The Aesthetics and Values of Folk Media in Southern Thailand

Abstract

 This qualitative study on “Status, Role and Potential of Folk Media as the Alternative Media for the Development of Southern Society” aims to (1) examine the status of southern folk media, (2) analyze their functions and values, (3) look into factors affecting their financial status, and (4) explore possible ways to promote them as alternative media for the development of southern society. It uses a combination of qualitative methods of in-depth interview and focus group discussions with southern folk media performers in five provinces. Theoretically, the study is carried out using concepts of (1) folk media, (2) media functionalism, (3) community communication and (4) development communication. The study yields four main findings. Firstly, the status of the southern folk media such as shadow puppets and Dikayr Hulu is financially dependent due discontinuity and insufficiency of income. Additionally, the general public shows a little interest in such locally traditional media. Secondly, the southern folk media has eight functions as follows; (1) local language conservation, (2) tradition and cultural preservation, (3) socialization, (4) moral incubation, (5) southern folk media identity maintenance, (6) local knowledge and wisdom for southern society development, (7) folk media training to new generation and (8) entertainment. Thirdly, the values of southern folk media represent three aspects: (1) social value of families, communities and the relationship between communities, (2) linguistic value for both promotion and conservation, (3) sentimental value for both performers and the audience, and (4) the value of group cohesion. Finally, three ways to promote the potential of southern folk media as alternative media for social development include (1) financial support to help them economically survive and continue their missions, (2) increase of communication channels for folk media performers to reach wider audience and (3) intellectual support to broaden the performers’ knowledge, ideas and social movement to keep them socially updated.