An Entertainment Venue "Isan Lamsing": Space of Identity of Isan Migrants in Bangkok

Abstract

The paper explains relationship between Isan people and one entertainment venue in Bangkok. This entertainment place employs Isan entertainment forms as its marketing strategy. This includes morlam-sing (northeastern-style singing) and lukthung-morlam (northeastern style of country music). The paper argues that these Isan entertainment forms offered in this venue have turned social relations between Isan migrant workers who came to enjoy music at this place into a form of economic relationship. In addition, the entire Isan music business has played an important role in shaping and modernizing Isan music. Hence, Isan identity performed through popular music has become easily consumed and accessed. This paper not only aims to explore political economic aspect of Isan music industry in shaping Isan identity but also examining social relations between Isan migrant workers who are workers and customers of this entertainment place.