Aspects of Communication in Tamil Folk Art Performances: Chances in Ritual and Social Contexts

The traditional or folk performing arts are very close to the minds and hearts of the people who are living at grass root level. The structure of the folk performing arts have been undergoing constant changes continuously over centuries, and thus being modified according to the needs of the changing situations, making it functionally relevant to the society. Further, the main characteristic of folk arts, the creative dissemination of information has become a strategical tool in development communication to convey messages and has interactive sessions with common public. With this background, this study analyses the aspects of communication in Tamil folk art performances, which facilitate the transformation from ritual and social performing contexts to media context.

This researcher used the observation and survey as the methodologies and describes the communication aspects of Tamil folk media in ritual context through different types and levels of communication reflected in performances, limiting communication with time and space, medium becomes as a message and the meeting point of the aims of rituals and communication. Further, it elaborately looked on social context and examines the communication qualities of Tamil folk media through edutainment, social reality, functions as symbols, correlated with other media, audience centeredness, tool for social change, simplicity, flexibility, cost effectiveness, chances for feedback, repeatability, participation of common people, cultural relationship, and space for voiceless.

This study attempts to explore the possibilities of Tamil folk art performances as communication channels to ensure the use of them in the process of change and development.