Close readings of Thai fiction, films and television argue that Sino-Thai identity is not a linear path of assimilation but a post-assimilation formation reworked across generations and media.
Key findings
- Chineseness appears as anxiety among Baby Boomers, normalized hybridity among the Gen X–Y urban middle class, and an affective, cultural and linguistic repertoire revalued by Gen Z.
Why this matters globally
The approach moves ethnicity research beyond linear loss-versus-retention models and treats media as actively producing identity meanings.
Thai researcher contribution
A Thammasat University researcher brings Thai literature and media into global debates on ethnicity, generation and post-assimilation.
Limitations to consider
The abstract does not specify corpus or selection criteria. Generational categories can obscure within-cohort diversity, and close reading does not measure audience reception.