It's time for Thai TV series to help advance society

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
It's time for Thai TV series to help advance society
Chularat Saengpassa


story from Hormones 3

BANGKOK: -- TV SERIES have always been the most popular programmes because they are an easily accessed source of entertainment.

But in my eyes, TV series should be able to do much more than serve as mere entertainment.

The latest story from Hormones 3 is solid proof of what I mean. Following its broadcast, people went on the Internet to explain that HIV and Aids are different.

HIV stands for human immuno-deficiency virus. If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease Aids (acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome). Although Aids is the final stage of the HIV infection, not everyone who has HIV advances to this stage.

Hormones 3 highlighted this point, which boosted public awareness and understanding about people with HIV. If they receive proper care and medication, people living with HIV can lead a normal life.

Sadly, however, most other TV series that feature HIV-positive characters equate HIV to Aids, giving a distorted portrayal of what the disease really is.

HIV/Aids activists have explained that the wrong portrayal aggravates discrimination and increases the risk of HIV spreading. When people believe that those with HIV will have visible Aids symptoms, they may endanger themselves by having unprotected sex with a person who looks healthy.

HIV/Aids issues aside, most TV series also often fail to deliver practical knowledge for real-life situations.

In a romantic series, male characters often suck blood out of the wound of female characters bitten by snakes. But doctors say that such an approach is not really used anymore. They say it would be better to help snakebite victims by immobilising the affected limb and rushing them to hospital.

Even worse, many all-time favourite TV dramas include scenes in which heroes rape heroines and conclude with a sense of good feelings. The frequency of such scenes threatens to make some viewers believe that sexual violence is okay. But rape is a hideous crime and rapists must be punished under the law.

Orn-usa Perngsoong, a student at Silpakorn University, said earlier this year that she felt something was wrong when she noticed many soap operas used soft lighting, beautiful angles and romantic tunes to make it seem that sexual assault was not too bad in some instances.

"If we let the trend continue, people will think rapes are common or okay," she lamented.

Orn-usa has tried to counter this negative trend through her Facebook page under the name of "What do TV series reflect?" Attracting more than 56,000 likes, this page is filled with thought-provoking messages and graphics.

For example, one picture shows a woman warning her would-be rapist that he could be sexually abused in prison repeatedly if he commits the crime.

Child and Youth Media Institute manager Khemporn Wirunraphan said society should not react casually to rape scenes in TV series or it would negatively influence the values and culture of Thais.

"Don't take them lightly. TV is not merely about entertainment," she said.

Khemporn believes stricter ratings for TV programmes should be introduced, and all parties concerned must strive harder to support constructive media.

Sharing Ornusa and Khemporn's view, I am calling on TV-series producers to pay serious attention to the social and cultural impacts of their work.

High ratings and immense interest from advertisers may sound like a big success. But no real success is there if TV series instil wrong attitudes in Thais and harm society.

TV series producers, just like corporate firms, need to start integrating the social-responsibility concepts into their work.

The impact of TV series is immense. So let's turn them into sources of knowledge, good inspiration, understanding and good values too

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Its-time-for-Thai-TV-series-to-help-advance-societ-30274491.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-08

[Ireland32]

Long Overdue, Violence on Thai TV is Out of Control and they Mimic this Behavior...

[thesetat2013]

Long Overdue, Violence on Thai TV is Out of Control and they Mimic this Behavior...

Perhaps your right. However Thais are uneducated mentally to handle what is shown on TV as fiction. In most parts of the world violence and sex on TV is not taken as giving the OK to so it themselves on others. We are taught at a young age that its not OK and only shown on TV and in movies to entertain. Whereas in Thailand, nobody teaches them hence they act on things seen as being the norm. TV and movies do not encourage you to go out to do things seen in them.

To use TV shows to educate the public takes away the entertainment and the next thing you know the GOV will demand TV shows start teaching their list of ethics and values. Oh wait! That has already started happening.

[waldroj]

Aah, the classic Aristotelian mimesis. But, is it life imitating art (as suggested here) or art imitating life?

Excuse me, but maybe it's Thailand's patriarchal culture that's the problem. The society is as blasé about this as they are about corruption.

In any case, doesn't the country have censors to deal with what viewers can watch. Their main concern now should be junta propaganda!

[NongKhaiKid]

How can television series' educate when so many topics are off limits such as corruption ?

If soaps started to get serious they'd lose their audience fast.

