The Adaptation of the Folk Media : Ramwong Yonyook Phetchaburi

Abstract

This article on the research titled “The Adaptation of the Folk Media : Ramwong
Yonyook Phetchaburi” was a part of the development of a handbook on the adaptation of
the folk media called Ramwong Yonyook Phetchaburi. It was a qualitative research and the
researcher studied the adaptation process from the origin of Ramwong Yonyook Phetchaburi
to the present at different periods of time and aimed to see the aspects of the remaining
parts, the continuity, and some changes related to the folk media. The study also included
the aspects of cultural adaptation and repeated production. The research tools included the
in-depth interview, field observation, and the literature reviews of related researches and
dissertations. The samples of this study were 50 designated qualified informants drawn from
the band members, supporters of the band (the singers), female dancers and the audience.
The results showed that :
1) The development of Ramwong Yonyook Phetchburi could be divided into two
stages which included the traditional Ramwong Yonyook Phetchaburi beginning in 1957
when many Thai country songs gained popularity and were often sung in most Thai local
dancing parties called Ramwong. Since there were so many quarrels among those male
party goers, this kind of Ramwong was later banned. Until the year 2000, Ramwong Yonyook
Phetchaburi began to gain an increasing popularity again.
2) The change process was originated from the need for survival in the changing
social context which was full of various modern kinds of media that affected Ramwong
Yonyook Phetchaburi in the aspects of the form and content, communication, roles and
responsibility, knowledge and cultural transfer, business bargaining, and the network. All of
these adaptations resulted from some external changes which included the influx of
modern forms of entertainment media and an increase in the business-oriented trends.