Queer Self-Discovery in Thai Coming-of-Age Television: Identity Construction in I Told Sunset About You

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-868-4_27How to use a DOI?

Keywords

coming-of-age series; self-discovery; queer identity

Abstract

The coming-of-age genre, which focuses on the protagonist’s transition into adulthood, frequently explores the search for identity. This trope is particularly effective in portraying the journey of queer identity self-discovery, as characters face challenges related to acceptance, belonging, and self-love. This study analyzes the Thai television series I Told Sunset About You, selected for its internationally acclaimed narrative. The research was conducted under an interpretive paradigm using a qualitative methodology. It follows a case study design, applying a content analysis guide to twenty-five sequences from the series, organized into four analytical categories: context, character actions, narrative arc, and character construction. The results show that the construction of the queer character is shaped through internal conflict, identity expression, and support networks; the narrative arc reveals a non-linear process of sexual discovery culminating in self-acceptance; and the sociocultural context, represented by Sino-Thai culture, functions both as a framework and an obstacle in the protagonist’s identity development. This study contributes to a more inclusive understanding of the representation of queer identity in television series, giving visibility to marginalized experiences, fostering empathy, and offering alternative role models in contrast to the stereotypical or invisible representations historically present in mainstream media.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Melany Lucia Gonzales-Cieza
AU  - Lorena Teresa Espinoza-Robles
AU  - Oscar Alfredo Aybar-Cabezudo
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/10/22
TI  - Queer Self-Discovery in Thai Coming-of-Age Television: Identity Construction in I Told Sunset About You
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Communication and Applied Technologies 2025 (ICOMTA 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 289
EP  - 299
SN  - 2667-128X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-868-4_27
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-868-4_27
ID  - Gonzales-Cieza2025
ER  -