Pen and Palisade: The Phai Nam Magazine and the Sociology of Modern Lao Literature

Abstract

Through the lens of sociology of literature, this essay examines the roles of the Phai Nam magazine, published in the 1970s, in the production and consumption of modern Lao literature. Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of the “literary field” particularly illuminates complex interactions between the authors of Phai Nam and other groups of writers during the time of Cold War ideological conflicts as a competition for cultural capital that would, in turn, affirm each group’s status in modern Lao literary circles. The Phai Nam magazine’s self-positioning as the “palisade” of Lao society contributes to its prestigious status for its ability to combine the notion of cultural roots, circulated widely during the nation-making period, with the production of satirical fiction and critical social commentary. The publications of these socially and politically engaged works in the context of struggles against Western imperialism allowed Phai Nam authors to play significant roles during the transition from the Royal Lao Government to the socialist regime, confirming the significance of the Phai Nam magazine in Lao national history as well as literary history.