DISCOURSE STRUCTURE AND CULTURAL REFLECTION IN THE COOKING PROGRAM “HIGH ZONE KITCHEN” HOSTED BY M.L. KWANTIP DEVAKULA

Abstract

The objectives of this qualitative research article were two important objectives in the cooking program “High Zone Kitchen”, hosted by M.L. Kwantip Devakula 1) to study the discourse structure; 2) to study the cultural reflection in the program. The data collected for this research was drawn using purposive sampling. 20 episodes of the cooking program "High Zone Kitchen", shown from March 26^th to October 15^th 2020, were selected.  The total length of the episodes combined is 3 hours 44 minutes and 9 seconds. The results of research show that the discourse structure in M.L. Kwantip Devakula’s cooking program consists of 3 main components: the lead section of the program; the content section showing the cooking process; and the end section of the program. However, each of these core components has different sub-elements. In the cultural reflection part, it was found that the cooking program shows cultural reflection that is related to the meanings of food in different 7 contexts, including 1) historical wisdom 2) economic 3) cultural ecology and flexibility 4) social 5) religious 6) sexual 7) health and nutrition dimensions. Each dimension reflects that the dynamic of people’s food consumption in the current society has changed, probably due to the more complex social and cultural conditions, modern lifestyles as well as technology advancements which force them to adapt to the changes. In conclusion, the meaning of food does not refer to only their nutritional value, but it refect beliefs, traditions, social values, cultural practices. Foods and eating culture are interwoven. The two components: foods and eating culture, thus, define “High Zone Kitchen” and make the program attrative to a wide range of audience.