The transformation of meanings of ghosts in Thai soap operas

Abstract

The main objective of the research “The Transformation of Meanings of Ghosts in Thai Soap Operas” is to study the construction of ghosts’ meaning and the transformation of ghosts in Thai soap opera through textual analysis according to narratology. The study focused on the soap operas related to ghost during 1987 – May 2014. Twelve soap operas in total were chosen to be studied in this research. The study revealed that the meanings’ transformation of ghosts in Thai soap opera is the effect of the kind of media called “TV soap opera” that constructs the ghosts’ meaning through the narrative compositions such as genre, narrative structure, character typology, theme and iconography.

The ghosts’ meaning is transformed and divided into two parts. First is the convention where the transformation of ghosts is being broadcasted and reproduced which reflects that ghosts are scary, powerful, different from human (otherness) and binding to the law of karma. The second part is the invention where the ghosts’ meaning is constructed from the understanding of the differences of individuals and the reconstruction through variety of narrative compositions such as intertextuality, pastiche, nostalgia, discontinuity, reproduction, implosion of meaning, hyperreal and simulation.

Consequently, the ghosts’ meaning that is repeatedly portrayed in Thai society has changed or been transformed. For example, ghosts are not powerful, ghosts exploits human for their own hidden agenda and ghosts are able to live with human. These changes also reflect the changes in human perspective towards ghosts. Ghosts have become the symbol of the different kind in the society. Moreover, the transformation of ghosts also weaken the ancient ideal and belief about ghosts in Thai society.