In Praise of Star Tuskers: Domesticated Elephants and their Positive Images in Thai Contemporary Songs
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background and objective: Domesticated elephants, the national animals of Thailand,have been stigmatized for many decades. Their status is so low that they have been negatively labelled as “street beggars.” However, after almost a decade of their ways of life presented through online media, an opposite image has interestingly emerged and can be found in the lyrics of online Thai contemporary songs. This research aims to examine the images of domesticated elephants through the lyrics of Thai contemporary songs posted on www.youtube.com.
Methodology: This article is qualitative research. The data was selected through the above-mentioned website by considering only those songs with 10,000 views or more. Accordingly, 28 Thai contemporary songs posted on www.youtube.com in 2021-2022 were analyzed. The images of domesticated elephants included in five songs are presented in this paper.
Main result: The study reveals seven images of the elephants, in descending order of frequency: (1) those that cause viewers happiness and contentedness, (2) as supporters of tourism in Thailand, (3) those that join in prolonging the age of Buddhism, (4) those that cause their mahouts and watchers auspiciousness, (5) those that carry on the elephant legends of Surin province and Thailand, (6) those that open mor al paths for religious followers to fulfill merit gathering, and (7) as shelters for th eir own mahouts and other related ones.
Relevance to Thai Studies: This research not only provides new data and research on the national animals of Thailand, but also academically highlights another aspect of Thai studies in the boundary of present-day Thailand by examining what relates to Thai citizens with different ethnic backgrounds, apart from previous research widely conducted on Tai ethnic groups inside or outside Thailand. Furthermore, this research hopes to amplify the voices of marginal animals and people and bring their obscure images to light in order to reach a better understanding among different ethnic groups of Thai citizens and towards stigmatized animals.
Conclusion: Those earlier-mentioned seven images are all positive and are from the perspectives of composers who pay close attention to the lives of domesticated elephants through online media. They then, through the lyrics of Thai contemporary songs, throw light on the significance of the social, cultural and economic aspects of these animals.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Journal of Thai studies is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivatives4.0 Intenational (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence, unless otherwise stated. Plese read our Policies page for more information on Open Access, copyright and permissions.
References
Ajchariyabodee, W. (2020). The Role of Control: Relations in Elephant Pacification Poems.Vannavidas, 20(2), 29-62. https://so06.tcithaijo.org/index.php/VANNAVIDAS/article/view/241711.
Ajchariyabodee, W. (2021). Social Ideology in Elephant Pacification Poems. Journal of ThaiStudies, 17(2),73-99. https://so04.tcithaijo.org/index.php/TSDJ/article/view/264256/178765.
Amornwongwichit, M. (1996). Phong Sawadan Huamueang Monthon Isan [Chronicle of Cities in the Northeastern Region]. 6th edition. Bangkok: Watcharin Printing.
Assawachaichan, S. (2017). Chang Thai [Thai Elephants]. 2nd Edition. Nonthaburi: Plataphian.
Bangkokbiznews. (2022, November 10). Thiaw Ngan Chang Surin Prachampi 2565 Chek-in Kan Sadaeng Chang Thi Ham Phlat! [Visit 2022 Elephant Round-up Festival, Check-in Unforgettable Elephant Show].https://www.bangkokbiznews.com/news/news-update/
37172.
Batik, P. (2021a, March 25). FC Buaban [Buaban’s Fans] [Video]. YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ5OGtaw hF0.
Batik, P. (2021b, March 28). Lae Plai Buaban [Lae-Style Recitation on a Male Elephant Entitled ‘Buaban’]. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz3jSpI55cY.
Batik, P. (2021c, July 9). Chuenchai, Buaban, Nano. [Video]. YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_jFO2S5pw.
Buaban FC Buaban. (2023). Buaban FC Buaban. [Facebook page]. Facebook. RetrievedAugust 1, 2023, from: https://www.facebook.com/Elephantbuanan/.
Chaiaiam, N. (2021). Invocation in the Elephant Pacification Poems: A Study of the Form of Literature and Context. Fa Nuea Journal, 12(2), 55-74. https://so01.tcithaijo.org/index.php/FaNJ/article/view/256465/171417.
