A Social Construction of Abortion in Cinematic Representation

Abstract

The study about “A Social Construction of Abortion in Cinematic Representation” is a qualitative research by textual analysis method. The objective of this research is to analyse the meaning construction of women who have had induced abortions in Thai films that represented abortion in reality through the 7 characters on 6 Thai films included ‘Buppha’ (Buppha Ratree), ‘Saowalee’ (Ghost of Valentine), ‘Kwankhao and Charisa’ (The Unborn Child), ‘Nut’ (Love, Not Yet) ‘Ice’ (The Swimmers) and Emmy (The Paralell) by using Film studies concept, Characterization concept and Feminist studies theory. The results of this research revealed Thai films had viewpoint of abortion in 2 ways were first, anti - induced abortions that influenced by religion discourse and second, support induced abortions with the rights to control over women’s selves. Thai films constructed the representation of women who have had abortions from 1) Characters who were in reproductive age, not married and not parenting or were in dysfunctional family. Moreover, most of the characters who have had abortions in Thai films were tortured, their lives changed into the bad way and died from abortion’s effected. 2) The representation of abortion was presented through in conography in horror films by the shots, angles and lightning in order to create the fear feeling for the audiences.