Seshiski: Southeast Journal of Language and Literary Studies

LITERATURE AS A MEDIUM FOR INHERITING BATAK TOBA CULTURAL IDENTITY IN THE PALITO NI SI BORU TOBA ANTHOLOGY

Eva Solina Gultom — 2026-06-30

Globalization and modernization have brought significant changes to the way communities understand and preserve their cultural identities. In this context, literature plays a vital role as a medium capable of both representing and passing on cultural values to future generations. The Toba Batak community possesses a wealth of cultural values reflected in its kinship system, respect for tradition, social solidarity, and the role of women in family and community life. The anthology Palito Ni Si Boru Toba is a literary work that highlights the life experiences of Batak Toba women and represents various cultural values that remain alive in the community. Although previous research has addressed issues of women and patriarchy in this anthology, studies on its role as a medium for the transmission of cultural identity remain limited. This study aims to describe the forms of Batak Toba cultural identity transmission represented in the Palito Ni Si Boru Toba anthology. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach using content analysis to examine the narratives, dialogues, and cultural depictions found in the texts. The data were analyzed from a cultural studies perspective to identify the cultural values passed down through literary works. The results of the study indicate that this anthology represents the cultural values of the Batak Toba people, such as respect for tradition, the importance of kinship ties, the value of boru ni raja, family responsibility, and awareness of ethnic identity. Through these representations, literature functions as a vehicle for cultural transmission that helps preserve Batak Toba identity amidst social change. These findings confirm that literature serves not only as a medium for artistic expression but also as a vital instrument in the sustainable transmission of cultural identity.

EKSISTENSI BAHASA JAWA DALAM BIDANG PERSAWAHAN DI DESA POMBULAA JAYA KECAMATAN KONDA KABUPATEN KONAWE SELATAN

La Sudu — 2026-06-30

This research was conducted in Pombulaa Jaya Village, Konda District, South Konawe Regency. The majority of the population in Pombulaa Jaya Village are Javanese transmigrants and have livelihoods in the field of rice farming. The presence of these Javanese transmigrants adds to the uniqueness of local languages in Southeast Sulawesi. Language survival is related to whether the language still endures or not. If it still persists, whether it is still used daily as a means of communication among the community. Language empowerment can be carried out directly through two processes, namely the process of language maintenance and the process of language shift. Research on "The Survival of the Javanese Language in the Field of Rice Farming in Pombulaa Jaya Village, Konda District, South Konawe Regency (An Ecolinguistic Study)" is important to conduct because currently there is a shift in the use of the Javanese language in Pombulaa Jaya Village. Today's younger generation prefers Indonesian in their daily communication. They no longer know the meanings of Javanese lexicons in the field of farming. This research is expected to be able to raise awareness among the local community about the importance of preserving regional languages, especially Javanese, in the field of farming.

CULTIVATING DOMINATION: ECOFEMINISM, THE LOGIC OF CONTROL, AND THE WHITE TIGER ORCHID IN UGLIES

Elsa Fitria Nasta — 2026-06-30

This study investigates the ecological irony embodied by the White Tiger Orchid as a symbol of energy revolution in the film Uglies (2024) through the lens of Karen J. Warren’s transformative ecofeminism. The film depicts a futuristic society that relies on a genetically engineered flower as a sustainable energy source; however, this technological innovation ultimately contributes to environmental degradation and mechanisms of social control. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, this research analyzes dialogues, visual imagery, and narrative events to examine the interconnected domination of nature and women represented in the film. The findings reveal that the White Tiger Orchid serves not as a sustainable solution but as a tool of exploitation that operates through value-hierarchical thinking, value dualism, and the logic of domination. Similar patterns of oppression are reflected in The Transformation, a mandatory procedure that reconstructs human bodies while suppressing individuality and critical awareness. Furthermore, the film presents an alternative ecofeminist vision through The Smoke community and Tally Youngblood’s development of ecological consciousness, which challenges patriarchal structures of power. This study concludes that the White Tiger Orchid represents the paradox of technological progress that promises environmental sustainability while simultaneously reinforcing the domination of both nature and women.

REALITAS SOSIAL DALAM NOVEL SEMBILAN KEBODOHAN SOBRY KARYA YOSSIE ENES: KAJIAN SOSIOLOGI SASTRA

Aldi Ibrahim — 2026-06-30

This study aims to describe the social realities depicted in the novel Sembilan Kebodohan Sobry by Yossie Enes using Alan Swingewood's sociology of literature. This approach views literary works as social documents that reflect societal dynamics, including economic, political, cultural, and everyday life aspects. The study employs a qualitative descriptive method with a literature study technique. Data were collected through intensive reading and note-taking, focusing on excerpts in the novel that represent social realities. The analysis was conducted by classifying and interpreting these excerpts based on relevant sociological categories. The results indicate that the novel Sembilan Kebodohan Sobry contains five forms of social reality: (1) social and economic inequality, depicting the conditions of the lower-class society; (2) the struggle of Indonesian migrant workers, portraying the lives of female workers striving to earn a living abroad; (3) corruption and bureaucracy in the government, illustrating the weakness of the bureaucratic system in society; (4) culture and tradition, showing how cultural and traditional values are altered due to the influence of power; and (5) religion and mysticism, revealing the shift from a pure and sacred concept of religion to one that is politicized and manipulated. Thus, this novel is not only a narrative fiction but also a powerful medium of social criticism. It affirms the role of literature as both a mirror and a critique of the society in which it is born.

