k@ta: A Biannual Publication on the Study of Language and Literature
k@ta: a biannual publication on the study of language and literature (p-ISSN 1411-2639 | e-ISSN 2302-6294) is a refereed journal published twice a year in June and December by the English Department, Faculty of Humanities & Creative Industries, Petra Christian University, Surabaya, Indonesia. It presents articles on the study of language, literature, and culture. Papers can be submitted for consideration throughout the year. This journal was first published in 1999 and has been nationally accredited since 2002. The online version with DOI number for each article is now available at https://kata.petra.ac.id and it can also be accessed from ProQuest e-journal (http://www.proquest.com). k@ta has also been covered by Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), EBSCO, Index Copernicus, ASEAN Citation Index (ACI), BASE, Worldcat, Dimensions, Mendeley, CrossRef, Google Scholar, Asian Science Citation Index (ASCI), ROAD, Garuda, and Modern Language Association (MLA). k@ta Journal does not charge authors any submission fees or article processing charges.
The English Department, Faculty of Humanities & Creative Industries, Petra Christian University
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License
Front Matter (Cover, Editorial, Table of Content)
Copyright (c) 2026 Jurnal k@ta http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Subverting the Prince Charming Trope: Female Empowerment in the Disney Frozen Series
This research explores how contemporary feminist reinterpretations of classic fairy tales subvert traditional gender stereotypes. It focuses specifically on the “Prince Charming” and “waiting-for-rescue” narratives to represent female empowerment and autonomy. Using Disney’s animated films Frozen and Frozen II as case studies, the study employs qualitative content analysis integrated with feminist visual text analysis, informed by feminist theory, postfeminist media culture, gender performativity theory, and contemporary feminist media studies. Through the analysis of selected scenes, dialogue, song lyrics, and visual elements, the research examines the transformation of women’s passive roles within 21st-century feminist discourses shaped by neoliberal individualism and fourth-wave critiques of representation. Special attention is given to the character development and identity formation of the heroines, Elsa and Anna, to show how the films retell classic fairy tale themes through a feminist lens. The findings show that Frozen and Frozen II challenge entrenched gender norms, foreground female agency, and offer a contemporary framework for understanding women’s empowerment and self-determined autonomy in popular media.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hung-Chang Liao, Yu-Heng Lee, Ya-Huei Wang http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Narrating the Whale: Rescue, Compassion, and Sacred Waterscapes in Coastal Vietnam
This article argues that Vietnamese and Cham whale narratives articulate a distinctly coastal multispecies ethics in which whales are not merely symbols of nature or residual spirits, but moral beings embedded in relations of rescue, obligation, and mourning. Drawing on ethnographic and historical accounts of Cá Ông [Whale God] and Po Riyak [God of the Waves] among ethnic communities in Vietnam, this article examines how whale worship embodies ethical frameworks that shape human conduct toward the sea and its more-than-human inhabitants. A comparative analysis shows that Vietnamese and Cham traditions demonstrate distinct yet overlapping ethical regimes in which whales function as protectors and oceanic mediators whose deaths demand ritual recognition. It further suggests that coastal Vietnam offers an alternative ethical imagination grounded not in mastery over nature, but in vulnerability, gratitude, and interspecies responsibility. The article presents an ocean-centered perspective on Southeast Asia within the fields of multispecies studies and environmental humanities, emphasizing its importance in the context of the current ecological crisis - particularly marine environmental degradation, plastic pollution, and industrial fishing - issues that are reshaping and challenging coastal ethical systems.
Copyright (c) 2026 Huy Binh Nguyen, Chi P Pham http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Copyright (c) 2025 Jurnal k@ta http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Negotiating Species-Based Identity: Cultural Hybridity in Paru Itagaki’s Beastars
This article examines Paru Itagaki’s manga series Beastars through Bhabha’s (1994) postcolonial perspective. Utilizing Bhabha’s (1994) concepts of hybridity, ambivalence, mimicry, and the Third Space of Enunciation, the study analyses the narrative and its visual elements. Close readings of panel composition, character archetypes, and visual reversals show how Beastars exposes the fragility of species-based cultural classifications and the psychic disorientation that follows when familiar categories collapse. The series initially presents carnivores and herbivores as two opposing groups, then unsettles this division through the actions of Louis and Legoshi. Louis, an herbivore who adopts carnivore-like authority, and Legoshi, a carnivore who uses his strength to protect herbivores, disrupt the meanings attached to their species. Both characters expose these boundaries as constructed categories that remain open to continual revision. Through them, Beastars shows how identity can emerge from unstable positions between established categories. The study argues that Beastars critiques species-based essentialism while illustrating the productive function of the Third Space, suggesting that cultural transformation arises through the hybrid subject’s ability to unsettle authority and create new ways of being. Beastars thus presents Bhabha’s (1994) ever-hybrid “international culture” as a site of ongoing negotiation rather than fixed identity.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ashardian Indra Rismanto, Rizal Octofianto Datau http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Students’ and Lecturers’ Perceptions of Euphemism Use in Everyday and Academic Communication
Euphemism is used to manage potentially sensitive language and interpersonal relationships. However, limited research has examined how students and lecturers perceive its use across everyday and academic communication. To address this gap, this mixed-methods study examined students’ and lecturers’ perceptions of euphemism use, including its reported forms and perceived functions, across these two settings. Data were collected through an online questionnaire completed by 96 students from five universities in Yogyakarta and 26 lecturers from ten universities in and outside Yogyakarta. Both groups regarded euphemism as a necessary part of communication. In everyday communication, it was mainly associated with avoiding vulgar, taboo, socially unacceptable, embarrassing, or potentially hurtful expressions. Students more frequently associated euphemism with avoiding awkward situations, whereas lecturers more frequently associated it with empathy and sensitivity. In academic communication, particularly classroom interaction, euphemism was more strongly associated with mutual respect and a supportive, non-threatening environment; few participants linked it with softening correction. The findings highlight the importance of balancing tactful wording with clarity across everyday and academic communication.
