The Death of Jaran Manophet: Memory and Commemorative Activities in Lanna Society

Abstract

This article illustrates a social phenomenon emerging after the death of Jaran Manophet, whose identity is perceived as a musician, an actor, and a prominent local artisan in Lanna society, investigated through commemorative activities that play a vital part in disseminating a story of Jaran Manophet being told and retold. This remembering process is conducted through reproduction and construction of the narratives of Jaran’s work and life, by various groups of people and organizations. The article will show that these commemorative activities have finally become a mechanism which simultaneously constructs and commemorates a story of Jaran Manophet in the public, and constitutes a social space for cultural movements in local Lanna society which, in the present, have to encounter the challenging situation of a commoditization of Lanna cultures and rapid changes in daily lives.