Te - Thesis Outline

Give me luck. Feed me hope. (17 NOV)

Thesis Outline

INTRO

Maybe you don’t believe in any superstition. Me neither, not until I stepped out of my room after hearing a soft chirping sound from a house gecko.

On that day, I had to move into a long-term house after subletting a temporary room for almost two months in Rotterdam.

On the way to my new home, I got into a bike accident in front of our school, and a scar on my knee is still visible and itchy ever since.

Moving from one place to another can be risky. Imagine being a sailor on the open ocean, surrounded by deep, mysterious waters. How would you feel?

As I sat on my new couch sipping hot green tea, a memory of a chirping gecko- a warning I had completely ignored- flooded my mind.

Come closer. Let me tell you a story about the house gecko. It is a common belief in Thailand that if a house gecko greets you at the door just before you leave home, it's a sign to rethink your plans to go out.

So, next time, checking for chirping sounds before leaving my house shouldn't be much trouble.

For my thesis, I intend to write a narrative blended with a report on my research and practice, structured into three sections. This investigation seeks to deepen my understanding of my practice, the power of mockumentary, and the political connotation behind Thailand's deep-rooted superstitious beliefs, as well as to discuss the following questions.

How can I deconstruct Thailand’s deep-rooted superstitious beliefs through the medium of mockumentary?

What is the role of mockumentary film and unreliable narrator? How could they contribute to society? And how does this connect to my fascination with superstitious beliefs?

What drives my fascination with superstitions when I don't personally rely on them in my everyday life?

What does the audience gain from experiencing the convolution provoked by blending truth and lies?

How can people's collective memories be explored through media and pop culture?

How can humor be a powerful tool in addressing serious social issues?

Chapter 1: A Quest for The Meaningful Practice.

In the first chapter, I will examine the journey of my practice and theoretical framework, reflecting on the processes and construction methods involved in my previous works developed before and during this Master's program. I will point out how they have more or less affected my practice in developing “Welcome to My Motherland”, my graduation project.

i. The Holy Sponge (2023)

1. Propaganda/Politic
2. Capitalism
3. Fake Exhibition/Mockumentary
4. Unreliable Narrator

ii. Turning Tide and Cataract (2017)

1. Film Editing and Cinematography Techniques
2. Meta-Cinema
3. Female Victim Trope / Maiden Archetype

iii. Personal Odyssey (2019)

1. Reality and Fiction
2. Existential Nihilism

iv. Something that (2023)

1. Exquisite corpse
2. Capitalism
3. Consumerism
4. Ritual

Chapter 2: Haunted Ghosts and a Glimmer of Hope

In this chapter, I will provide an example of Thailand's deep-rooted superstitious beliefs and highlight how they offer hope to those who trust them. I want to interrogate inequality in various aspects of Thailand through the lens of these beliefs. Moreover, I will study the elements in films that inspire me, analyze the significance of media in pop culture, and point out how they impact my project.

i. Examine examples of Thailand's deep-rooted superstitious beliefs and rituals associated with the societal structure (e.g., capitalism, poverty, sexism)

ii. Analyze case studies of the superstitious belief, ghosts, and tropes that appeared in media (e.g., film/song/music video/TV show/news)

Chapter 3: Welcome To My Motherland

The final chapter of my thesis will focus on my reflections on the decision-making process, and references that influenced my development of the graduation project.

i. Superstitious beliefs

ii. Mockumentary format

iii. Unreliable narrator

iv. Discovery

Epilogue

I will write about the superstitious ritual I have established using the research and experiments I have gathered along the way.