[eldragon]

Jesus, is TH really that far behind? If Im not mistaken, the difference between HIV and AIDS has been common knowledge for nearly 30 years in the west. That's unacceptable, although not surprising. I mean, I rarely see hand soap in public restrooms here, even at high-end businesses and shopping malls. And I think some people still wipe with their hand.

[Rocceao]

"If we let the trend continue, people will think rapes are common or okay,"

I Think that boat has already sailed.

[benalibina]

A nation beyond salvation.

[Somtamnication]

Days of our junta lives, the bold and the military, Students at General Hospital...... so many names.

[Marcusv]

Thailands producers of programming are lost in lala land producing C Garde garbage. Based on mafia and ghosts. Its time the country had some democarcy and open the Thais eyes to the real world. A salvation

[LannaGuy]

Forget about TV first thing is to have STD clinics here and avoid people going into general hospitals asking embarrassingly 'where is the STD or Urologist clinic'?. That might improve HIV education and ALL sex education.

[Jeremy50]

It's incredible that 35 years have passed since the appearance of this virus, and some people are still not aware that there is a difference between HIV and AIDS, how HIV is passed on, and that it cannot be caught by holding hands, hugging or kissing. It must be down to HSV, the human stupidity virus, the same virus responsible for the bizarre belief that you can catch a cold by going out in the rain.

Edited December 8, 2015 by Jeremy50

[AJBangkok]

Movies and TV shows here are not allowed to produce content that portrays a policeman, politician, government official or military officer as corrupt or evil in any way. That's why every TV show ends up being the maids daughter switched with the Hiso daughter at birth or garbage like that.

[kaorop]

Television, the drug of the Nation

Breeding ignorance and feeding radiation

The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy

And while I believe in some sectors Thai society is advancing, in many its regressing.

Edited December 8, 2015 by kaorop

[bangon04]

Aah, the classic Aristotelian mimesis. But, is it life imitating art (as suggested here) or art imitating life?

Excuse me, but maybe it's Thailand's patriarchal culture that's the problem. The society is as blasé about this as they are about corruption.

In any case, doesn't the country have censors to deal with what viewers can watch. Their main concern now should be junta propaganda!

"Even worse, many all-time favourite TV dramas include scenes in which heroes rape heroines and conclude with a sense of good feelings."

In the case of raping the heroine, who then falls in love with her abuser, does this not imitate the real life of a village wedding - where underage girls are abducted, and raped, so that an "amicable" settlement can be made with the parents?

Then the soap operas need to show how a pregnant girl is best discarded to fend for herself. But in the rich families of the soap opera, they rarely get pregnant, it seems.

[selftaopath]

How can television series' educate when so many topics are off limits such as corruption ?

If soaps started to get serious they'd lose their audience fast.

LOL right you are Kid. The dribble that is on the typical Thai tv is ????? not sure what to call it. I know I practically "run out of the room" like my hair is on fire when Thai tv is on.

[NongKhaiKid]

Aah, the classic Aristotelian mimesis. But, is it life imitating art (as suggested here) or art imitating life?

Excuse me, but maybe it's Thailand's patriarchal culture that's the problem. The society is as blasé about this as they are about corruption.

In any case, doesn't the country have censors to deal with what viewers can watch. Their main concern now should be junta propaganda!

"Even worse, many all-time favourite TV dramas include scenes in which heroes rape heroines and conclude with a sense of good feelings."

In the case of raping the heroine, who then falls in love with her abuser, does this not imitate the real life of a village wedding - where underage girls are abducted, and raped, so that an "amicable" settlement can be made with the parents?

Then the soap operas need to show how a pregnant girl is best discarded to fend for herself. But in the rich families of the soap opera, they rarely get pregnant, it seems.

In the soaps I've had to sit through the rich girl is always a super bitch who is too busy screaming and abusing the domestic staff to get knocked up.

Besides which her scheming mother won't allow her to go out until she finds the boyfriend / future husband that she approves of. Criteria is simple, good family, status and of course money.

[SpokaneAl]

The eternal world wide discussion - television and movies blamed as the root of all evil and the foundation for what is wrong in society today.

If it where only that simple and easy.

[mike324]

Thai drama producers just don't have a vision. It is not that thai viewers won't watch anything else. Japanese, Taiwanese, and Korean drama were all big hits, why? because those romantic dramas are made well, reflecting real life and producers has done a good job with the story line and developing the characters.

All Thai dramas are pretty much the same, thai producers just don't have the skills and vision to produce something else. Hormones was the exception and that is why its the drama is doing so well, it accurately portrays what a typical teenagers goes through.

[nozzer614]

I am suprised they haven't blamed the farang,John Logie Baird for this.If he hadn't invented the television then they would not be exposed to to their culture.Oh I forgot they probably thought television was invented in Thailand.