Chaiaiam, N. (2022a). A Study of the Elephant Pacification Poems of his Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great as Eulogy. Parichart Journal, 35(3), 250-268. https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/parichartjournal/article/view/252838/175462.
Chaiaiam, N. (2022b). The Significance of Gods in the Elephant P acification Poems.Humanities and Social Sciences Journal Ubon Ratchathani University, 13(1), 158-188.https://so02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/human_ubu/article/view/252304/172656.
Chantharak, P. (2021, May 4). Long Rak Buaban [Fall for Buaban]. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz0YAZJx1jQ.
Collins. (2023). Collins Online Dictionary.https://www.collinsdictionary.com/.
Elephants and the Wisdom of Kuy Chang Kuy Lae Khon Rak Chang. (2021, September 10).Phlai Phloithong [Phloithong, a Male Elephant]. [Status update]. Facebook. https://m.facebook.com/elephants.kuylover/posts/138549285147930/.
Elephant Thailand. (2023a). Elephant Thailand. [Youtube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved August 1, 2023, from: https://www.youtube.com/@ElephantThailand/featured.
Elephant Thailand. (2023b). Elephant Thailand. [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved August 1, 2023, from: https://www.facebook.com/BUABANELEPHANT/.
Juajan, J. (2012). Surin Elephants. Arts and Culture Journal of the Lower Moon River, 7, 98-103.
Kapook. (2009, October 9). Thum 15 Lan Sang Chumchon Chang Surin Haeng Raek Khong Lok [Spending 15 Million Baht on Building a Surin Elephant Community, 1st Elephant Community in the World]. https://travel.kapook.com/view5663.html.
Kittimahacharoen, S. (2017). The Story of Phlai Mongkol, an Ill-Fated Elephant: M.L. Boonlue Theppayasuwan’s Interesting Documentary about Elephant’s Life. In Contemporary Literature, 79-94. Bangkok: Ramkhamhaeng University.
LIRT. (2010). Kho Banyat Krungthepmahanakhon Rueang Kan Nam Chang Ma Ha Raidai Nai Khet Krungthepmahanakhon [Bangkok’s Legislation on the Control of Bringing Elephants to Earn a Living in the Bangkok Area]. https://dl.parliament.go.th/handle/20.500.13072/143536?show=full.
Long Thang Pai Thiaw. (2022, September 6). Khrongkan Lok Khong Chang Thi Thiaw Mai Changwat Surin [Elephant World Project: Surin Province’s New Tourist Attraction].https://com2ine.com/travel/world-of-elephant-at-surin-thailand/.
Matichon. (2017, November 19). Siang Khruan Chak Khwan Chang Lang Sadaeng Ngan Chang Surin Chob Won Changwat Chai Kha Tua Phoem [Mahout’s Lament after Finishing Annual Elephant Round-up Festival, Begging the Province to Pay More].
https://www.matichon.co.th/region/news_737062.
MGR Online. (2009, June 14). “Nak” Namnak Kwa 110 Kilokram Mai Mi Khrai Yom Hai Khi Kho “Mae” Tong Chang Chang Pha Khao Wat [Nobody Let over 110-kilogramme “Nak [Applicant]” Sitting on their Shoulders, His Mother Had to Hire an Elephant to Take Him to the Temple]. https://mgronline.com/local/detail/9520000067002.
Na Kalasin, S. (2001). A Comparison of Khmer Lexical Characteristics in Elephant Pacification Poems in Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin Periods. [Unpublished Master’s Thesis], Mahasarakham University.
Nannaphat, Y. (2021, March 31). Buaban Klang Chai [Buaban in the Middle of the Heart].[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spXaHeeKP_k.
Office of the Royal Institute. (n.d.). Photcananukrom Chabab Ratchabandittayasathan Pho So2554 [Royal Institute’s Thai Dictionary, 2011 A.D. Edition]. https://dictionary.orst.go.th/.
Pakdeekham, S. (2004). Khun Thepkrawi’s Elephant Pacification Po ems: Through the Perspectives of Khmer Language and Literature. Damrong Journal of the Faculty of Archeology Silpakorn University, 3(5), 111-127. https://so01.tcithaijo.org/index.php/damrong/article/view/21207/18350.
