Thai History Comics: Dynamics of Historical Narratives

Abstract

This article aimed to study dynamics of narratives in six Thai history comics.  The findings showed that Thai history comics expressed dynamics in their publishing, readers, text, and uses.  For publishing, it shifted from royal initiation to capitalist entrepreneurs.  Readers also moved from knowledge acquirers, searching for reference, to children and young adults supporting by parents and requiring edutainments.  Dynamics in text reflected in changes of formats from historical document to intertextual and inter-discourse forms.  Changes of uses were also relevant to publishers and readers.  These historical narratives became entertaining media and additional sources of knowledge, while still lasted as a medium of creating awareness of the nation.  All stated dynamics were the result of combining historical knowledge with cartoons to focus on the idea “edutainment.” Thus, Thai history comics, were currently modern comics presenting entertainment as well as knowledge.