Copyright (c) 2026 Erna Andriyanti, Purwaningtyas Dwi Astuti, Susana Widyastuti, Paulus Kurnianta http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Game of Loyalties: Tragedy, Existentialism, and Psychoanalysis in Suikoden II
This study analyzes the story of the cult-classic video game Suikoden II through the lenses of Aristotelian tragedy, existentialism, and psychoanalysis. It examines how friendship, loyalty, and betrayal are represented through the relationships among Riou, Jowy, and Nanami. Using qualitative narrative analysis, supported by ludonarrative analysis, the study examines selected in-game dialogues, cutscenes, and decision-making sequences involving the three characters. The findings show that Jowy functions as an Aristotelian tragic hero whose idealistic desire to end war leads to betrayal, political power, guilt, and self-destruction. Riou is read as a silent existential agent whose identity is shaped through moral choices, imposed leadership, and the player’s decisions across different endings. Nanami is examined through psychoanalysis as an emotional anchor whose protective devotion reflects anxiety, attachment, and the desire to preserve family bonds amid war. The study argues that Suikoden II uses its character arcs and branching endings to turn loyalty, betrayal, and reconciliation into both narrative themes and player-driven moral choices.
Copyright (c) 2026 Kamarullah, Muhammad Arif Fadhilah, Ranti Maulya, Maulana Akbar, Shiti Maghfira http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Dynamics, Rituals, and Chinese Identity at Tjoe Tik Kiong Temple (慈德宫, Cí dé gōng), Pasuruan-Indonesia
This paper examines how the Tjoe Tik Kiong Temple in Pasuruan, Indonesia, was a reinvention of the MaZu pilgrimage and how the Pasuruan Chinese have preserved the Mazu Belief to the present day. The Tjoe Tik Kiong Temple in Pasuruan, Indonesia, has more than a hundred years of history. During the Soeharto presidency, the Indonesian Chinese were subject to many restrictions that altered the ceremonial activities of the traditional Mazu belief. However, after 2000, many local Chinese temples started reorganizing the pilgrimage activities, and the believers in Pasuruan City are no exception. This study used a field survey to collect the first data, including direct participation in the pilgrimage activities and interviews with temple committees and worshippers. The results of this study show that after more than three decades of restrictions, many young Chinese no longer speak Chinese, which allows for different rituals to be practiced as well as different rituals for traditional Mazu Beliefs. This study demonstrates that although there are some differences, the Mazu Belief and pilgrimage contribute to identifying Chinese Indonesian identity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Olivia, Toetik Koerbadiati, Dede Oetomo http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Ecopsychological Relevance of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Rappaccini’s Daughter for an AI-Driven World
The ethical and environmental implications of technological advancement are frequently questioned in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology. We examine Rappaccini’s Daughter by American Dark Romantic Nathaniel Hawthorne to show how the short story resonates with contemporary concerns about AI and automation that may replace human connection and empathy. We employ a contextual and environmentally sensitive interpretation of the text to reveal Hawthorne’s criticisms of an over-reliance on human reason and science, which perpetuates the characters’ alienation and dehumanization. In light of concepts in ecopsychology, i.e., biophobia and alienation, the findings reveal that Rappaccini’s Daughter 1) warns against the tragic consequences of manipulating nature beyond control, and 2) explores the awkward relationship between artificial creation and environmental ethics. We conclude that unscrupulous scientific pursuits ultimately lead to ecological and psychological harm and the loss of genuine beauty. Seen as cautionary tales, 19th-century literary works such as Rappaccini’s Daughter can thus be revisited as they offer insights into how individuals today cope with ecological anxieties.
Copyright (c) 2025 Amalia Kurnia Devi, Novita Dewi http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Machine Translation Quality Evaluation and Post-Editing Efficiency: The Case of Abadis Translator
Machine translation evaluation ensures that systems meet both linguistic and functional standards, providing end-users with reliable tools. This study examines the domestic machine translation system, Abadis Translator, focusing on the syntax, semantics, and pragmatics included in Wilss’ (1982) matrix. An 80-statement translation test was developed, consisting of 60 instrumental, descriptive, and argumentative statements, along with 20 idiomatic statements to evaluate pragmatic accuracy. The statements were translated using Abadis Translator and assessed using Wilss’ criteria. A Likert-scale questionnaire, with options such as incorrect, inappropriate, undesirable, correct, and appropriate, was employed. ChatGPT was used to post-edit the incorrect and inappropriate translations to enhance quality, helping to assess the reliability of both Abadis Translator and ChatGPT as an Artificial Intelligence (AI) editor. The results demonstrated that Abadis Translator exhibited strong grammatical accuracy, although it occasionally encountered subject-verb agreement issues in complex sentences. While it achieved moderate success in semantic translation, it struggled with pragmatic nuances, especially with idiomatic expressions and participle constructions. Nevertheless, post-editing with ChatGPT significantly improved overall translation quality by correcting grammatical errors and clarifying implied meanings.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hamidreza Abdi http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Cross-Cultural Imagination: Survival and Harmony in Nalo Hopkinson's Brown Girl in the Ring
This paper analyzes Hopkinson’s Brown Girl in the Ring (1998) through Harris’s (1983) concept of cross-cultural imagination, which envisions cultural hybridity as a path to healing and coexisting instead of effacement. By focusing on the novel's protagonist, Ti-Jeanne, the paper examines how spirituality and Caribbean mythology guide her in reconnecting with her Afro-Caribbean heritage within a dystopian Toronto setting. Through Harris’s (1983) lens, Ti-Jeanne’s identity conflict is resolved by embracing both cultures as a means to empower herself and her community. The paper examines whether one can coexist harmoniously with a new culture or if abandoning one's background is the only path to adaptation. Ultimately, the novel suggests that exploring diverse cultures is not just an academic exercise but a transformative process—one that fosters healing, reshapes societies, and cultivates mutual respect.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mushtaq Abdulhaleem Mohammed Fattah, Ola Ahmed AL- Ajeeli http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Discursive Construction of Female Sexuality in the Game VA11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
This paper examines the representation of female sexuality in the visual novel game VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action. Previous research on female sexuality in video games has primarily focused on visuals, leaving a gap in language-based analysis. This study employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), using Fairclough's (2001) three-dimensional model and Nussbaum’s (1995) objectification theory to examine four dialogues from the game. The results indicate efforts to challenge the traditional stance on sexuality, however further linguistic analysis reveals contradictions to these intentions. The analysis also highlights an emphasis on physical attractiveness and fragmented body parts for the enjoyment of others. This emphasis is achieved through language shaped by the Western Anime subculture community of practice, aligning character appeal with player expectation. The article concludes that the sexualized portrayal of female characters aligns with dominant discourses on sexuality, contributing to the perpetuation of this cultural phenomenon.
