Culture Studies: An Analysis of “Prelude” Novel by Sam Umar based on
Feminism theory and Semiotic Approach[1]
By:
Nurul Faiqoh[2]
(11320061)
Abstract
Since the movement of American women in 17th
century, there was an ideology which supported the women right as equal as men.
The existence of this movement covers the ideology of people that women should
have the same right especially social life. Nowadays, this ideology still
exists in the society. In addition, it can be looked by someone’s deed,
attitude, and even someone’s work. Therefore, this paper will analyze a newest
novel by Sam Umar which under the title “Prelude” through feminism theory and
semiotic approach. The aim of this paper is to know what kind of feminism and
what is the symbol which is inside in this novel.
Introduction
First of all, this paper wants to introduce the core of
this discussion, it is feminism. Feminism has correlation with politic movement
which fight for the equal right. Feminism is not a new issue in our society.
Since the American women movement in 17th century, feminism became
the ideology which fights for women right especially in social life. This
movement is caused by the right restriction in American women. American women
did not have the right as men such as work, showing the opinion, etc. in that
time.
The world of American women limited in almost every
respect, from family life to the workplace. Feminist theory is an outgrowth of
the general movement to empower woman worldwide. It can be defined as a
supremacy combined with efforts to change it. Therefore, women in that time
fought for their right with showing their wants through doing a deed as men did
such as creating a literary works. That action was aimed to established equal
rights, to demonstrate the importance of women, to reveal that historically
women which have been subordinate to men, to bring about gender equity and to
legalize legal protection for women.
In other side of feminism, feminism involves political
and sociological theories and philosophies concerned with issues of gender
difference, as well as a movement that advocates gender equality for women and
campaigns for women's rights and interests. As the impact of that, there are
many definitions about feminism.
According to Flax, feminist theory is the foundation of
action and there is no pretense that theory can be neutral. Within feminist
theory is a commitment to change oppressive structures and to connect abstract
ideas with concrete problems for political action. There has to be a commitment
to do something about the situation of women.
However, the ideology of feminism is not an ideology
which is not a monopoly. In other words, feminism does not have the same
thinking. As other ideologies, feminism also has the past time and the present
time in the way of thinking. If we see from the history of feminism, it has
three waves in the development.
In here, feminists and scholars have divided the movement's
history into three "waves". The first wave refers mainly to women's suffrage
movements of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries (mainly concerned
with women's right to vote). The second wave refers to the ideas and actions
associated with the women's liberation movement beginning in the 1960s (which
campaigned for legal and social rights for women). The third wave refers to a
continuation of, and a reaction to the perceived failures of, second-wave
feminism, beginning in the 1990s.
Based on the second wave, feminism
is divided into some kinds of it. According to some scholars, feminism in the
second wave has several kinds, they are:
1) Liberal Feminism
2) Marxist Feminism
3) Radical Feminism
4) Socialist Feminism
5) Psychoanalytic Feminism
6) Existentialist Feminism
7) Postmodern Feminism
8) Multicultural and Global
Feminism
And
9) Ecofeminism
(Jaggar and Grimshaw, n.d.)
After we introduce what is the feminism, includes the
definitions, ideology, theory, and the history, now this is the turn to
introduce the semantic approach which is used to analyze this novel. Semiotics
is the study of signs and symbols, what they mean and what they are used. In
other words, semantics is the study which interpret the meaning of the signs or
symbols.
From interpreting the symbol or the sign, we can understand
and know what the message that will be conveyed by someone. In interpreting the
symbol or sign, we can interpret the symbol or sign from the written sign,
gestural sign, spoken sign, etc. In addition, Roland Barthes explained that the
sign is divided into five kinds. Those are including of hermeneutic code,
semantic code, symbolic code, narration code, and culture code (as cited in
Bergman 2007).
In
Hermeneutic code, it has the relation with question which appears on some words
or expressions. Semantic code is a code which as connotation. Then, symbolic
code is a code which has relation with psychoanalysis, antithesis, and
contrasting of two things. Narration code is a code which has a story or
narration of it. At least, culture code is a sign which is linked into myth,
art, history, etc.
In
this novel, the writer tries to catch the meaning from the symbols which are
shown by the title or the picture. The writer is sure that the author of this
novel has intended meaning or message beside the symbols or signs which are
represented. Through interpreting the symbol or the signs in this novel, we can
know the psychological side of the author includes the psychological
environment.
Why
it should be novel?
In
this section, the writer will state the reason why she choose the novel as his
object of this analysis. The first reason of it is because novel is one of
literary works which usually represent the condition of the author. It means
that the author of a novel can represented the condition of the environment in
past and present through his writing or the story. The phenomenon of the story
leads to a practical understanding of meaning and action (Miles and Huberman,
1994:8 as cited in Sarimana, 2011).
Moreover, novel is popular
because it is able to perform
individual, personal and convey very specific
depth message content. The message in
the novel is more present about a social reality phenomenon even it covers with
fictional stories, that is the second reason.
In
the third reason, through a novel the readers can have their own imagination
about the story which they read. As stated by McQuail (1997: 19) “Novel allows
the readers to interpret a text differently and freely (as cited in Riskha Ayu,
2012)”.
From
all of the reasons which was stated above, finally the researcher choose a
novel which written by Sam Umar. The title of this novel is “Prelude”. In addition, this novel is
published by teen@noura in April
2014, so it includes a newest novel in 2014.
Methods
of the study
In
conducting research generally, there are possibilities in using the research
methods; those are quantitative, qualitative and critical literary (like
semiotic, hermeneutic, symbolism) research methodology. In quantitative
research, the paradigm used is positivism to analyze the empirical data or
analyze the objective data. In qualitative research or field research,
phenomenological paradigm is used to analyze natural phenomena or the
abstractive data. While, critical literary research uses the imperative
paradigm to analyze the constructed data, the data has been created
automatically.