HEGEMONY IN THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL: A GRAMSCIAN PERSPECTIVE

Agung Wijianto — 2026-06-30

This study aims to examine how Antonio Gramsci’s four core concepts — hegemony, common sense, consent, and counter-hegemony — operate within Netflix’s The School for Good and Evil (2022). While previous studies on this film have primarily focused on beauty myths and physical stereotypes, this paper offers a comprehensive critical approach to revealing how ideological power functions across the film’s narrative, character representations, and institutional dynamics. The study employs a qualitative descriptive method through textual analysis, conducted via systematic close viewing of dialogues, character actions, and narrative arcs. The findings demonstrate that the school institution functions as a civil society apparatus that naturalizes dominant standards of Good and Evil through the role of organic intellectuals, sustains them through the voluntary consent of its subjects, and ultimately absorbs resistance without structural change. Furthermore, the study reveals that while counter-hegemonic potential emerges through Agatha’s critical stance, it remains limited in scope and falls short of constituting true Gramscian counter-hegemony. This research contributes an innovative perspective by comprehensively applying classical Gramscian political theory to contemporary popular fantasy film, thereby enriching both cultural studies and literary criticism in the field of media and film analysis.

TOPONIMI DESA DI KECAMATAN PASIR PUTIH KABUPATEN MUNA: TINJAUAN ANTROPOLINGUISTIK

Halfian Halfian — 2026-06-30

This research is motivated by the lack of knowledge of the people in Pasir Putih District, regarding the origin or background, cultural meaning, and history of the formation of the names of the villages they have occupied. This research is important to do not only to describe the origin and meaning of village names, but also to document the local wisdom of the Muna community that has not been widely explored. The data collection method for this research uses interview techniques, recording techniques, and note-taking techniques. The results of this study indicate that the naming of villages in Pasir Putih District, Muna Regency predominantly uses the Muna language. The names of villages in Pasir Putih District, Muna Regency are based on three naming aspects, first, the aspect of embodiment which includes the geographical background (Kamosope Village and Liwumetingki Village), and which includes the natural environment background (Kogholifano Village and Pola Village). Second, the societal aspect in the form of community customs (Pola Village). Third, the cultural aspect in the form of folklore (myths and folklore) (Bumbu Village and Labulawa Village).

STRATEGI WACANA REKONSILIASI DAN LEGITIMASI KEKUASAAN DALAM PIDATO PERDANA PRABOWO SUBIANTO: SEBUAH ANALISIS WACANA KRITIS

Hamiruddin Udu — 2026-06-30

This study examines the discursive strategies employed in Prabowo Subianto’s inaugural speech following his designation as the elected President of Indonesia in 2024. Using Teun A. van Dijk’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) the study argues that the speech functions as a strategic instrument to construct political legitimacy and reconcile post-election polarization through a structured set of linguistic strategies. The primary data consist of the full transcript of the speech delivered at the General Elections Commission (KPU) Hall, analyzed through three dimensions of van Dijk’s model: textual structure, social cognition, and social context. The findings revealed; first, at the level of textual structure, the speech is constructed around macrostructures of reconciliation and inclusivity, realized through rhetorical strategies such as the neutralization of in-group/out-group polarity, the use of family metaphors, euphemism, and presuppositions that affirm electoral legitimacy. Second, at the level of social cognition, the discourse represents post-election collective mentalities—such as political fatigue and aspirations for unity—while advancing a nationalist-populist ideology characterized by anti-elitist and religious elements. Third, at the level of social context, the speech operates as a hegemonic strategy to consolidate power, achieved through the appreciation of state institutions, symbolic reconciliation with opposition groups, and the projection of populist policies focused on public welfare. This study proved that language plays an important role Indonesian political discourse by demonstrating how linguistic resources are mobilized for strategic political purposes within an electoral democratic context.

RAGAM BAHASA PADA PODCAST YOUTUBE DENNY SUMARGO “PANDAWARA GROUP”

Kiki Reski Wulandari — 2026-06-30

This research aims to identify the language varietied that exist in Denny Sumargo’s YouTube Podcast with Pandawara Group guest stars. This research is a type of field research. The method used is descriptive qualitative. The object of this research is Denny Sumargo’s YouTube Podcast. The data collection techniques and note-taking techniques. From the results of data analysis, researchers found several language varieties in Denny Sumargo’s YouTube Podcast with Pandawara Group guest stars, namely colloquial, dialect, spoken and familiar language varieties. The number of colloquial language varieties is:9. dialect language:2, familiar language varities:3 and official variety 2.