Informal Northern Thai Group Bulletin

Transcription

1 Informal Northern Thai Group Bulletin October 10, MINUTES OF THE 395 TH INTG MEETING: TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2015: DO PUBLISHERS STILL MATTER?. A TALK BY TRASVIN JITTIDECHARAK 2. NEXT MEETING 3. LIST OF FUTURE INTG MEETINGS. 4. CONDOLENCES FOR THE PASSING AWAY OF ARPAWN HUDSON 5. INTG CONTACTS: CONVENOR - SECRETARY - WEBSITE 1. MINUTES OF THE 395 TH INTG MEETING: TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2015 DO PUBLISHERS STILL MATTER? A TALK BY TRASVIN JITTIDECHARAK 1.1. PRESENT : Maia Antarasena, Joel Atkins, Hans Bänziger, Sängdao Bänziger, John Butt, Martha Butt, Ron Emmons, Eric Eustache, Jia G., Louis Gabaude, Paul Gray, Terence Harkin, Reinhardt Hohler, Janet Illeni, Brenda Joyce, Duane Lang, François Baco Merigoux, Patrick Morel, Richard Nelson-Jones, Susan Offner, Suriya Smutkupt, Willem van Gogh, Renee Vines, Rebecca Weldon. A total of 24 signed; Present: SUMMARY OF THE TALK given by TRASVIN JITTIDECHARAK: DO PUBLISHERS STILL MATTER? Books have been at the center of Trasvin s life from an early age. Raised in a bookshop, her fascination with books transcended content to an exploration of their creation. She discovered that an author s perspective on the world, its communication and its relevance is intimately linked to the process that gets the writing into book form and then into the hands of those for whom it is written. Fencing off questions as to why on earth she would want to be a publisher rather than a seller, she created a small literary kingdom in Chiang Mai. Named for the creature that, by the spinning of its extraordinary product, she founded Silkworm Books, publishing creations woven from fine research into extraordinary texture. Silkworm Books was founded in 1987 and published its first book in It specialized, from the outset, in producing quality English-language books on Southeast Asia and has since developed into an internationally recognized and highly regarded publisher of excellent books in history, political science, anthropology, and many other fields of study, all centered around the culture and society of Southeast Asia. In 2005, Silkworm Books founded Mekong Press with financial support from the Rockefeller Foundation. In 2007, Mekong Press was registered as a nonprofit organization designed to encourage and support the work of

2 local scholars, writers, and publishing professionals in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and the other countries in the Greater Mekong sub-region. Mekong Press also holds seminars and training workshops on different aspects of book publishing, and helps find ways to overcome some of the huge challenges faced by small book publishers in Southeast Asia. Despite its growth and international presence, the foundations on which Silkworm was built are the same today as they were twenty-five years ago: to bring high-quality Western scholarship on Southeast Asia to the region, and likewise, to make Southeast Asian scholarship on the region as accessible as possible to people around the world. 1 Ironically, it is precisely this accessibility that has presented challenges to Silkworm and other publishers working in a world in which the traditional book, purchased at the bookstore and a tangible presence in one s hands, is being redefined by E-commerce on the internet. Unknown to the reader, the relationship between publishers and their representatives and distributors, has tended to be undermined by current practices in online marketing, weakening the very foundation of the publishing industry. That foundation, in the case of Silkworm and many other well-known publishers, has been constructed upon building a relationship between authors and readers based in and facilitated by professional expertise. And, it is precisely that professional expertise that produces income for the writer. Once the decision to publish is made, the publisher invests in those aspects that will contribute to its success, distributing to appropriate sellers, bearing the cost. Whether or not a particular book sells is one of the risks inherent to the industry. However, more recently, there has been an additional cost, one that has had tremendous impact on the publishing industry that of online marketing. While the investment in professional book production remains the same, the final price of the book is reduced, with the supposed elimination of the bookstore. In fact, while the reader may benefit from a lower price, those who produce the book: publishers and writers, receive less return. With almost 50% of the world having regular access to the internet and millions of people having access to tablets and smart phones, the reader is now thinking of what to read vs. what to buy. They search the internet for what is free and cheap rather than visit bookstores to purchase what is important to publish and valuable to read. This poses a problem for publishers who invest in publications with relatively small distribution. Because of this, Amazon.com has become a focus of controversy. From the publisher s perspective, it has undermined the value proposition of a book. The nature of the internet upon which it is accessed has broken down territories and damaged supply chains. It has weakened booksellers by driving a globalized, discounted, online product. The recent boycott of Elsevier by mathematicians was focused upon two issues: The first being that access to their research was limited as well as expensive. This has to do with the way in which all products of the publisher are grouped together more popular publications paying for the less expensive. Secondly, publishing expenses have diminished. This is based on several things. The use of computers makes it so that the publisher no longer has to typeset documents this is done by the person who submits the manuscript. In addition, editing is done by advisors who are academics, paid by their institution and, basically, working as a volunteer for the publisher in return for the privilege of having been selected as an editor of a well-known journal. The resulting situation is, according to those boycotting, that, one, authors receive less distribution than they wish and that, two, publishers make more money. Their position is that the publishers hardly do any of the investment. Time and research are paid by the academic institution. Typesetting is performed by the author. Libraries and universities pay the publisher for what, according to their thinking, should be available in open access. This situation has led to more and more resistance to the needs of publishers. As online marketing and 1 2

