The Passing Wind: Reading-only Text, Unfit for Adaptation

Abstract

This article aims to propose that the novel The Passing Wind (Lhom Pad Paan Daow) by Wor. Vinijchaikul inherently demands to be experienced through "reading" alone. The text stands out for its profound exploration of the complex emotions tied to love, such as deep affection, loneliness, emptiness, confusion, jealousy, hurt feelings, misunderstanding, and more. The novel captivates readers primarily through the emotional depth of its main characters, rather than through plot twists or suspenseful events that provoke curiosity. These qualities render The Passing Wind suitable exclusively for reading. Visual storytelling mediums such as drama and film face limitations in fully conveying the intricate emotional layers of the novel. Moreover, adapting the work into moving images diminishes the unique essence of the text, which explains why the television adaptation of The Passing Wind was unsuccessful. This article seeks to argue that, in this era of multimedia adaptations—ranging from literature to moving images and vice versa—not all works are equally adaptable. Creative works inherently possess distinct characteristics and limitations. Some are best appreciated through reading, others through watching and listening, while some lend themselves to a variety of approaches.