Abstract:
This thesis aims to study roles of Khon, a traditional Thai masked dance, under Thailand's socio-political changes in different patterns. The study focuses on patterns of changes and operators playing important roles in developing the new roles of Khon in each period. The concept "Hegemony" has been used in analysing data as a research instrument.The result shows that the roles of Khon has been controlled and evolved by the ruling class who had power in each period, reflecting by using Khon as a political tool for deriving personal benefits. In the period of the absolute monarchy, the role of Khon began as a performance demonstrating kings status and holiness. As time passed by, holiness was depreciated as Khon became a kings entertainment for showing his great power. After the political change in 1932, the status of Khon was changed from being possessed by the royal court into the government, as it was under the authority of Fine Arts Department. Field Marshall P. Pibulsongkram had set the role of Khon in term of patriotism. Then, M.R. Kukrit Pramoj had valued Khon in term of Thainess and royal institution, as a support to the institution. Afterwards, the government had not focused on the importance of Khon as a political tool. Therefore, Khon had been brought back as an entertainment for the common people, especially in the period of Mr. Seri Wangnaitham who makes Khon famous among people in Thailand. Nevertheless, Khon had been continuously faded from time to time. In the present, the royal institution, as a cultural conservative, has revived and promoted this traditional Thai masked dance again by ordering the production of Khon performance at Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theater and founding the SUPPORT Foundation, under the royal patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. Consequently, Khon springs into public favor again. This change is remaining the value and ideology of royal institution and emphasizing the acknowledgement in the value of royal institution as a national art conservative. According to this study, patterns and methods of using Khon as the political tool of the ruling class reflect the use of cultural hegemony of ruling class to achieve benefits of the operators and also created difference roles of "Khon" in Thailand's history.