COMMUNICATION FOR THE FORMATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE IDENTITY OF HARDCORE MUSIC FANS IN THAILAND

Abstract

This research aims to study the process of hardcore music fan’s group formation, their characters and the communication for creating their identity and the role of communication network for maintenance of the identity of their groups, base on the framework of communication identity and youth culture. The data were obtained from documents, participating observation, informal interviews, 120 questionnaires and 62 formal interviews.

The results revealed that the process of hardcore fans group formation started from a single fan and a companion group. Then some of fans became the sender by forming the hardcore music bands. Later, the local hardcore music bands joined together since some of them knew each other and some members of a band were friends of the other’s band members. After joining the concerts, they had a chance to meet other hardcore bands and formed the network of Thai hardcore music bands. With the advantage of internet communication, the network of Thai and international hardcore music fans was created and had a boundless supportive connection.

The communication for the formation of the identity of hardcore music fans in Thailand began with receiving identity of the original hardcore music culture and then modified to create their group identity which presented into 6 parts; costume, collection, music, tradition, lifestyle and language. Even though, each group had their own identity but the overall concepts of hardcore music culture were indifferent and they also have a new way to identify themselves as a music fan by the formation of group collective identity and erasing the gab between artists and fans, using word such as brother family and friend.

The communication for the maintenance of the identity of hardcore music fans in Thailand had created different forms and many ways of communication for music fans connection. The important area of making, sharing and sending their identity was the concert where the former and the latter hardcore music fans joined together to conceive and maintain their identity.

The procedure to maintain the identity is to create identity in the old and new group for rotating the group member. Beside the identity has a flow and always adapt itself in order to survive and to create new identity based on the original emphasizing the same identity and maintenance of the identity of the hardcore music fans in Thailand.