Journal of Communication Arts

Health Narrative in the Korean Drama “Hospital Playlist”

Jiramon Sangchai — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0700

The aim of this qualitative research is to study the narrative about health in the Korean drama “Hospital Playlist.” Each episode of this drama has a duration of approximately 90 minutes. The first season of this drama consists of 12 episodes which aired between March 12th and May 28th, 2020. The second season also consists of 12 episodes, which aired between June 17th – September 9th, 2021. This drama was produced by TVN television channel and can be watched in Thailand via Netflix. There are 5 main characters in this drama and all of them are doctors. This drama contains health-related content as well as the content related to love and the bond between friends. The soundtrack for each episode is strategically selected as to be consistent with what happen to the characters in each episode. The director of this drama is Shin Won Ho and the script writer is Lee Woo Jung. The research results indicate that the narrative about health in this drama can be divided as follows: the narrative about treatment planning, the narrative about communication with patients and their relatives, the narrative about tracking of patient symptoms, the narrative about critical care patients, the narrative about emergency patients, the narrative about surgery, the narrative about organ donations, and the narrative about professors and medical students.

Thai Elderly's Need of Using Virtual Reality Communication Technology and Recommendations for Usage

Kamonrat Kijrungpaisarn — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Whether, Virtual Reality (VR) is an alternative digital media as it is today or may become the main digital media in the future. Currently, VR has been used in various forms according to the suitability and needs of elderly people in many countries. This pilot research studies 10 Thai people aged 61-79 years who live in Bangkok, consisting of both males and females from various occupations, using in-depth interview methods. The research results found that Thai elderly hardly want to use VR media and virtual reality content. However, if they have the opportunity to use VR media and access virtual reality content, they would like to use it as to be a topic of conversation, to entertain and to satisfy curiosity. The top three types of virtual content that they want to access are entertainment, health and exercise, and imaginary stories that cannot be done in real life. However, even though the elderly people are hardly wanted to use VR media and access virtual content, the research results found that the elderly are concerned about the potential effects on their physical and mental health of wearing VR headsets and accessing virtual content, which are important points to consider. Therefore, this research has led to the creation of preliminary recommendations for using VR for the elderly in terms of accessing to virtual content and using VR headsets, so Thai elderly can use VR media safely, and gain the benefits.

The Covid-19 Digital Vote-Canvassing Networks in The 2022 Bangkok Gubernatorial Election

Mukda Pratheepwatanawong — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0700

The 2022 Bangkok Gubernatorial election campaign was the first Bangkok Gubernatorial election campaign in nine years for Bangkok to hold a local election, in which candidates have to contest for Bangkok governorship under the global COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2022 Bangkok Gubernatorial Election campaign, the COVID-19 measures included the restriction of mass gatherings, the imposing of social distancing, the wearing of surgical masks in indoor and outdoor areas while campaigning and having to quarantine once infected with COVID-19. The objective of this research is to explore the various ways in which COVID-19 measures have impacted the 2022 Bangkok Gubernatorial election. The methodology used in this research includes semi-structured interviews with authorities, candidates and campaign staff of the election, observation of candidates’ images and video clips posted on candidates’ social networking and candidates’ printed election campaign materials. This paper argues that COVID-19 measures disrupted the democratic practice in the 2022 Bangkok Gubernatorial election and the COVID-19 measures have been significantly integrated into candidate’s digital vote-canvassing network, offering a hybrid election campaign where candidates seek various ways to establish and develop their relationship with followers.

The Narrative of Death on Isan Temple Mural Paintings in Thailand

Nacharata Aimnaran, Grit Thonglert — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0700

