Suchergebnisse

This paper aims at discussing the concept of realism in Grisham's novel, Gray Mountain. Grisham's works are based on his profession, as an attorney. He is an interesting author, a politician and an activist. As a social activist as well as a politician, he has great concern for social justice. This paper explores the author's ideas about injustice reflected in the Gray Mountain. The impacts of the coal mining industry on the social, political and economic condition of the people in this region are also explored in this paper. The study shows that the events depicted in Gray Mountain were based on the reality of the occurrences in Appalachian society. The novel can be considered as a reflection or criticism of this community.

This study aims to reveal the concept of hegemony of a drama entitled Man and Superman. The play is written by a social and political activist in which contains important lessons for social change. For that reason, the drama is regarded as a propaganda led by the author for making changes in the society. This study uses sociological theory, especially Antonio Gramsci's theory, Hegemony. By using this theory, it is expected that the relationship between the literature and the condition of the society at that time that triggers the birth of this work as well as the author's hopes and expectation would be understood. Through this approach, it is expected that the norms and educational values embodied in the drama would be revealed and understood.

Literary works have been believed to be media to spread ideas or ideology. This paper seeks to examine the images of women before Indonesia's Reformation Era as reflected in Ahmad Tohari's Bekisar Merah and after the Reformation Era as reflected in Ayu Utami's Saman. By employing qualitative modes of inquiry and theories in the sociology of literature, this study has shown that images of women before and after Indonesia's Reformation Era were depicted differently. Before Indonesia's Reformation Era, the image of women tended to be submissive in dealing with the socio-political dynamics, while after the Reformation Era in 1998, they were depicted as progressive and even rebellious. However, it is also important to notice that this difference indicated the writers' political and ideological preference in describing the women's position in Indonesian society in their era. The findings of this study support Gramsci's idea about ideological or cultural hegemony presented by literary work.

Diplomacy and communication between countries have real implications for intercultural encounters, and this position must be seen as an event that is not value-free. Indonesian people residing in China, primarily students, have informal tasks with a national mission, which plays an essential role in cultural communication and cultural diplomacy. They are Indonesian students who have artistic abilities and every year they always put on performances, one of which is dance performances. This study describes how a traditional dance from Papua, Yospan, can be used as diplomacy between Indonesia and China. This research was conducted using a qualitative approach; each data obtained will be analyzed using international communication theory and soft diplomacy. This study found that traditional dances and literature in cultural missions are one of the tools of cultural diplomacy that can be used to change the stereotypes and prejudices of foreigners about Indonesia. The conclusion in this study shows that in international communication, traditional culture is a powerful way to build diplomacy. Therefore, this study recommends that the government supports Indonesian students in establishing Indonesian cultural centers in various friendly countries where Indonesian students study.