On Monday 9 October 2023, Department of English, Centre of Excellence in Translation, Interpreting and Intercultural Communication, and BA in Language and Culture International Programme of the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with Embassy of the Czech Republic in Bangkok and Bodhajorn Publishing, organised the screening and post-screening discussion of “The Joke” (1969), Jaromil Jireš’s film adaptation of Milan Kundera’s acclaimed novel.
This event was held in celebration of Milan Kundera and in commemoration of the 55th Anniversary of the Warsaw Pact Invasion of Czechoslovakia. It was organised as part of the English Department’s 2202344 Contemporary World Literature in English course, where Milan Kundera’s The Joke is studied and analysed.
Prior to the screening, Associate Professor Suradech Chotiudompant, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, delivered his welcome remarks. The opening speech as well as introduction to the film was given by His Excellency Pavel Pitel, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Kingdom of Thailand. This was followed by a speech by Mr Pavlo Orel, Chargé d’Affaires of Ukraine, given as the event’s special guest. Lastly, Associate Professor Verita Sriratana, PhD, the course convenor, gave a lecture on the topic of “A joke which started the whole world crying: On Milan Kundera & Žert [The Joke] (1967)”.
The screening was followed by a discussion on the topic of ”Milan Kundera’s Transnational, Transtemporal and Translational Legacies” with the following panellists:
– His Excellency Pavel Pitel, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Kingdom of Thailand
– Mr Michal Švéda, Deputy Head of Mission of the Czech Embassy in Bangkok
– Dr Katarzyna Ancuta, Lecturer at the BA in Language and Culture International Programme (BALAC)
– Associate Professor Phrae Chittiphalangsri, PhD, Head of the Centre of Excellence in Translation, Interpreting and Intercultural Communication
– Khun Pakawadee Weerapaspong, Translator
The event was attended by nearly 80 participants, including His Excellency Jaroslav Auxt, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the Kingdom of Thailand, Ms Kamilla Balla, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Hungary, and a representative of the Embassy of Poland.
