a new trend for Songkran festival fashion.

�It is not only about what to wear. It is about behavioral change,� he said. �If the Girly Berry girls can change, teenagers will follow.�

TRUE FANS

But some people worry that Girly Berry aren�t the best example for young people to follow. Thai cultural expert Lom Pengkaew questioned the ministry�s decision to pick such a risqué girl band to promote proper behaviour.

�Cultural promotion campaigns won�t work if the presenters don�t have proper behaviour and love the Thai culture from their hearts,� he said. �Their way of life must also conform with our traditions.�

He said that the way the girls dress and act on stage shows no signs that they are true fans of Thai culture.

�It is just another superficial campaign that uses female beauty and sexual enticement as the selling point,� Lom said.

CAMPAIGN PROMISES

Media monitor and women�s rights campaigner Wilasinee Phiphitkul said that there is nothing wrong with using well-known performers as cultural promoters. But she warned that government officials should also be ready for controversy.

�The ministry must carefully screen them and be ready for what might happen,� she said. �These actors and actresses might not be able to keep up their good behaviour, and that could ruin the campaign.�

Exercise

Read the story. Then, answer the following reading comprehension questions.

1. What has Anusorn Wongwan declared war against?

2. What did Anusorn say the Culture Ministry would not do this year?

3. What did Wilasinee Phiphitkul say could ruin the campaign?

	ruckus (n): a situation in which there is a lot of activity, confusion or argument coax (v): to persuade somebody to do something conservative (adj): showing that you prefer traditional styles and values provocative (adj): intended to make somebody sexually excited seductive (adj): sexually attractive proactive (adj): controlling a situation by making things happen rather than waiting for things to happen U-turn (n): a complete change in policy or behaviour risqué (adj): a little shocking, usually because it is about sex superficial (adj): appearing to be true until you look at it more carefully controversy (n): public discussion and argument about something