Anaphora : Journal of Language, Literary, and Cultural Studies

Marginalized Voices in Iraqi Fiction: A textual reading of Inaam Kachachi's The Dispersal

Estabraq Yahya Mohammed, Amirhossein Vafa — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 05:28:48 +0000

The current paper discusses the representation of Iraqi female narratives and the experience of Wardiyah in Kachachi's The Dispersal. It shows how Iraqi women's fiction uses writing techniques to express political conflicts. It examines the challenges faced by Wardiyah in her pursuit of a medical career in the fifties of the twentieth century in the context of Iraq and later her migration to France. The paper stresses the global reach and the political expression of women's literature in Iraq, which has previously been neglected or interrupted in alternative geopolitical contexts by applying a textual reading. It highlights the daily lives and struggles of marginalized groups like Christians and women, addressing cultural, faith, social class environment, and women's rights. The textual analysis is based on the novel The Dispersal by Inaam Kachachi, which follows the life of Wardiyah, a gynaecologist, and her experiences in different eras of Iraqi history. The approach was thematically designed, with a focus on core areas that impact the narrative, including discussions of healthcare and women's experiences. The paper discusses how the main character represents the defective healthcare system and cultural values that lead to the deterring of women from receiving medical attention in 1950s Iraq. Some passages are discussed illustrating how such challenges related to people's perception of women's health concerns impinged on Wardiyah's professional life This study examines the impact of sociocultural factors on the lives and careers of women in the healthcare sector. It draws on a case study of Wardiyah, a woman who has faced challenges related to her gender and cultural background in her professional practice. It also looks at the experiences of Hinda, another woman in the healthcare sector. Hinda has experienced challenges in adapting to a new cultural environment and in achieving recognition within her professional field.

Religious and Numinous Practices in the Novel Pomegranate Bloom

Aiqing Wang — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 12:59:10 +0000

A novel entitled 石榴花开 Shiliu Huakai ‘Pomegranate Bloom’ (Trans. Mine) (2019) falls into a literary subgenre 乡土文学 xiangtu wenxue ‘native-soil literature’ and it is composed by a Shandong-born fictionist 耿雪凌 Geng Xueling (1968- ). Apart from salient folk attributes paining a vivid portrait of the rural area of southwest Shandong, Pomegranate Bloom is also featured by numinous depictions pertaining to paranormal forces and occult deeds. To be more specific, the narrative encompasses rituals and deities of the institutionalised Taoism and Buddhism, practitioners of esoteric arts and magical powers correlated to popular religion, animal worship and shamanistic curse, a veritable cornucopia of divinatory acts, as well as folk remedies that are surmised to be justified by traditional Chinese medicine.

Integrating Indonesian Cultural Aspects in Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing (BIPA) Textbooks “Sahabatku Indonesia”

Tira Nur Fitria — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:02:32 +0000

This research describes the cultural aspects of the BIPA textbook “Sahabatku Indonesia”. This research applies a qualitative content analysis. Several cultural aspects are found in the BIPA book levels B1, B2, C1, and C2. BIPA Book level B1 shows the traditional transportation of Becak, the traditional medicine Kerokan, a side dish Tempe, the cultural heritage of Tenun, a traditional dance Tari Sama, a traditional ceremony of the coast Melasti in Bali, the traditional dance Tari Jaipong dan Tari Lilin, folklore Sangkuriang, Bawang Merah dan si Bawang putih, and Timun Mas, traditional martial art Pencak Silat. BIPA Book level B2 shows, Batik Craftsmen. herbal medicine or Jamu, Dalang (player Wayang puppet), tourism place Curug Malela and Mount Bromo, culture a sacred offering Sesajen Bali, historical place Gedung Merdeka, belief toward prohibition/taboo, cultural art Reog Ponorogo, folklore Malin Kundang and Riwayat Si Batu, tradition Merantau, game Panjat Pinang and Balap Karung on Celebrating Independence Day, a celebration of Hari Kartini and Hari Guru, national heroes of Mohammad Hatta and Dewi Sartika, and social class in Javanese culture Priyayi. In BIPA Book level C1 shows the tourist place Borobudur Temple, traditional cloth Batik, tradition of Mudik during Eid al-Fitr, traditional musical instrument Angklung, fable story of Gajah dan Semut, Javanese traditional wedding ceremony, traditional funeral ceremony in Toraja. Indonesian food Opor Ayam and Nasi Goreng, regional specialty coffee, a national hero of RA Kartini, and traditional dance Tari Piring. BIPA Book level C2 shows only shows Indonesian snacks and food Serabi/Surabi.

