Amid the ongoing currents of transformation in the digital age—marked by the rapid and continuous flow of information—Journal of Man and Society, Volume 11, Issue 2 (July–December 2025), continues to serve as an intellectual space for exploring and understanding emerging social phenomena. These inquiries encompass dimensions of folklore and belief systems, local wisdom, and the construction of meaning through language and literature. In this issue, we are honored to present contributions from scholars whose research articles and academic papers incisively reflect the intersections between traditional roots and adaptation within contemporary contexts.

The issue begins with an exploration of the dynamics of folklore in modern settings. These include studies on the transmission and reinterpretation of belief through popular media, as seen in the article “Folklore in the Novel Garin: Pritsanakadee Atthaphan,” as well as the use of local cultural capital to create social activities in “Folklore on the Stage of the Thida Duangdee Si Sawanlok Pageant.” These works demonstrate that traditional beliefs have not disappeared, but have instead been transformed in form in order to persist within present-day society. Similarly, the study “Linguistic Strategies and the Construction of Luck Discourse in ‘Ruang Lao Chao Nee’ and ‘Ruang Lao Sao–Athit Online’” reveals the reproduction of beliefs surrounding fate and fortune through influential mass media platforms.

In the dimension of local wisdom and community mobilization, this issue presents research that focuses on the relationship between humans and resources at both spiritual and material levels. Articles such as “Indigenous Vegetables in Isan Palm-Leaf Medical Manuscripts” and “Khao Dok Rai: Food Wisdom and Its Relationship with Social Institutions in Sakom Subdistrict, Songkhla Province” underscore the enduring value of local knowledge systems that have long sustained life and society. These studies are complemented by “The Role of Community Organization Councils in Building Grassroots Economic Development Networks: A Case Study of Noen Kho Subdistrict, Rayong Province,” which concretely illustrates mechanisms of community self-governance and collective management.

In addition, the academic article section brings together works that delve deeply into issues of representation, power, and space through textual analysis. These include “Representations of the Ruling Class in the Early Rattanakosin Period through the Character ‘Wong Asandhewa’ in the Literary Work I-Nao” and “Sense of Place and the Construction of Spatial Meaning in the Poetry Collection Hom Phaendin Lao*.”* Together, these studies offer clearer insights into the interaction between human experience, historical narratives, and spiritual landscapes.

The editorial board would also like to recommend an influential book that supports scholars and writers in communicating their ideas with greater impact: Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip and Dan Heath. The book raises critical questions about how ideas can be made distinctive and memorable, offering principles that enable ideas to “stick” in the minds of audiences. The insights from this work constitute a highly valuable tool for academic communication in today’s knowledge-driven world.

Finally, the editorial board sincerely hopes that the eight articles and selected ideas presented in this issue will serve as an academic compass, guiding readers toward a deeper understanding of humanity and society across multiple dimensions. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all contributing authors for sharing their valuable work, and to the reviewers whose expertise and careful evaluations have helped refine and enhance the quality of this publication.