THE IMAGE OF THAILAND IN HOLLYWOOD FILMS

Abstract

The research on “The Image of Thailand in Hollywood Films” is aimed at learning about the image appearing of Thailand’s in Hollywood films and if it is contrary to the laws of Thailand or not. The qualitative research was based on textual analysis of ten studied Hollywood films that were shot in Thailand and released between 2000 and 2016. The conceptual framework for data analysis included Image, Construction,Semiology and Film Narration.

The results of the research found that there were two aspects of image construction in Hollywood films shot in Thailand, which were 1) image contrary to the laws of Thailand and 2) image not contrary to the laws of Thailand.

Image contrary to the laws of Thailand was found in 5 films including The Beach (2000), Bangkok Dangerous (2008), The Hangover Part 2 (2011), Only God Forgives (2013) and Skin Trade (2014). Four significant points that made the image contrary to the laws of Thailand were: 1) Thailand was a city of drugs; 2) Thailand was a country of prostitution; 3) Thailand was a country of corruption; and 4) Thailand was a country of crime.  Five films whose image was not contrary to the laws of Thailand were Rambo 4 (2008), Bitter Sweet (2010), The Impossible (2012), Railway Man (2013) and The Asian Connection (2016). Four significant points that made the image not contrary to the laws of Thailand were: 1) Thailand had beautiful scenery; 2) Thai people were generous; 3) Thailand had a graceful culture; and 4) Thailand was profoundly tied to Buddhism.