Copyright (c) 2025 Fatiha Nefissa Kinandera, Junaidi http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Unfolding a Unique Tongue: A Morphological Formation of Swardspeak in a State University
Swardspeak is a unique language with distinct linguistic characteristics. This study examined the morphological formation processes of swardspeak or gay lingo, utilized in a state university. Using qualitative research, specifically discourse analysis, the morphological formation of the swardspeak used by gays at Quirino State University was investigated. The study included 80 participants who were identified as gay guys and enrolled from the three campuses, along with two gay interraters and a language teacher who assisted with data processing. The study gathered the participants' gay lingo, which served as data to examine its morphological formation processes. The findings revealed that key rules are employed in each morphological formation process, such as acronym, blending, borrowing, clipping, clipping with affixation, coinage, compounding, derivation or affixation, association, and substitution. Recognizing the specific morphological rules and incorporating various languages into their swardspeak increases the sense of belonging and shared identity among gay individuals at Quirino State University.
Copyright (c) 2025 Analyn Daguro Almoite http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Acceptability of Philippine English among English Language Teachers
Assimilation of new English varieties in English Language Teaching (ELT) is an important topic in contemporary applied linguistics and ELT. Whether or whether English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction in the Philippines should include Philippine English has long been a topic of discussion. Therefore, this study sought to ascertain the degree to which English language teachers found Philippine English (PhE) grammatical and lexical items acceptable. This study employed a quantitative research design using an adopted questionnaire. The findings revealed that the English teachers accepted PhE grammatical and lexical items. Teachers continued to find certain PhE lexical and grammatical issues unacceptable, though. To assist future English teachers in comprehending why Filipino ESL students produce grammatical and lexical elements that deviate from the norm in American English, World Englishes and PhE courses should be revisited within the BSEd English major curriculum.
Copyright (c) 2025 Emma Jenelyn Impas Cainta http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Suppressed Emotions of Asian Americans in Beef: A Pragmatic Analysis
The series Beef (Lee, 2023) offers a unique perspective on Asian American emotions by featuring two vengeful characters who challenge traditional notions of emotional restraint. This study investigates their anger, linking it to suppressed emotions arising from their experiences in a racially hierarchical society. Utilizing discourse and pragmatic analysis, the paper examines how these repressed emotions reflect broader societal identities. Key scenes demonstrate that the characters frequently violate conversational norms to align with social expectations, hide less desirable traits, and project a competent image. This behaviour not only masks their true feelings but also heightens their frustration. The study also highlights that those around them use similar strategies to steer conversations towards specific goals. Ultimately, the paper argues that the characters’ departure from conversational norms is a strategic attempt to assimilate into American society while managing their repressed emotions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Fadhilah Azizah Hasan, Harwintha Yuhria Anjarningsih http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Corpus-Based Critical Discourse Analysis of English Discourse in The Jakarta Post
This study examines English discourse construction in an Indonesia's English-language newspapers, The Jakarta Post. The researchers analyzed data over a 15-year period (from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2023), focusing on the core terms of English education and multilingualism. A corpus was created to analyze 79 articles containing 55,047 words, using AntConc (version 4.2.3). The study employed Fairclough's (2003) textual analysis, Pennycook's (2000) classification of English global position, and Holborow's (2012) neoliberalism as theoretical frameworks to categorize language ideologies. The researchers also conducted Foucauldian Discourse Analysis, as explained by Walshaw (2007), to explore power/knowledge. The findings reveal multiple ideologies fashioned by The Jakarta Post's authors, including colonial celebration, language ecology, linguistic imperialism, language rights, and neoliberalism. The results suggest The Jakarta Post has constructed contradictory ideologies. While the articles have grown increasingly concerned about biased language views, they still perpetuate English mainstream discourses. This may be attributed to English hegemony and neoliberalism in various contexts.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nur Nabilah Fauziyah, Ni Gusti Ayu Roselani http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Dignity in The Remains of the Day from the Lens of Ontology, Ethics, and Liberalism
This study examines the concept of dignity in Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, contrasting the universal, ontological notion of inherent dignity with the limited, class-based view held by the protagonist, Mr. Stevens. The study argues that Stevens' narrow understanding of dignity, rooted in his service to his employer (a Nazi sympathizer), leads him to engage in immoral actions. This analysis draws on Kant's focus on good will as the basis of moral behaviour, proposing that although Stevens demonstrates a significant sense of duty and follows rules closely, he lacks the essential moral consciousness necessary for genuinely ethical conduct. The protagonist’s actions, though ethically sound within his specific social context, are ultimately driven by a desire to maintain a rigid, hierarchical order. The research also analyzes Stevens' actions through the lens of John Rawls' liberalism, which emphasizes the influence of social institutions on individual values. The study concludes that Stevens' flawed definition of dignity serves as a tool to justify his service and evade personal responsibility. His reliance on a narrow notion of dignity allows him to rationalize his actions, even as they contradict a broader understanding of morality and human worth.
