Live Music Truck and Ban Dao Dances: Isan Youth and Communication for Negotiation of New Isan

Abstract

This qualitative research aims to study communication strategies in negotiating a new Isan identity by live music truck involving the active participation of Isan youth. Data collection methods included document analysis, field observations at performance sites in Isan, and in-depth interviews with three groups: experts conducting research on live music truck, owners of live music truck bands, and the audience. The study employs the concepts of localism combined with cultural production and reproduction. The findings reveal that performances blend contemporary popular music with traditional Isan music. The performers are mainly young people, and audience participation often includes Ban Dao Dances, a signature waist-dancing style. Most performances are disseminated through social media, which portrays Isan’s current economic status, and cultural identity. This phenomenon underscores the pivotal role of youth in driving the cultural evolution of live music truck. This cultural shift is attributed to the evolving socio-economic and cultural context of Isan, which has provided its youth with greater access to knowledge and economic resources, empowering them to reproduce cultural media and reimagine the Isan identity, contrasting with past perceptions of Isan.