Cultural hybridity in Netflix’s Thai-language original series, the stranded

Abstract

The objectives of this qualitative research are to examine culturally hybrid features in The Stranded and the approaches to mixing different cultural elements as part of the series’ creative process. In order to collect the data needed, I conducted literature research, a textual analysis on The Stranded; and in-depth interviews on the series’ director and co-writer. The research findings suggest culturally hybrid features were primarily found in 1) the narrative and 2) characterization. In terms of the narrative, The Stranded is a culturally hybrid text thanks to the use of the Naga myth in Thailand’s modern setting, the unintentional references to Lord of the Flies and Lost and intentional references to the Phra Chai Suriya poem and Gone with the Wind. In terms of characterization, certain characters were constructed with varying degrees of Thai and western cultural influences. The depictions of physical intimacy, a social outcast, the game of “Fuck, Marry, Kill”, and classroom lesssons and manners were heavily westernized. Thai culture, on the other hand, influenced a character’s beliefs. The research also found three approaches to mixing different cultures in The Stranded, depending on the writers’ assumption of viewers’ cultural understanding. They are 1) partial acceptance of certain cultural elements 2) complete acceptance and 3) complete change.