Reclaiming the Narrative: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Donald Trump's 2024 Super Tuesday Campaign Speech
This study critically analyzes Donald Trump's 2024 campaign speech using Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) framework to explore how his rhetorical strategies construct power relations and reinforce ideological divisions. By examining key rhetorical devices such as pronouns, metaphors, hyperbole, and Repetition, the study reveals how Trump's language fosters a collective identity among his supporters, positioning them as defenders of "true" American values. The analysis also demonstrates how Trump employs a problem-solution structure to portray himself as the sole solution to issues like immigration, economic instability, and national security. The study further contextualizes Trump's rhetoric within broader discursive practices, showing how the speech resonates with populist themes of institutional distrust and nationalism. By drawing on socio-cultural trends such as the rise of populism and media fragmentation, Trump effectively mobilizes his base while deepening ideological divides. The "us versus them" narrative, a hallmark of populist discourse, is examined in light of Fairclough's and van Dijk's theories, highlighting the role of language in shaping social realities and power dynamics. Through this analysis, the research aims to shed light on the broader implications of political discourse in maintaining and challenging power structures within a divided society.
Copyright (c) 2024 Tito Dimas Atmawijaya
Violations of Conversational Maxims in Investigative Interviews: Revisiting the Indonesian Cyanide Coffee Murder Case
This study advocates the role of forensic linguistics in detecting lies during investigative interviews with suspects and witnesses, with a focus on the case of Jessica Kumala Wongso, who was convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for the cyanide poisoning of Wayan Mirna Salihin. Drawing on the cooperative principle and conversational maxims theories, this study examines the deceptive language used by suspects. The dataset was manually collected through purposive sampling from court transcripts and in-depth news interviews to ensure both relevance and analytical rigor. The analysis indicates that deceptive communication involves deliberate strategic violations of Grice’s conversational maxims, specifically those relating to the maxims of quality and quantity. These findings are consistent with McCornack et al.’s Information Manipulation Theory 2, which posits that lies arise through the covert manipulation of informational components within conversational exchanges. This study underscores the importance of these maxims as a systematic analytical framework for detecting deception and also demonstrates their potential to enhance the accuracy of evidence evaluation in criminal investigations.
Copyright (c) 2025 Aulia Addinillah Arum, Nadia Khumairo Ma’shumah http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Hybrid Identities and Power Dynamics in Postcolonial Umuofia: A Close Reading of The Voter
Chinua Achebe’s short story The Voter examines the idea of compromised agency in postcolonial Nigeria through the character of Rufus Okeke (Roof). Through the lens of Homi Bhabha’s ideas of mimicry and hybridity, this paper reads Roof’s dilemma while also revealing the limitations of Bhabha. Bhabha’s concept of hybrid and the third space are sites of possible negotiation and resistance. Meanwhile Roof’s engagement with a corrupt political system illustrates a cruel world of psychological tension, economic need, and moral compromise. His choices may not be acts of liberation themselves; rather, they are strategies for survival within a structure that continues to reflect colonial relations of power. This study juxtaposes Bhabha’s theory with Frantz Fanon’s and Achille Mbembe’s materialist critiques. This demonstrates how Achebe advocates for a postcolonial reading that takes the lived realities of complicity and survival more seriously. Moreover, the paper argues for a more grounded view of how identity is negotiated under the shadow of colonial rule.
Copyright (c) 2025 Stefanus Galang Ardana http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Accessibility to Education during the “Coup-Vid”: An Overview of Online Learning in Myanmar
While the concept of online classes is not new to the rest of the world, this became a common mode of learning in Myanmar only when the COVID-19 challenges became a reality in 2020 as physical classrooms could no longer be used. When the coup d’etat was staged in 2021, education was further halted since many schools and their students did not have the resources to teach and learn online in addition to the political instability. However, online learning has been trending on social media for those who do have access to these resources. This paper will investigate the ways in which young people engage in education facing the “coup–vid” (coup + COVID-19), the motivation behind such engagement, and insights how they are benefiting from digital tools for learning.
Elements of Digital Citizenship within Surabaya City Text in New Media
This article identifies digital citizenship texts on the web www.c2o-libarary.net. These texts are analyzed using the concept of digital citizenship which was conceptualized by Westheimer and Kahne (2004), namely “personally responsible citizens”, “participatory citizens”, and “justice-oriented citizens”. These digital citizenship texts are narratives about individual and community activism in cyberspace which are uploaded via www.c2o-libarary.net. Each subject of the author tries to construct activism as a form of critically disseminating information and knowledge to other communities but with a narrative that is easy to understand and digest. The writer's knowledge and interaction in the Surabaya space is a determining factor in the narratives that are published in the media. In the end, the published narrative becomes a collection of concepts and ideas that can guide the government and the people of Surabaya to move forward and better life.
Spectocurrency: War Spectacle in Social Media
Social media has been influential and important in people’s life as a place for socializing, finding entertainment and - nowadays- information. People share various images and videos – or spectacles- through the platforms, with Tik Tok and Instagram as two of the most popular platforms. This research highlights and analyzed war spectacles created by the President of Ukraine and a Ukrainian university student on those platforms that were aimed at raising people’s awareness and empathy to the sufferings of the country and hopefully support their fight against Russia’s invasion, using semiotics concept, and proves that spectacles do have power to move people and generate reaction that can eventually cause expected changes, or spectocurrency.