3 electronic formats become more accepted, the question of investment in physical books is at the center of a publisher s concern. The question of open access is a difficult one. Originating with the concept that research supported by public funding should also be available, free of charge, to the public, it challenges a parallel concept that an author or publisher has the right to be compensated for their creation. Funding may support writing a paper or a book, however, it belongs to the author and the publisher makes sure that he or she is represented and compensated. The French lawyer and author Richard Malka in his book 2015: the end of copyright? Taking for free is Stealing makes a plea for adequate protection of copyright, so that authors and publishers can continue to create and make a living from the works that they create and publish. According to him, a reform of copyright in order to adapt it to the digital world is not needed given that the technological transition is already underway. He states, in fact that such choices have nothing to do with technology and everything to do with personal courage and the battle of ideas. French authors and publishers intend to wage that battle. Its implications go beyond any personal interests and concern every citizen, for what is a stake is the very essence of civilization. 2 This comes in the wake of Amazon pressuring publishers to reduce their prices, in particular, better deals on their e-books. Amazon had reportedly discouraged the sales of writers who were represented by those publishers who refused to agree. Over 900 authors signed a letter published in the New York Times demanding that Amazon stop holding writers hostage in their negotiations. 3 Publishers concerns have revolved around issues of priority in quality production: publishing ideas that matter, copyright protection and suitable and appropriate marketing. Trasvin emphasized that publishers must continue to keep doing what they do well. This includes maintaining sales, distribution and editorial standards. While admitting that marketing standards need to be addressed by many in the world of publishing, she firmly believes that the current trade-marketing business approach can be developed to conform to and support consumer-led marketing that characterizes much internet marketing. In doing so, publishers must consider new formats that are shorter, more fluid and flexible. This challenges the industry to consider how they can carry deeper and more complex ideas. Fortunately, the professional context of publishing values and facilitates creative approaches due to a long history of achievement in the field. It is known that format affect substance, therefore the challenge is to focus on unique books now, not to follow the trend to mid-level mass market books. In this way they can creatively support standards developed over generations. 2. NEXT TALK (396 TH ) : Tuesday, 13 October, 2015, 7:30 pm at the Alliance Française, Chiang Mai Cinema at the Bazaar: The Saeng Tawan Cinema and the (possible) Future of Chiang Mai s Night Bazaar A Talk by Philip Jablon 2 p