Audism and The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Model in CODA Film

Muhammad Guntur Wiralaksana — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:04:33 +0000

Injustices in the form of discrimination are experienced frequently in the workplace by oppressed groups, including people with disabilities. Discrimination towards deaf people is audism, and it can spur from many groups or bodies, as well as Deaf people themselves. This research aims to elucidate whether there is disability or not in employment context in Leo and Frank characters from CODA film by Sian Heder, considering they are subjected to audism a lot in their work space. This research looks at CODA film by using the framework of audism and The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health model by World Health Organization. This research uses qualitative methods to gather corresponding data from CODA film. The result shows that Deaf people are found a lot of times discriminated against by society. the ICF model shows that even though Frank and Leo are impaired, they become abled through certain circumstances such as a system that enables deaf workers and devices supporting their working tasks. This research indicates that negative stereotypes and misconceptions about Deaf individuals often lead to systemic barriers in hiring practices and workplace integration, resulting in underemployment and limited career advancement opportunities. Despite the growing visibility of Deaf representation in media, such as the film CODA, there is insufficient analysis of how these portrayals influence societal attitudes and employment prospects for Deaf individuals. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the representation of audism in CODA and its implications for the employment experiences of Deaf characters, thus contributing to a deeper understanding of the intersection between media representation and employment outcomes.

Behind The Wickedness: Portrayal of Villains in Children's Movies

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:05:32 +0000

Children’s movies showed various characters in their movies. One of the concerns in creating stories for children was the portrayal of the villains. Therefore, the research problem of this study was to discussed the villain portrayal of three different home productions, such as Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, and Sony Pictures Animation. The movies from each home production were Namaari in Raya and the Last Dragon, Syndrome in The Incredibles (2004), and Chester V in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. This study aimed to find a significant function of villains which were divided into male and female villain traits based on the theory by Holder-Freeman (2012) and also proairetic decoding based on theory by Nikolajeva (2010). This study filled the gap by concentrating on examining female and male gender stereotypes through the visual representation of understanding from their reading (Nikolajeva, 2010). Techniques of analysis by Spradley (1980) were employed in this study. This research employed descriptive qualitative design in which the data were acquired in the form of textual and visual. The results of this study showed that Namaari had complex villain traits, there were male and female traits, Syndrome, and Chester V fulfilled the male traits. While in proairetic decoding, there were dialogues that used only abstract words, dialogues that used only concrete words, and dialogues that used both abstract and concrete words. This study can be used as a basis for compiling a rubric whether the films are suitable for children or not. Besides for movies, this study may be preferred as a reference for further studies since it implemented theories that can be used for various literary works such as novels, illustrated books, and games.