The Potential of Pop-Up Artworks for Visual Communication in Digital Media
The pop-up mechanism or paper engineering is often referred to as a physical card or book, which can show 3D objects when it is opened. In fact, pop-up artworks can also be found in digital media such as movies, animation, video games, video advertisement, and music video. There are many interesting differences between physical pop-up and digital pop-up that can be analyzed to maximize its potential and create great visual effects, especially in digital media. This research uses a qualitative descriptive method by collecting data through observation of digital pop-up artworks and literature studies. Various examples will be analyzed to find out the strengths, weaknesses, and potential of pop-up artworks for visual communication in digital media.
The Position of Children's Characters in Children's Animation Postcolonialism Studies
Children's literature has now begun to shift to digital media, known as children’s animation. Instead of children's literature being created for children, these works are written, edited and distributed by adults. This shows that adults (parents) have full power over the work that children will consume. Colonialism theory then questions what it means to write for children. This research appears with the real assumption of where the child is positioned in children’s cyber literature. The postcolonial approach is used to verify this assumption. The results show that children are treated as objects, a means to endure real problems faced by adults. It appears that writing for children in addition to exploring is also stuffing and imposing the will for the needs of adults: guiding children, training children through the process of reaching civilization which is again the power of adults to define it.
Copyright (c) 2024 Siti Zahrok, Encik Savira Isnah, Marsudi Marsudi, Enie Hendrajati, Edy Subali, Wahyudin Wahyudin
Significant Trends in Portrayal of Asian American in Hollywood Films and the Role of American Perspective
This research reexamines the relationship of reality and film through examining the significant changes in portrayal of Asian Americans in Hollywood films. The American perspective has played a critical role in portraying Asian characters in film for the longest time. However, the recent shift from portrayal of Asian-to-Asian American characters revealed that Hollywood films are slowly breaking away from dependency on American perspective. Instead, the reality that is started to be portrayed in Hollywood films is from the perspective of Asian Americans which is the long-time goal of Asian American community. The study examines the significant change in portrayal of Asian Americans in Hollywood films by classifying four periods; before 1990s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. Two films that represent the significant trend in each period are also analyzed. The study concluded that the increase in Asian American filmmakers and the efforts of Asian American community in utilizing technology aided the positive change. Despite of COVID-19 pandemic, positive change in portrayal of Asian Americans in Hollywood films is expected to continue through constant efforts.
The Structures of Political, Economic, and Socio-cultural Rhetorical Narratives on Social Media
This research was conducted on the ground of the reason for the increasingly widespread use of narratives on various social media platforms. Narrative is an event whereby someone represents an event aiming to influence the understanding, emotions and values of others. This study qualitatively aims to capture the most common elements of narrative structure focusing on political, economic, and socio-cultural rhetorical narratives data originated from social media platforms. The theoretical model of narrative structure consisting of Abstract, Orientation, Complicating Actions, Resolution, Evaluation and Coda, as proposed by Labov and Waletzky was used to analyze the narrative data collected during the first four months of 2022. On the ground of social situated meanings, the findings show that the most common model of narrative structure is fully used whenever greater details of events, facts, or information are needed to be emphasized. For such reasons, all the elements of narrative structure are held to be obligatory. The findings show that some elements of narrative structure are left out and held to be optional as such elements are not considered necessary to convey the main content. In addition, the findings also show that some particular element allows it to be further developed with more embedded events, facts, opinion, or information.
Copyright (c) 2024 Samuel Gunawan, Theopilus Joko Riyanto, Liem Satya Limanta
The Rhetoric of Covid-19 Pandemics: Insights from The Indonesian Government’s Public Media Statements
In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Indonesian government must take anticipatory steps to fight against global infections increasingly unsettling the public. Many media have highlighted the government's way of dealing with the pandemics, such as providing the latest news and information related to Covid-19. In this light, this study aims to identify the rhetorical appeals used in Indonesian government statements in times of Covid-19 pandemics and describe how those rhetorical appeals used by Indonesian government public addresses from The Jakarta Post online edition from March until December 2020. This study is expected to look at how texts and practices during the pandemic and its panic were in line with the Indonesian government to support their case. The result of this study can be used as a reference for the lecturers who want to help their students understand texts and their practices in online media. In addition, this study is expected to add new content to the study of rhetoric and discourse analysis and how the language of the pandemic is represented in the media.
Copyright (c) 2024 Saiful Akmal, Sarah Al-Lail, Titin Arifa Maulida
The Study of Instagram Account of PCU Visual Communication Design Study Program and Its Competitor
The goal of this research is to get a general content overview from the Instagram account of Petra Christian University (PCU) Visual Communication Design (VCD) Study Program, and its competitor. The content of the Instagram accounts is analyzed with content analysis then compared. Instagram is seen as one of the media that can influence and reach greater target audiences. Nowadays, Instagram also closely relates to teenagers. The covid-19 pandemic has been hitting hard for every sector, including the educational sector. During the height of the pandemic, traditional marketing tools such as billboards and print ads became obsolete because people stayed at home and used their digital devices more than usual. The result of this research is meant to be a benchmark and strategy guide for the PCU VCD Study Program to manage their Instagram account.
Fears and Challenges of Acting in the Pandemic Time
E-learning has become a popular approach today. However, in drama/theater classes where exercises, rehearsals, and ‘productions’ are done on stage, such an approach was considered impossible, until Covid-19 pandemic strike occurred. The purpose of this paper is to reveal how acting classes dealt with the disruption, the process of selecting and implementing online meeting platforms, the new ‘lesson plan’ to finish the classes, the challenges due to the changes, and evaluation for future practices. The nature of the study is both explanatory and evaluative by action research. Primary data were collected using personal observations and questionnaires. Secondary data were taken from library research pertaining drama/theater, e-learning, online teaching, action research, thematic analysis, etc. By flipping from offline to online learning, acting classes turned out to be manageable. Radical and innovative adaptations should be made to make classes work online, including flipping offline to online meetings, implementing screen/camera knowledge, and using online platforms such as Google Meet, Zoom, WA, and LINE. Moreover, despite the fact that initially online meeting was threatening to the students and the teacher alike, using online meeting platforms for acting classes as blended learning was a good challenge, given appropriate situations and purposes.