The purpose of this research was to understand the content, signification, and narratives of death on temple mural paintings in the northeastern region (Isan) of Thailand. Qualitative research methodology was used to analyze mural paintings of 16 temples in Isan (north eastern), Thailand. The results are as follows; 1) Content related to death could be divided into 4 groups: causes of death, funeral arrangements, beliefs in the afterlife, and contextual content related to death. 2) Methods for signification, including associations with Buddhist literature, using mural painting codes, spatial organization, symbols in rituals, and binary opposition, as well as the use of body language iconic codes to express emotional content. 3) Narrations were found using 7 elements: (1) stories – stories about life and death according to ways of life, the cycle of birth, old age, sickness, and death, funeral ceremonies, and karma from the sins of the deceased, (2) plots – beginning with the ‘exposition’ explaining hell as the beginning, then the ‘rising action’ where every life moves on to death, ‘climax’ when the judgment day arrives, ‘falling action’ when lives follow the rule of karma, and the ‘ending’ with mindfulness of death, (3) themes – the dominant theme revolved morality, (4) characters - characters could be classified into 2 groups: human beings (ordinary humans and humans with magical powers) and non-humans (gods, deities, workers of the underworld, and underworld creatures) and all characters had non-complex personalities, (5) conflicts – there were often conflicts between human beings and mara, human beings and the laws of nature, and human beings and society, (6) points of view – the omniscient point of view was used, and (7) setting – three types of scenes were used: natural scenes, livelihood scenes, and abstract scenes. In terms of narratives of death – 3 methods were found used for narratives of death: (a) narrations through intertextuality, (b) applied narrations of death in both chronological and non-chronological formats, and (c) non-continuous death narrations focusing on telling stories to respond to emotions such as fear or peacefulness in order to promote understanding of Maranasati.

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

Rungladit Jaturapaisan, Somsuk Hinviman — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0700

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.

Historical Discourse Analysis of Lesbian in Thai Media from 1996 to 2020

Nahathai Sanmongkol , Chanettee Tinnam — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0700

The purpose of the research article is to analyze the conditions and formation of the gender identity discourse of lesbians in Thai media texts. The research used an analytical framework based on Michel Foucault's genealogical approach by analyzing statements in Thai media texts published between 1996 and 2020, including newspapers, magazines, novels, television dramas and series, movies, news media websites, and variety shows. The results show that the gender identity discourse of lesbians in Thai society is shaped by power and knowledge under a system of gender binary, heterosexual norms, patriarchy, and homophobia which is reinforced by society's sexual morality combined with modern scientific knowledge such as psychoanalysis and behavioral science. The gender identity of lesbians thus emerges as an object of discourse linked to emotional disorder, sexual deviance, and cultural decline. On the other hand, this discursive situation allows the gender identity of lesbians to form its subjectivity through the reinforcement of rights, liberalism, and individualism, resulting in a social network of lesbians in alternative communication spaces such as Anjaree. In the context of the growth of the commercial entertainment media industry in 2007, identity became a space of consumption and commodification. A lesbian gender identity may anchor itself in the discursive space by integrating itself into the moral and cultural knowledge framework of society, such as being good, beautiful, handsome, successful in life, and skilled. It also integrates itself into the normative definition of romantic love of heterosexual love. However, integrating the self into the moral and cultural framework of society creates a situation that deceives one into believing that freedom is already available. The existence of this identity still faces tensions such as being discriminated against in the law and being expected to assume the role of woman and man according to the gender binary. Ultimately, this tension gives rise to another discourse dynamic influenced by Queer Theory that proposes a gender diversity ontology. The binary gender system is questioned. And there has been a movement to make the gender identity of lesbians a space that is more open and inclusive of gender diversity, no longer being tied to the straight female.

The Study of Thai Film Distribution on Over The Top (OTT) Platform

Titiya Pojanapitak — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0700

This research focuses on Thai film distribution on Over The Top (OTT) platform, conducting by theories of film business, technology and social change, audience and customer behavior, OTT's significance and scope, as well as marketing and business management. Using qualitative methodology, the study examines relevant documents and legal regulations, collecting data through in-depth interviews with purposively sampled key informants in Thailand's OTT film distribution sector. The participants include: A) Thai Film content creators and distributors (both independent and businesses), B) Thai film OTT providers, and C) Thai government official responsible for OTT were interviewed between June 2011 and June 2012.

The findings indicate that OTT has become the primary target window for both Thai theatrical release-oriented films and films specifically oriented towards OTT as the first window. By providing funds for film production, OTT platforms are becoming film studios, bypassing the traditional distribution process and gaining the ability to license their content to other distribution windows, thereby increasing opportunities for Thai filmmakers to distribute their films through diverse channels. However, the lack of governmental assistance along with appropriate regulations and financial support, which are crucial for adapting to rapid changes, poses challenges to the growth of OTT.