From Stage to Screen: Analysis of Women's Commodification in Dangdut Koplo via TikTok

Pembayun Retno Ambarsari Sekartaji, Edi Dwi Riyanto, Nadya Afdholy — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Dangdut is a genre of music that has evolved into a cultural phenomenon within Indonesian society, particularly among the middle and lower socioeconomic classes. Dangdut music first featured lyrics with significant meaning and later evolved into dangdut koplo. Dangdut koplo is frequently linked to a rapid tempo and captivating vocalists. The objective of this study is to examine the commodification of female dangdut koplo singers within TikTok app. The research employed a visual ethnography approach to examine the commodification of female dangdut singers, focusing on their dress, cosmetics, and body motions that were captured in the video. The result of this study shows that there are elements or concepts of commodification of biduanita in dangdut koplo videos in TikTok. When performing on the stage, the singers generally utilized clothing, makeup, and body movements, to attract money or saweran from the crowds and increase popularity with their attractiveness. However, when the clip of the performance is used by unofficial accounts that do not belong to the artists or their production companies, it becomes a form of commodity for these accounts to acquire popularity on TikTok through likes and views. The bodies of these biduanitas then transform into commodity objects on social media platforms, promoting the sexualization and objetification of female dangdut singers.

Dialogues of Depth: Exploring Character and Theme in Ana María Rozo's The Little Prince

Efuansyah Efuansyah — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:27:51 +0000

Ana María Rozo’s adaptation of The Little Prince delves into the emotional and philosophical depth through dialogue-driven interactions among the Aviator, the Little Prince, and the Fox. While much research has explored the themes of the original story, limited attention has been paid to how dialogue in theatrical adaptations reveals character psychology and advances the narrative. This study addresses that gap by analysing key conversational features such as turn-taking, repair mechanisms, and implicature to uncover how these elements shape character development and thematic exploration. It also investigates how reflective monologues and direct audience engagement enhance the play’s emotional and philosophical resonance. The research focuses on three key questions: (1) How do the dialogues reflect the social and emotional dynamics among characters? (2) What do repair mechanisms and implicatures reveal about character psychology and central themes? (3) How does audience engagement through dialogue amplify the play’s impact? Using an analytical framework centered on conversational dynamics, this study highlights moments such as the Aviator’s isolation being disrupted by the Little Prince’s innocent question, "Can you draw me a lamb?"—a poignant clash between adult pragmatism and childlike wonder. The Fox’s teachings, like "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important," deepen emotional connections, while implicatures such as "what is essential is invisible to the eye" convey universal truths about humanity. This research demonstrates how Rozo’s adaptation uses dialogue to develop characters, engage audiences, and explore profound themes of love, friendship, and existential meaning.

Cultural Reflections Through Readers’ Responses to Muna Masyari’s Short Stories

Nurul Nadifah, Miftahur Roifah — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 15:45:58 +0000

This study examines how Muna Masyari’s short stories portray Madurese culture and rituals and how readers from different backgrounds perceive them. It explores cultural representation, reader response variability, and the influence of cultural background. The research collects interview data, analyzes responses, provides cultural insights, and suggests future research to explore evolving perceptions in literature. This qualitative study analyzed readers’ responses to Muna Masyari’s short stories through interviews and observations, focusing on English Literature students from Trunojoyo University. Data analysis included reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. Limitations included a small sample size and limited diversity. Future research suggests broader participant diversity, mixed methods, and a diachronic approach to evolving perceptions. The study found that Madurese readers connected deeply with cultural rituals in Muna Masyari’s stories, while non-Madurese readers needed additional context. Responses varied by cultural background, showing pride from locals and fresh perspectives from outsiders. Both groups acknowledged the decline in traditional practices, reflecting changing societal values and the evolving nature of cultural heritage. The study concluded that Muna Masyari’s stories reflect and preserve Madurese culture, showing literature's power to explore identity and challenge stereotypes. Reader response theory revealed how cultural backgrounds shape text interpretation. Future research is expected to involve broader participants and long-term studies to track evolving perceptions. The findings affirm literature's role in bridging cultural gaps and celebrating traditions.

