The sexuality transition processes from male to homosexual male of main characters: A case study of Thai series from LINE TV between 2015 and 2020.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the narrative technique of a transitioning process of sexuality from male to homosexual male main characters in Thai TV series. This study involved a case study of homosexual male characters on LINE TV series broadcast between 2015 and 2020, a total of 15 series. Data were analyzed using textual analysis and presented using descriptive analysis.
The findings of this study revealed that: The Thai TV series tended to gradually construct the narrative technique of a transitioning process for the main male characters, in which the sexuality of the main characters changed from heterosexual males to
homosexual males. This transitioning process typically follows four similar steps, as follows: Step 1: The characters maintained traditional masculine values. In this step, the characters were still committed to their assigned sex and the social expectations embedded within their assigned sex, especially the preference for heterosexuality. The characters refuse to display homosexual tendencies in public. Step 2: The characters faced a masculinity breakdown. Typically, in such a series, the main characters face a variety of incidents that lead to the breaking down of their masculinity at different points in time. This step represents the start of the main characters’ realizing that denying their homosexuality has caused them misery and accepting it could bring them happiness. The main characters are confused about whether they have a greater desire toward heterosexuality or homosexuality. Step 3: The characters fought, negotiated, and clarified any confusion they had about their sexuality in order to realize their true sexual orientation. In this step, the main characters try to free themselves from confusion about their sexuality through a variety of ways, including fighting, negotiating, and finding the clarity to overcome their confusion. Step 4: The characters accepted their homosexuality. At this stage, the main characters finally start to accept their homosexuality and begin to display it through non-verbal language rather than verbal language. Later, when the main characters feel more confident about their homosexuality, they reveal themselves through verbal language too.