Solah Bawa Free Movement as a Whole Person Art Practice
Solah bawa, a meditative free movement dance, was developed by Sitras Anjilin (the head of Padhepokan Seni (art center and workshop) Tjipta Boedaja, Tutup Ngisor, Kabupaten Magelang, Central Java). A participatory observation towards a group named Komunitas Sabtuan, guided by Sitras Anjilin, and an etic interpretive analysis of the activity’s details found that solah bawa free movement reflects whole person aspects of human quality development. This article explicates how such art activity as free movement dance can be done by individuals to enhance whole person development. It argues that regular art practice can help individuals develop themselves holistically, and thus, it can promote balanced life.
Copyright (c) 2024 Purwanti Kusumaningtyas
In Search of Public Support Toward Cultural Pluralism Enacted by Chinese “Potehi” Puppetry Acculturation
Indonesia is a country built from cultural pluralism and multi ethnicities. “Bhineka Tunggal Ika” is a paradigm propagated to build community’s mindset to build understanding among people from different traits, cultures, and religions. Diversities have potentials to increase social tensions, crises, and extremism that are all threatened the community resilience. At the same time, diversities continue to increase together with the increased number of migrations. As such, cultures embedded to migrated people and acculturate into the local people and cultures. One of the products of acculturation is Chinese Glove Puppetry, or Wayang Potehi. There have been so many studies investigating the acculturation process and the efforts of the enthusiasts to make this culture accepted by the local people. This is a good phenomenon as the understanding multiculturalism leading to strong resilience. However, there is a lack of data of how the commitment of public either from a group of local people and Chinese descendants in Indonesia accepting this acculturation and accepting this as a part of cultural pluralism. The present study surveyed 102 respondents revealing their commitment toward pluralism. The findings revealed driving and inhibiting factors. National ideology, the urge to unite, and external dangers are driving forces, while inadequate appreciation of pluralism, tolerance, and social disparity are inhibiting forces.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ni Wayan Suarmini, Kartika Nuswantara, Aurelius Ratu, Niken Prasetyawati, Dyah Satya Yoga Agustin
Anti-Hero Design to Grow the Meaning of Heroes from the Comic Entitled "Second Shot"
Development of digital era encourages creative industry to continue grow by raising many issues, nowadays many are found in various visual media using anti-hero characters as main character. Anti-hero is hero character who has traits and characters that deviate from depiction of a hero in general (Bagaskara, 2021). They have the same goal of doing good but in a way that may sometimes be wrong or unjustified (Wahyudi, 2020). This character is very appropriate to express human imperfection which in life always has advantages and disadvantages. In contrast to superhero characters who are too perfect to be used as exemplary figures in real life. The media that will be used is comic with theme entitled "The Second Shot" where main character who is half human and alien will be faced with many choices that can determine the future of the world, besides being disappointed or having hidden hatred as well. From past events from both human side who had deceived him and aliens who only took advantage of him. The use of comics media as visual media is based on fact that target audience is younger generation between ages 18-25 years who are more interested in reading picture books than those that contain too many words.
Copyright (c) 2024 Louis Arthur Robianto, Heru Dwi Waluyanto, Asthararianty Asthararianty
Starting from an Empty Plate: A Semiotic Study of Instant Noodle Advertisements during the Fasting Month of Ramadan in the Covid-19 Pandemic
From the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 until 2022, Indomie has consistently issued advertisements during the fasting month of Ramadan. During this period, it is a challenge for food manufacturers to promote their products. In the case of Indomie’s advertisement, which started with an idea that visually displays an empty plate and is broadcast during the fasting month, is quite viral because it dares to advertise without displaying the products it sells. Interestingly, Indomie is still holding up empty plates for their advertisement in 2021. The continuity of the story that started with empty plates is what prompted me to continue the analysis of Indomie instant noodle ads that were aired during the fasting months of Ramadan during the pandemic in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The purpose of this research is to reveal the meaning and ideology of what is to be conveyed through these ads. Rolland Barthes' semiotic analysis method is considered suitable to analyze the mythology and ideology behind them. The presence of an empty plate shows the meaning of tolerance for fasting Muslims. Each advertisement describes this form of tolerance differently. Even though it is covered by religious, social, cultural, and economic discourses, the ideology of capitalism is still sensed in all the advertisements that are displayed.
Bullish Sentiment on Price Upward Trend: A Netnographic Study of Cryptocurrency Communities
Cryptocurrency as a digital decentralized currency has attracted many investors and obtained a lot of support from communities. Previous studies have concluded that there were indeed connections between community sentiment and cryptocurrency price movement. However, most of the research was conducted using sophisticated methods that are difficult to utilize by cryptocurrency investors. This research objective was to find practical ways to identify bullish sentiment during price upward trend especially during the Covid-19 omicron variant outbreak that started in the last quarter of 2021. Netnography method was used as a qualitative approach for this research to get insight from cryptocurrency communities. LunarCrush web application as a more user-friendly tool, was being used to analyze bullish sentiment and price data. During December 2021 until January 2022, 303 price upward trend data from 264 coins had been collected and analyzed. The result of this research revealed 5 categories of bullish sentiment messages from top influencers which are community booster, official information, project updates, achievement, and trading plan. However, it can be concluded that price movements were not always related to bullish sentiment. Thus, bullish sentiment should not be used as the sole factor to identify price upward trends. Furthermore, investors should join the cryptocurrency community to understand the characteristics of bullish sentiment and not just rely on data from monitoring tools. Interestingly, there were no Covid-19 related topics on bullish sentiment collected. Hence, it did not necessarily need to publish good news related to Covid-19 handling to create bullish sentiment among the investors.
