However, we do recognize the centrality of the classic tale of the Indian prince Rama in Thai culture. The Thai version of the ancient epic is the Ramakian . The story has been brought to life by Thai artists in the beautiful murals at Bangkok's Temple of The Emerald Buddha and the khon masks worn by dancers on stage. An English-only text is available as both an introduction to and summary of the epic. Popular forms for conveying Thai culture include cartoons and comics .
Comic books are especially good for their portrayal of everyday speech and social relationships.
Folktales and story telling add another dimension to transmitting culture through entertaining stories. Pop songs are without doubt the cultural form that dominates the performing arts, replacing earlier forms of popular entertainment, such as the shadow puppet theatres, which are still tenuously alive in southernmost Thailand. Short Stories for Everyone For both the student of the Thai language and those who want to read translated works of literature that reflect modern life, short stories centering on the theme of urban experience have been selected from the writings of a gifted male writer, Wanich Jarungittanand, and an equally talented female author, Sri Dao Ruang. The latter has written a short story about a Bangkok mother of three who has been abandoned by her husband. Other short stories in bilingual form are being added as well.