Sarcasm on Screen: Movie Analysis of Verbal Sarcasm in Don't Look Up Movie

Alfajri Ichsan Cannavaro — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 14:47:07 +0000

This research aims to analyze the verbal sarcasm found in Don’t Look Up movie. This research also aims to discover the characters how they expressed their sarcastic utterances. The research uses a contextual pragmatic study by Leech and pragmatic structure of sarcasm by Camp. The research method is qualitative and the type of research is descriptive. The corpus of the data is the Don't Look Up movie, which was released in 2021. The technique of data collection used by watching the movie and collecting the sarcastic utterances in the transcript, sorting the data that relate to the issue, and identifying the selected data to be analyzed. The result of this research is that there are 11 sarcastic utterances that contain the types of sarcasm in Don’t Look Up movie, such as 7 propositional sarcasm, 1 lexical sarcasm, and 3 illocutionary sarcasm. Most of the data identified as propositional sarcasm because it was caused from each character in delivered and expressed their sarcasm that aims to satirize each other and also delivered by inserting some criticism in some data. Furthermore, there are 11 utterances that have an implied meaning in this research that are conveyed by the characters.

The Portrayal of Masculinity Traits in Female Character in Prey Film

Tomas Aditya Refaldi — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 14:47:34 +0000

This research focuses on the construction of masculinity in the main female character and the challenges of patriarchy in the Comanche tribe's social condition in the Prey film (2022). Character theory by Pettrie and Boggs (2012) is used to analyze the main female character. Theory of masculinity BSRI 1974 By Dr. Sandra Lipzits Bem is used as a theory in research to analyze masculinity traits in this film. Therefore, the descriptive qualitative method is used as the research method. The results of this study showed that the social condition in the Comanche tribe is a powerful and prolonged patriarchal life. Where the patriarchal life is very limits the rights of Comanche women, this background makes the main female character have masculine characteristics. In changing the patriarchy condition in her tribe, there are three stages that the main female character goes through to achieve this goal. These stages are the challenge of traditional habits by becoming a female hunter, then proving the abilities possessed by the main female character, and the last, the use of an intelligent and analytical hunting method that is different from the usual hunting method. The masculine character continues to exist until the position of main female character is recognized by the tribe, and she becomes the first female hunter in the tribe. In the end, this recognition signifies a change in social conditions and the existing system, with the appointment of women as hunters and tribal leaders. In conclusion, the masculinity traits in female characters arise because of the patriarchal system in the tribe, which encourages the desire to change the existing system by becoming the first female hunter. This indicates the changing and replacement of the patriarchal system in the Comanche tribe in this film.

The Power of Framing: Examining BBC's Representation of the Ukraine War in March 2022

Hermilania Hermilania — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 14:47:38 +0000

This research examines the framing analysis of news coverage in BBC Articles Site about the War in Ukraine during March 2022. The purpose of this research is to analyze the messages conveyed to readers and the elements that construct the news based on the framing analysis concept proposed by Zhongdang Pan and Gerald M. Kosicki. The method used is descriptive qualitative research with framing analysis technique, employing document study to collect news articles. The results reveal that BBC Media's framing of the Russia-Ukraine war in March 2022 predominantly emphasized the suffering and victimization of Ukrainian citizens and military. The syntactical structure analysis shows that BBC consistently used emotive headlines, sympathetic leads, and strategic quotations that favored the Ukrainian perspective, while depicting Russia as the aggressor. The script structure analysis demonstrates that BBC reports prioritized humanitarian aspects over military or political dimensions, highlighting civilian casualties and refugee crises. The thematic structure reveals a consistent narrative portraying Ukraine as a democratic nation defending itself against an authoritarian invader. The rhetorical structure analysis indicates extensive use of photographs depicting Ukrainian suffering, graphics illustrating Russian military advances, and emotional language that reinforced the victimization frame. The findings have important implications for media literacy education, highlighting how even respected news organizations employ specific framing devices that can shape public perception of international conflicts. Additionally, the research contributes to understanding how traditional journalistic values of objectivity are challenged when covering asymmetrical conflicts with clear geopolitical stakes for Western democracies.