Text and Practice in Teaching Translation: Documenting the Process
Documenting the process of translation has several advantages for both teachers and students in a translation class in an English, or any language, department. It is not only useful for preventing the students from using translation applications in doing the assignments, but also useful for teaching them to evaluate and to revise their translation. Besides making students accustomed to expressing their thoughts in writing, process-oriented teaching inspires them to think in detail and inspires lecturers to conduct process-oriented translation research.
Board Game Prototype About the Historical Period of Japanese Colonialism in Indonesia for Middle School Students
The teaching method used in history subjects usually needs a lot of memorizations, considered less interesting and less important compared to other subjects leading to difficulties to memorize the topic. The other reason the students think that history is not too important is because they are more interested in other countries' cultures. This prototype is made mainly for middle school students so that they are motivated and more interested to learn Indonesian history. This prototype uses qualitative research and uses 5W+1H data analysis. With the creation of the Koloni board game, we hope that the students can be more interested in learning and understanding Indonesian history.
Copyright (c) 2024 Jonathan Winfredo Wongso Soebakti, Bing Bedjo Tanudjaja, Daniel Kurniawan Salamoon
‘Not Too Hot, Not Too Cold, Just Right’: Empathetic Communication of Indonesian Big Brands through YouTube during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This article is based on an exploratory study of YouTube videos related to the COVID-19 pandemic released by the official accounts of several big brands in Indonesia. By analyzing the videos released by these companies, a combination of key messages that are professionally conveyed to present the actions taken by the brands, in response to the pandemic, with an empathetic feel was found. While there is ample evidence to map out the creative processes behind these videos, our findings show that the brands aim to cover up the techniques they employ in achieving their goals, such as the sending of excessively sympathetic messages. The findings of this study provide initial empirical evidence of Indonesian companies’ tendency to assimilate the local culture of mutual assistance and the existence of branding activities that continue to be carried out during the pandemic. This article ends with a discussion of the communication processes carried out by commercial entities in challenging times.
Copyright (c) 2024 Jandy E. Luik, Agusly Irawan Aritonang
Describing Translation Techniques Used in the Translation of Culturally Bound Terms in West Java Calendar of Event 2020
This research aims at analyzing translation techniques used by the translator in translating the booklet "West Java Calendar of Event 2020" from Indonesian into English. This booklet is published by the Department of Tourism and Culture, West Java. Specifically, this research highlights the translation of culturally bound terms in the booklet. The researchers are interested in analyzing this topic because cultural-bound terms are considered challenging to translate; the translators must understand the cultural background of the languages they are translating. Moreover, it is not likely that translators can find one-to-one correspondence for each cultural term in the text. This study applies a descriptive qualitative method since the data are in the form of text and the researchers also play a role as the key instrument in collecting the data, in this case through document examination. In this research, total sampling technique is applied since the researchers take all of the culturally bound terms in the booklet. The research begins with collecting the cultural terms from the booklet, classifying them into cultural terms categories based on Newmark’s theory of cultural category, and determining the translation techniques based on Molina and Albir’s theory. The result shows that the translator mainly employs borrowing, amplification, description, and established equivalent techniques. There is a tendency that the translator prefers those techniques because it is hard for the translator to find one-to-one correspondence of the terms in the target language. Hopefully, this research will be beneficial for translators in deciding the proper translation techniques in translating cultural terms.
Copyright (c) 2024 Dyah Raina Purwaningsih, Nadia Gitya Yulianita
Catcalling as Street Harassment: A Critical Discourse Analysis
This study aims to explain the issue of catcalling as a form of harassment against women on the street. This research applies descriptive qualitative method which tries to identify, describe and explain phenomena through linguistic data along with the social and cultural context. The data were collected according to the research goal namely to explain the issue of catcalling depicted in the news text. The data were gathered by retrieving news text on catcalling issue from wollipop.detik.com and analyzed it using Fairclough's CDA framework. The results of the analysis show that in terms of text descriptions, the news writer used a variety of non-standard languages, informal word choices and the involvement of sources to support the issue. In terms of text interpretation, this media concentrates its news presentation on women-related issues by presenting its news which involves several sources to strengthen its reporting objectives. On the explanatory side of the text, the practice of discourse is associated with the socio-cultural context. Wollipop.detik.com alignment with the victim in this report confirms indirectly that the act of catcalling is a form of harassment against women. Readers are led to the understanding that as subtle as catcalling is, it is still a form of violence against women. Readers are also led to raising awareness of their impact. Readers' opinions are directed to provide a positive image as an active media in providing useful information to women as well as to play an active role in voicing injustice and inequality that occurs in society.
The Beauty Standard Issue in Poster of Citra Hand and Body Lotion
Each of the countries of the world has its own beauty standard, including body image. Body image here includes the color and the style of the hair, the eyes shape and color, the shape of the face, and the body shape. Often, the agency hires a model, an actor, or an actress who has a good look and body image to do a photo and video shoot for the commercial, poster, magazine cover, and other media to make the media interesting, to persuade the customers to buy the product, and to show the beauty standard to the readers. Unfortunately, some readers feel so insecure because they do not have the same good body image as the model on the media. In Indonesia, there is a commercial that shows a beauty of woman comes from her white skin and that is Citra hand and Body Lotion. Whereas the beauty of a woman does not only come from her skin tone. Unfortunately, there are still Indonesian people who believe that woman must has white skin to fulfill the beauty standard. This analysis will use the poster of hand and body lotion product branded Citra as one of the media. This paper shows the analysis of the issue of the beauty standard of girl in a poster of Citra Hand and Body Lotion.
