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Paper short abstract:

This paper presents research on the ritual economy of outdoor film projection in Thailand. The paper addresses the way media technology, presentational repertoires and auratic sites come together to mediate between the human and supernatural realm.

Paper long abstract:

This paper presents research on the ritual economy of outdoor film projection in Thailand. It draws on observations in the field and interviews with projectionists conducted over a two-year period in multiple locations in the north east of the country and the suburban periphery of the capital, Bangkok. Here, outside the commercial mode of cinema distribution and exhibition, the ubiquitous multiplex cinema, exists a network of thriving itinerant projection businesses showing films at sacred and communal sites, the grounds of Buddhist temples and local spirit shrines. Embedded in diverse ritual practices these film shows are frequently contracted by individuals offering screen entertainment as a gift to shrine spirits in return for their beneficial intervention. The presentation reflects on the process by which the material technologies, infrastructures and presentational repertoires of seemingly profane projected screen entertainment acquire sacred ritual aura. Specifically, it considers the ambivalently public address of this ritually inflected outdoor cinema dispositif. These screenings possess a character of publicness through their choice of site and preference for large screens temporarily erected on scaffolding, overwhelmingly immersive sonic volume and high-resolution image quality, yet their primary address is to supernatural beings and for the agents who initiate and facilitate these events human spectatorship is incidental. In spite of this certain shrines with regular screenings attract a marginalised public of street vendors, motorcycle taxi drivers, weary day labourers and migrants, eager for screen entertainment yet long since abandoned by market provision as upmarket shopping malls became the exclusive public venue of cinema.