Abstract:
The purpose of the study on the advertising media and the identity of Thai middle-class males nowadays are to 1) know how the identity of Thai middle class males is characterized 2) how this identity is created by media and 3) whether the identity created by media is accepted by Thai middle-class males though the use of qualitative research. The samples used in this study are 20 Thai middle-class males (using income for social class determination).The data analysis is based on content analysis and the analysis of the media content from which the identity of Thai middle-class males is built. The study also reveals that the males image at present which is different from that in the past, is characterized such that a man must be over 175 cm. high, white with short hair and clean face without pimples, proportional with muscles, not so skinny as teenager and it is important for him to take care of himself both from inside and outside. As for the creation of the males image, this study finds that mass media, especially television, have a strong role in creating the social value of the male sexual image and that male adopt unconsciously their identity created by the media. It concluded that media have an important role in socialization by instilling the social value of the individuals beauty through advertising and reproduction of the societys role models such as movie stars and singers etc.