Copyright (c) 2024 Agnes Emmilia Eka Rosanti
Agentive and Independent Older Female Adult in Strong Woman Gang Nam-Soon: Going Against Prevalent Gendered Ageism in K-Dramas
This article explores the representation of an older female adult (OFA) in the Korean drama Strong Woman Gang Nam-Soon. While scholarship on OFA has revealed their lack of positive representation—resulting in multifarious detriments—literature on OFA in K-drama is considerably scanty. Hence, this article employs content analysis, focusing on one of the protagonists, Gil Jung-Gan. Additionally, to enrich the discussion, industrial analysis was also carried out. The critical discussion focuses on three major aspects: 1) the feminist perspective influencing the K-drama industry, 2) principles of agentive and powerful OFA character, and 3) beauty and successful aging discourse. This article argues that the positive representation of Gil Jung-Gan is the manifestation of the progressive movement and influence of local and global feminism, which can be traced through the fulfillment of the majority of the principles. Additionally, the series incorporates successful aging discourse to represent Gil Jung-Gan as an agentive and non-traditional OFA, which is achieved mainly by physical appearance and social engagement.
Revealing the Utilization of Pragma-dialectics and Fallacies in BongBong Marcos Supporters' Facebook Argumentations
In this modern era, most transactions occur online, including the management of disputes. However, argumentation in the context of social media is rarely articulated in detail. Intuitively, people may recognize flaws in argumentation but may not be entirely certain about them. Hence, this research evaluates the reasonableness and effectiveness of online argumentation, particularly among Bongbong Marcos' supporters, as significant opposition exists due to his 2022 Philippine presidential candidacy. One example analyzed is De La Salle University's written unity statement posted on their Facebook page. Discourse analysis was employed to examine the data. Results show that Bongbong Marcos' supporters in the argumentative activity are not strategic in constructing their standpoint, as they distort critical discussion stages and commit fallacious arguments, failing to attain crucial stages of the evaluation process. Thus, Bongbong Marcos' supporters are not strategic in their arguments.
Copyright (c) 2024 Cyra Godessa Largado, Ma. Saine Arranguez, Yacint Cahumna, Joemar Turno Minoza
Narratives of Male Struggle Against Patriarchy in Select Filipino Literary Works
This study offers a more nuanced understanding of the impacts of patriarchy by exploring its complexities and effects beyond commonly held beliefs about gender roles. Using an inductive thematic analysis grounded in Braun and Clarke's framework, five Filipino literary works were examined to identify themes related to male struggles within a patriarchal society. The analysis revealed that men who fail to conform to patriarchal norms of masculinity find themselves at odds with the rigid standards of hegemonic masculinity. Their struggles against conformity and the limitations patriarchy imposes extend far beyond personal lives, gradually affecting society at large. These findings suggest that it is imperative for individuals of all genders to unite in collective efforts to dismantle a system that disproportionately privileges only those men narrowly defined as "true." Ultimately, such a system disadvantages those who fail to meet patriarchal standards of masculinity.
Copyright (c) 2024 Jhec Aldrei Canibel, Alyssa Amor Gelbolingo, Ma. Cristilina A. Montañez
Deictic Expressions in the First SONAs of Rodrigo Duterte and Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
This study assumes that former President Rodrigo Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used different types of deixis in their first State of the Nation Address (SONAs). Supporting this assumption is the theory of Deictic Expressions by Stephen Levinson. This study is descriptive qualitative. Findings revealed that former President Duterte and President Marcos Jr. used different types of deixis in their speeches. The most dominant type of deixis used by former President Duterte is personal deixis, which obtained the highest frequency, particularly the pronoun "I". In contrast, the most prevalent deixis used by President Marcos is "personal deixis", particularly the pronoun "we". It is concluded that personal deixis was the most dominant type of deixis among the five types used by the two speakers in their speeches. Future researchers are encouraged to conduct a future study that will focus on the usage of deixis in books or speeches.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ma. Sophia Pintado, Mark Jayce Cereño, Annalie Librea, Rechie Bejasa, Joemar Turno Minoza
Metacinema as Diasporic Postmemory in Justin Chon’s Blue Bayou (2021)
Blue Bayou (2021), a film by Justin Chon, presents issues of imagination, postmemory, and identity through self-referential techniques. Referring to Marianne Hirsch’s theory on postmemory, this article examines how this film represents imagined moments and how they serve as a postmemory of the history of Korean immigrants, and how this kind of forgetting constitutes the American shared experience. The findings and discussion show that imagined moments in Antonio's subconscious function as postmemory for Antonio, while the film itself serves as a postmemory for America’s imagination. It can be argued that Blue Bayou deliberately acknowledges itself as a film and as fiction to present the world that America imagines and understands. We argue that Blue Bayou conceives memory, fosters imagination, and acts as a documentation for the audience as well as for America’s fragmented memory.
Copyright (c) 2024 Damia Rizka Ghassani, Ari J Adipurwawidjana
An Acoustic Study on English Vowels Produced by Indonesian Speakers: Exploring Determining Factors and Contact Situations
Compared to English varieties spoken in the inner circle (e.g., Australian English and New Zealand English), the English variety spoken in Indonesia, especially in acoustic phonetics, is still understudied. Using the Praat computer program, this acoustic study investigates the English vowel production of fifteen Indonesian females and males. The formants (F1 and F2) of their English vowel in words heed /hid/, hid /hɪd/, head /hÉ›d/, had /æ/, hod /hÉ‘d/, hawed /hÉ”d/, hood /hÊŠd/, who’d /hud/, hud /hÊŒd/, and heard /hɝd/ are measured and then compared with the vowels produced by American English speakers. Regardless of the speakers’ gender and English skill levels, the vowels [æ] and [É‘] show the most significant differences between Indonesian and American English speakers. The difference in this study is conditioned more by linguistic factors, i.e., phonetics and phonemics, than by non-linguistic factors, i.e., gender and English skill level. The findings of this study offer a discussion of how acoustic evidence resulting from language education may shed light on possible language contact situations.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ferdinan Okki Kurniawan, Margareta Rosvita, Rintya Yuniastari