Mythology and Local Folk Tales and Youth Socializationin Southern Thailand.

Abstract

Southern region mythology and folktales were considered local wisdoms which could be found in local literature. They reflected the interaction among societies, natural resources and beliefs of the Southerners from the past. Nowadays, these local wisdoms had been influenced by rapid changes in the society, whereby younger generations were seemingly losing interest in local story telling traditions. The development of animation media describing mythology and folktales were considered one of the ways to create innovation with a nice blend of local wisdom contents and modern technology. These graphic animations could also be used as part of teaching and learning processes. This qualitative research was conducted with the main objectives to analyze the morality and ethics exhibited in mythologies or Southern folktales and to present local mythologies or Southern folktalesfor developing in the form of graphic animations. The research areas were 6 provinces in Southern region of Thailand: Krabi, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, PhangNga, Ranong and Surat Thani. the 10 informants were local acholans who had knowledge and wisdom in local south legands, they were sixty years old and older. The research instrument was semi-structured interviews. Validity of response was assessed by using triangulation techniques, analyzing data according to the research objectives, and presenting the research results using descriptive method. The research findings indicated that the Southern mythologies and folktales were passed on by word of mouth from generation to generation in all research areas. These stories included those about the Prasat Nalakiring cave, the ungrateful child, KreaKao KreaLay, the construction of Phramahathat Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nai Dan, Ai Pood Phong, Poh Than Kray, the holy god of Kray river basin, the mythology of Kao Nang Hong, Phra Kha Yang cave, and Chao Phaya Tha Kham. The morals and ethics most commonly portrayed in the storylines were unity, discipline, gratitude, generosity, diligence, honesty, and cleanness. Ancestors have passed along these values until the present time. It was one of the ways to built a kinship relationship system within the society. The social value system of Southern society had been clearly influenced by these mythologies especially that of the stories of the Chao Phaya Tha Kham. which the researcher presented this mythology to develop in the form of a graphic animation for teaching and learning purposes. It reflected the morals and the ethics of honesty, discipline, unity and kindness through the Chao Phaya Tha Kham character. In addition, it also reflected the history and growth of Surat Thani province from the pre-historical period, and the historical periods of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya.