Literary Works in Thai Performing Arts: A Cultural–Artistic Interpretation in Contemporary Contexts

Abstract

This article examined the dynamic relationship between Thai literature and classical dance, focusing on their adaptation as an artistic process within contemporary social contexts. The study employed documentary analysis and the concept of literary adaptation into performing arts as a framework to explain the relationship between literary texts and the language of performance. The findings revealed that Thai literature constitutes a fundamental foundation of Thai classical dance in terms of narrative structure, characters, language, narration, lyrics, and the symbolic system embedded in dance movements, which conveyed beliefs, worldviews, and social values through performance. In contemporary society, the adaptation of literature into dance did not merely aim to reproduce the original storyline; rather, it involved processes of interpretation and synthesis of thematic ideas and literary symbols, transforming them into movement vocabulary and performative elements that communicated effectively with modern audiences. The study presented analysis in four key aspects: the transformation of literature into the language of dance, cultural interpretation in contemporary contexts, contemporary Thai dance and literary adaptation, and the aesthetic, educational, and socio-cultural values of such practices. The findings indicated that literature in contemporary Thai performing arts functions not merely as a source of narrative material, but also as a cultural framework that was adapted and reconstituted through the text, the language of performance, contemporary audiences, and socio-cultural contexts. This process enabled Thai performing arts to continuously connect with the preservation of cultural heritage, with the creation of new meanings without severing ties with tradition, while allowing classical literature to endure as a living cultural heritage in contemporary society.