[Minnehaha]

Jesus, is TH really that far behind? If Im not mistaken, the difference between HIV and AIDS has been common knowledge for nearly 30 years in the west. That's unacceptable, although not surprising. I mean, I rarely see hand soap in public restrooms here, even at high-end businesses and shopping malls. And I think some people still wipe with their hand.

Soap is one thing

a paper towel is another nice addition to the bathroom.

having said that, overall, I would choose a Thai bathroom in a mall or even a gas station (in the city) over one in the US.

[Furryman]

I just wish Thai TV shows had subtitles. I think it would be a really interesting look into the Thai mindset to be able to really follow what is happening.

[Lupatria]

So finally they found out that Thai soaps are the only kind of education that is accepted as such by the masses here. One can only hope they don't forget to produce the apps, turning every escalator in an auditorium.

[tuanku]

Channel 3 and 7 are both, of course, Government owned and controlled. Channel 7 is owned by the army. What Thais are watching is exactly what the Government wants them to watch. If the Junta wanted education, the channels would show it. I am sure there are some frustrated writers and producers out there who would love the chance to produce some gritty social dramas - trouble would come down on their heads if they did so. Look at the reaction to the Arbat movie. The ruling elite in Thailand are well suited by a poorly educated and socially and politically unaware populace who can be made to focus on rags to riches myths and the lottery as a way of moving up the social strata. It would not suit their agenda to increase awareness or social mobility in any way. This is why they feel so threatened by the Internet. Satellite and terrestrial TV are dying and we will soon move to internet TV. All it needs is for a group of expatriate Thais to start making quality TV programmes and streaming them on the internet and I am sure a section of the Thai market will switch away from their regular soaps. Another reason to control internet access.

[worgeordie]

The first thing Thai Tv series need to do,is to stop treating

their viewers like children,and get rid of the bells,whistles,

and other stupid noises that prevail throughout ,but maybe

the producers know that Thai viewers are like children,and

the noises will stay .

regards worgeordie

[Caveat Emptor]

Some years ago a politician suggested that LoS actively try to sell the soaps to neighbouring countries so they could see Thai culture and domestic life !

Shows the mentality, imagine selling that rubbish as representative of life here ?

[bangon04]

Some years ago a politician suggested that LoS actively try to sell the soaps to neighbouring countries so they could see Thai culture and domestic life !

Shows the mentality, imagine selling that rubbish as representative of life here ?

South Korea, Spain, Australia are three examples of countries which make a lot of money exporting similar such puerile rubbish overseas, where it is lapped up by addicts.

And let us not forget Dallas, Knots Landing, Dynasty, Falcon Crest etc They were not originally intended to be a parody, were they?

[SunsetT]

Long Overdue, Violence on Thai TV is Out of Control and they Mimic this Behavior...

TV and movies do not encourage you to go out to do things seen in them.

If this were true, why does big business spend millions on TV advertising and product placement?

Viewers, especially the intellectually undeveloped Thais with their highly suggestible, superstitious and overactive imaginations, can be influenced for better or worse...............Look at the sorry state of 'gun fetish' USA...............Hollywood has a lot to answer for!

Dictators and totalitarian regimes understand the power of the Media and its influence on the masses. Neglect it at your peril.

Edited December 8, 2015 by SunsetT

[tuanku]

The first thing Thai Tv series need to do,is to stop treating

their viewers like children,and get rid of the bells,whistles,

and other stupid noises that prevail throughout ,but maybe

the producers know that Thai viewers are like children,and

the noises will stay .

regards worgeordie

The noises are like the canned laughter on 70s comedies in UK and US - they let the audience know a joke has been made and it is time to laugh. I believe some Western shows of that era even had placards held up to tell a studio audience to laugh at the right times. These programmes are aimed at the lowest common denominator, and maybe aren't funny enough to do without the audible audience cues.

[SunsetT]

Jesus, is TH really that far behind? If Im not mistaken, the difference between HIV and AIDS has been common knowledge for nearly 30 years in the west. That's unacceptable, although not surprising. I mean, I rarely see hand soap in public restrooms here, even at high-end businesses and shopping malls. And I think some people still wipe with their hand.

As an aside......when hand washing with soap SHOULD be a given, the bum gun is the most fantastic advance in toilet hygeine. The filthy Western toilet paper habit, leaving you smeared with faeces, is disgusting especially when considering STDs and oral sex. Its use is even worse in Thai toilets with bins of soiled toilet paper hanging around.