Abstract:
This qualitative research aimed to study myth encoding, types of myth,
and differences between myths in whitening advertising. The study also looked at
different brand imaging, the power of myth on working age women, and perception of
whitening advertising among Thai teenagers and adults. Methodology was classified
into 3 parts: content analysis; interviewing; and focus group discussion.
The study found that myths in facial whitening advertisements were
mostly encoded in V.O. (Presenters voice), Super (Narrative voice), and Presenter
(The main character in advertising). Myths in whitening advertising are dynamic as a
chain of meaning. There were 5 kinds of myths in whitening advertising in 2007,
which can be categorized into 2 groups: myths encoded by internal factors (white and
nature and white and innovation), and myth encoded by external factors (white and
love, white and work, and white and success).
Myths in mass whitening and masstige (mass-prestige) whitening are
different from in prestige whitening. Moreover, signs from each brand image use
different myths.
The focus group discussion with women teenagers and adults found that
all of the samples understand the advertising. They remember and are attracted by the
same kind of signs. Adults believe in the quality of whitening which is presented in the
advertising more than teenagers, but teenagers tend to buy the products more than
adults.