Thai Soap Opera Addiction’s Factor On Thai People In London

By Author: Henry Ford
Total Articles: 189
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A soap opera (‘soap’) refers to an ongoing episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in a serial format on radio or television. The name stems from radio broadcasts that had soap manufacturers such as Colgate-Palmolive, Procter and Gamble and Lever Brothers as sponsors and producers. Broadcasting of these radio series were in weekday day-time slots when most listeners would be housewives and therefore predominant among female audience. At times the term has generally been applied to any romantic serial but also to describe the more naturalistic prime time drama serials.
Soap operas are defined by crucial elements such as the open-ended nature of the narrative with stories continuing over several episodes. According to Albert Moran an open narrative is "that form of television that works with a continuous open narrative. Each episode ends with a promise that the storyline is to be continued in another episode". These stories are usually concurrent, intersecting and lead into further developments. An episode generally switches between story threads which are concurrent interconnecting at times and at other times running ...
... independently of each other often featuring some of the show’s current storylines. Day time serials and those that are screened each week day reflect a rotation of both storyline and actors who usually appears in some of the week’s episodes. The storylines are rarely brought to a conclusion at the same time and the end of a storyline is often followed by other story threads at different stages of development. The episodes usually ends in a plot featuring the main character confronted with a shocking revelation or in a precarious dilemma.
Soap operas or serials refer to a unique American invention storytelling that rocked the world by storm. In the world there is no place that people love their soaps more than Thailand. They originally started on the radio on nightly or weekly productions lasting from fifteen minutes to an hour. They finally found a home after the advent of the television. They finally took off after 1950s when every American television station broadcasted one or more programs to housewives in charge of the households.
In Thailand they have multibillion operations with every channel having 3 or 4 programs running daily and well into the night. Its even joked that Thais have three pastimes, that is, eating, sleeping and watching Thai soaps (also called lakorns). On Thai television channels they usually start at 20.30 every night at primetime. An episode is usually two hours long (including the commercials). A series normally runs for about three months airing two or three episodes a week. Channels compete for the most popular stars with the best soaps aired at night especially after the news while the ones with smaller profiles and shorter run times are aired at around 5 to 6 pm. However in other instances the programs are also shown on re-runs in the afternoon years after their initial release.
Characters and plot on Thai soaps
Thai soap operas often have distinctive characters and narrative conventions. The very popular characters among Thai viewers often possess the following characteristics;
• Achievement of a perfect ending where leading characters marry their soul mates and happily ever after.
• Established at the beginning of the series are the two main lovers. These characters tend to be the most popular stars at the moment and therefore the viewers have no difficulty singling them out of the crowd.
• Presence of one ‘’bad’’ female character is common. This character is often totally in love with the male lead and does everything possible to bar the fulfillment of the destined ending of the two would-be lovers. She tries to get rid of the main actress so as to become the main actor’s girlfriend. She is often a stereotype who does not hesitate to do bad things to the main actress before the wedding. She is rich or from a rich background with a nasty behavior and manipulative.
• A man dressed like a woman (katoei) is often used as comic relief (Sapai Look Tung is popular for this role).
• All conflicts at the end must be resolved. There is forgiveness and rewards for the ‘good’ and punishment for the ‘bad’ guys. However some end with unsolvable problems.
• Soap operas are often melodramatic and therefore the reason why situations are exaggerated grossly, theatrical actions and numerous screams and shrieks (from the bad female). The assumption is that the more melodramatic it is the better.
Reasons for watching soaps
• Influence from family and peers.
• Soap operas continue their stories from day to day.
• Public places where the televisions are set to one channel.

Soap operas and addiction
Soap operas addiction refers to the situation whereby an individual spends most part of their free time watching the soaps and sometimes giving up some of their social activities to feed their addiction. Sometimes the soaps even become more important than the lives we lead.
In London the instances of addiction are quite high. Majority of the addicts are often those who started watching the programs at an age and the habit becomes entrenched in them towards adulthood. It is a harmless entertainment for most people but to others it becomes an obsession. According to Mr. West, ‘‘Reality and fiction becomes hopelessly confused.’’
The victims of addiction in London come from all walks of life-housewives, engineers, unemployed people, company directors among others. The TV viewers are lured back by the need to satisfy their curiosity, strong sense of loyalty and a desire to, ‘root’ for their favorite characters.
Soap addictions in London have led to broken marriages and relationships, interference with work performance and the living of a normal life. Addicted audiences are obsessed with soap operas especially after being exposed to divorce, playboys, unplanned pregnancies and so on.
Thais in London love watching one or two soaps every night before they are willing to go anywhere or even do anything else.
Thai people have a very great loyalty to their soaps and a strong affiliation to their favorite characters. This scenario makes Thai people in London get hooked to Thai soaps. They love to see these characters on shows in preference to other soaps.
Among the Thai people in London who watch the soaps there is a common behavior among them particularly the women. These behaviors see to have been ‘learned’ from the Thai movie, for instance hysteria, emotional overreaction among others.
Thai soap operas reflect their society to some extent. This means that the Thais are highly embodied to their culture which is evidenced by their obsessive nature to their own soaps even while in London.
The soap operas run in series with some shows extending up to six months. The viewers follow each and every episode and this continuous watching eventually brings about addiction among the viewers. The broadcast duration therefore accounts partially for the addiction.
Signs of addiction common among the addicts include;
• Multiple viewing- the viewer watches the program daily at its scheduled time. Besides they also catch another same day episodes on Soap Net (a cable network completely dedicated to soap opera). In addition other viewers tape the programs which they watch later as a series.
• Maniacal spewing- the viewer talks about the episodes to anyone be it the mother, child, friends, co-workers among others. They have pressure to dialogue about each and every episode and their preferred characters. They possess a lot of emotions on the storyline and the characters which can be portrayed as they discuss about the show. At times there is shedding of tears and mourning over the death or departure of their loved ones.
• Genetic linkage – addiction is seen in families especially when there is mother or daughter (and at times the grandmother) addiction or linkage. A son could also be affected since the genes can be passed from the mother to the son.

Ways of overcoming addiction
• Schedule on the amount of time to spend watching soap operas every week. A written log is preferable for more impact.
• Making a list of other things the individual enjoys that does not involve watching soaps. These activities could include family games, reading, pawning, household projects among others.
• Put the list on a conspicuous position (such as on the refrigerator) or taped to the front of the tv set. This is to ensure that you see it before satisfying addiction to soaps. Alternatively check on the list for something else to do.

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