4 The Talk: At present, Chiang Mai is home to more than 30 movie screens; by far the most ever in the city s history. Despite the vast number of screens, the selection of movies playing is perhaps the least diverse it has ever been. All of these active screens, moreover, are located in one of Chiang Mai s 5 shopping malls. The Saeng Tawan Theater, located at the southern end of Chang Klan Road, is Chiang Mai s only remaining stand-alone movie theater. For the past 10 or more years it has stood as a blighted southern bookend of upper Chang Klan Road. While recent investments by a national level property developer portend big changes to the area, there has been little discussion of reactivating the Saeng Tawan as an arts center/movie theater. This presentation will look at the potential of a revived Saeng Tawan Theater to help revitalize Chiang Mai s Night Bazaar area. It will examine other cases of dormant stand-alone movie theaters being revived in cities around the world, and how such investments have stimulated the growth of the local creative economy. Chiang Mai is sorely in need of a world class film/performing arts theater, and with the Saeng Tawan, it has a unique opportunity to develop one. The Speaker: Philip Jablon is a Philadelphia-born researcher affiliated with Chiang Mai University. Since 2009 he has combined his passions for smart urban development and film into a multifaceted campaign to salvage some of Southeast Asia s stand-alone movie theaters. Through photo-journalism and advocacy he has played a role in the resurrection of the Nang Loeng Cinema in Bangkok. He aims to extend this model to other cities throughout ASEAN with his Movie Theater Preservation Initiative, which is now in the network of the Luang Prabang Fund for Culture and Conservation. 3. List of FUTURE INTG MEETINGS (ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE, CHIANG MAI) Tuesday, 13 October, 2015, 7:30 pm at the Alliance Française, Chiang Mai - 396th Meeting : Cinema at the Bazaar: The Saeng Tawan Cinema and the (possible) Future of Chiang Mai s Night Bazaar. A Talk by Philip Jablon. Tuesday, 10 November, 2015, 7:30 pm at the Alliance Française, Chiang Mai - 397th Meeting : Governing Hmongs in Thailand: Political Networks and Spaces. A Talk by David Chambers. Tuesday, 15 December, 2015, 7:30 pm, at Achan Wattana Wattanapun's Gallery, Soi Wat Umong, Chiang Mai - 398th Meeting : : Contemporary Art in Traditional Culture. A Talk by Achan Wattana Wattanapun. - Tom Fawthrop: The Great Gamble on the Mekong. Talks to be scheduled: - Amy D'Apice: a Presentation of her trip painting in Burma. 4

5 4. CONDOLENCES FOR THE PASSING AWAY OF ARPAWN HUDSON The Informal Northern Thai Group is deeply sorry to announce the passing away of Arpawn Hudson, wife of Major Roy Hudson who was an inspiring and funding source in the genesis of our Informal Northern Thai Group. Evening prayers will be held tonight Saturday, October 10, 7:00 pm, at Wat Suan Dok. Tomorrow Sunday, October 11, the final service will take place from 10:00 am at Wat Suan Dok, followed by the cremation around 2:00 pm at the "Haiya" cremation site. 5. INTG CONTACTS : Convenor - Secretary - Website 1) Convenor : Rebecca Weldon : < rebecca.weldon@gmail.com>. Mobile : ) Secretary : Louis Gabaude : <gabaudel@yahoo.com>. Mobile : ) INTG Website : Clarence Shettlesworth: 5

6 Informal Northern Thai Group (INTG) 30 years of Talks! Cinema at the Bazaar: The Saeng Tawan Cinema and the (possible) Future of Chiang Mai s Night Bazaar A Talk by Philip Jablon Tuesday, 13 October, 2015, 7:30 pm At the ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE 131, Charoen Prathet Road, Chiang Mai, opposite the EFEO

7 Informal Northern Thai Group (INTG) 30 years of Talks! Governing Hmongs in Thailand: Political Networks and Spaces A Talk by David Chambers Tuesday, 10 November, 2015, 7:30 pm At the ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE 131, Charoen Prathet Road, Chiang Mai, opposite the EFE0