Phiansamoe, K. F. (2022, August 2). Fim-Suphansa Mittraphap Thi Taektang [Film & Suphansa: A Friendship of Different Species].” [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaPmCtzCbfY.
PPTVHD36. (2018, March 13). 4 Yuk “Chang Thai” Sat Yai Khu Phaendin Chak Khunsuek Su Chang Cho [4 Eras of Thai Elephants: Huge Animals of the Kingdom Turning from Warriors to Elephant Show]. https://rb.gy/8bxrf.
Robkhob, T. (2021a, April 23). Chang Thai Phlai Buaban [Buaban, a Thai Male Elephant]. [Video ]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqcr1Gut2Ew.
Robkhob, T. (2021b, April 28). Phlai Dao Mongkhon Samcha [Cha Cha Cha on a Male Elephant Entitled Dao Mongkhon]. [Video ]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SCu1ZeM66U.
Sienghom, A. (1997). An Analysis of the Use of Symbolism in Nikhom Raiyawa’s Literary Work. [Master’s Thesis, Thaksin University]. http://www.thaithesis.org/detail.php?id=1082543000223
Suthathip, M. (2021a, May 30). Supta Buaban [Buaban, a Superstar]. [Video]. YouTube.https://youtu.be/4sFQBgjM1yw.
Suthathip, M. (2021b, June 26). Chaoying Suphansa [Princess Suphansa]. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg_0EHVe_A.
Suthathip, M. (2021c, August 21). Omkot Sithapthai [The Embrace of Srithapthai Family]. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDrU0uVLw5o.
Suthathip, M. (2022, February 17). Pho Yai Phlai Sithapthai [Srithapthai, a Grandfather Male Elephant]. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OraVLHuSumc.
Thai News Agency. (2020, May 29). Ruchak “Phlai Buaban” Chang Noi Sai Bat Khwanchai Khon Thang Prathet [Getting to Know “Phlai Buaban,” a Male Elephant Giving Alms to Buddhist Monks, the Beloved One to the Whole Country]. https://tna.mcot.net/tna-436262.
Thaipost. (2023, March 24). Thiaw Dindaen Kotchasan Samphat Withi ‘Khon Kap Chang’[Travel in the Land of Tuskers, To Absorb the Way of Lives of ‘Humans and Elephants’].https://www.thaipost.net/news-update/348041/.
Thongkaew, A. (2008). Elephants in Thai Culture. Arts and Culture Journal of the Lower Moon River, 3(1), 27-39.
Wilailak, N. (2021a, February 1). Khati Son Chai Nueng Wilailak [Mind-Teaching Ethics by Neung Wilailak. [Youtube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved August 1, 2023, from:https://www.youtube.com/@userlr8bu3ot5p/about.
Wilailak, N. (2021b, February 23). Chang Dao Mongkon [Dao Mongkon, an Elephant]. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2R964UszTY.
Wilailak, N. (2021c, February 25). Plai Buaban (Bua Ba Buaban) [Buaban-a Male Elephant (Bua Ba Buaban)]. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgTJ4Yh_ujA.
Wilailak, N. (2021d, March 2). Phlai Phloithong [Phloithong-A Male Elephant]. [Video].YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JokUx9 r9JIc.
Wilailak, N. (2021e, March 13). Sao Kaem Pong Nong Umbun [Umbun-the Puffy Cheek Girl].[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCkVPP1Yirc.
Wilailak, N. (2021f, March 29). Chang Faet Phlai Thongkham Phlai Thongthaeng [Thongkham and Thongthaeng: Twin Male Elephants]. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fokJYGryKGo.
Wilailak, N. (2021g, April 13). Chunia Chang Noi [Junior: A Little Elephant]. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/dIyI06 dKNFQ.
Wongkirt, P. (2012). Analysis of Elephants-Related Myths in Folk Tales of Surin-Based Kui People. [Master’s Thesis, Dhurakij Pandit University]. https://libdoc.dpu.ac.th/mtext/thesis/abst/145849.pdf
Woradejnaiyana, K. and Hongsuwan, P. (2020). “The Elephant in Isaan Literature: Assembly Created the Identity and Cultural Meaning.” Journal of MCU Peace Studies, 8(1), 233-246. https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/journal-peace/article/view/234912/163677.