Using
appropriate method in conducting research is very important. Therefore, in this
study, the writer uses qualitative and critical literary methods. This is
because this study is about interpreting a literary text. In addition, the
writer want to get a deep understanding and meaning in the signs and symbols
which are represented in this novel.
Findings
At the first, the researcher wants
to discuss the story in this novel generally. Actually, this novel tells about
the love story. The love story in this novel is not only about a love story
about the teenagers, but also a love between the parents and the friends. In
addition, this novel tells about the people who love classical music.
Therefore, most of the story concerns in classical music even from the history,
the instruments of the classical music, and the hasbeens of classical music. To
give more details information about the content of this novel, the researcher
will do the intrinsic analysis about the characters:
1. Tina
Tina
is a main character in this story, she is a smart girl who very love a music
especially classic music. Therefore, to fulfill her aspiration, she continues
her study in one of countries where classical music is born. In addition, Tina
is a beautiful girl who has big spirit and will. She will never give up before
she gets everything that she wants.
2. Hendra
The
second character in this novel is Hendra. Hendra is Tina’s father. He is a
strong, smart, patient, and a good father. He is a lecturer in one of universities
in Indonesia. He ever had a study in German, therefore he teaches German
literary. In addition, Hendra also likes a classical music as her daughter
Tina. He is an Indonesian.
3. Maria
Maria is Tina’s
mother. In this novel, she is described as a beautiful, genius, kind, and tough
woman. In addition, she is also a lecturer in one of universities in German who
teaches one of classical music instruments, that is Cello. She is a chines.
4. Hans
Hans
is one of characters who supports the story. He is Tina’s friend who is very
kind, patient, cool, handsome, and smart boy. Actually, Hans is a senior of
Tina. In other words, Tina is his senior in his musical class in Leipzig. In
addition, Hans has an ability to ply the organ.
5. Nadine
She
is Tina’s friend. She is beautiful, smart, and very kind girl. Nadine has very
beautiful voice. Therefore, she joins in a vocal group in her campus (Leipzig).
Actually,
in this novel there are other characters which is not mentioned by the
researcher. However, the four of those characters can show the correlation
between the story and theory which is used. As was stated above, there are
several kinds of feminism ideology if we look from the second feminism wave.
In
this novel, there are several characters which show the existence of feminism
theory, they are Tina and Maria.
In
this story, Tina is a girl who has a big ambition in learning one of classical
music instruments. She prefers to study about cello than violin even her father
suggests her to learn violin. Moreover, she has a great efforts to learn cello,
this is because she does not want to be weak in front of her father, her
lectures, and her friends.
Tina
is a girl who admires Bach (an expert of cellist). Therefore, she is waiting
for Bach festival which usually held once in a year. She tries to follow the
audition to be a cellist in Bach festival. To catch her want, she has extensive
exercise in every day.
If
we look from Maria sides, she is a woman who has tough aspiration. Actually,
when she got married with Tina’s father, she actually wants to follow what is
commanded by Tina’s father. However, when Tina’s father wants to go back to
Indonesia, Maria does not follow him. This is because, she thinks that she also
has the same right to be what she wants. Maria prefers to become a professional
cellist than becomes a householder.
Then,
Maria decides to live in German and becomes a lecturer in Leipzig, German. She
has strong aspiration, she is extremely sure that she can live without Hendra.
Therefore, she tries to get up and improve her ability in playing cello and becoming
a cellist.
From
that short review, we can see that feminist ideology has a dominant position in
this novel. The writers concludes that dominants with one of the kind of
feminism theories, it is liberal feminism. According to Jaggar and Grimshaw,
the thought of liberal feminist ideology are:
1. Emphasis
on traditional understanding of human nature and personhood: rationality,
individual autonomy, self-fulfillment (characteristics possessed by all).
2. Sex
and gender neutral; all human beings possess a common nature.
3. A
just society is a society that allows individuals to exercise their freedom and
fulfill themselves.
4. Emphasis
on equality of opportunity: all persons deserve an equal chance to develop
their rational and moral capacities so that they can achieve personhood.
5. Because
society has the false belief that women are by nature less intellectually and
physically capable than men it excludes women from many opportunities and the
true potential of women goes unfulfilled.
6. Liberal
feminists argue that women share the same rational human nature men do and so
should be given the same educational opportunities and civil rights as men are
given.
7. The
goal of women’s liberation is freeing women from oppressive gender roles:
sexual and gender equality.
8. Liberal
feminism led to advances in the economic sphere, in equality of opportunity and
in civil rights.
9. The
main problem of liberal feminism is its tendency to accept male values as
universal values. All women should want to become like men, to aspire to
masculine values. Liberal feminism often did not include an analysis of class
or sexuality (the sex/gender system).
After
the researcher shows the liberal feminism inside this novel, now the researcher
tries to interpret the symbols which is represented by this novel. The researcher
will interpret the sign or symbol trough semiotic approach. In this analysis,
the researcher will connect the semantic code and symbolic code within this
novel.
If we see from
the cover of the novel, we will find a picture of one of classical music instrument
(Cello). On the picture of the cello, there is a word “Prelude” which becomes
the title of this novel. At the first, we will be faced by a question, what is
the correlation between cello and prelude? Why the word on the cello picture is
not just “cello” which shows the name of that picture. If we just see from either
sign or symbol, we will get confused.
The researcher tries to interpret the notion inside the picture’s cover
and the title of this novel. At the first, cello is a wooden musical instrument
with four strings, which is held vertically between the legs and is played by
moving a bow across the strings. Usually, this instrument is used to play
classical music. Then, prelude itself has a meaning as a short piece of music
which introduces the main work.
Actually, from the cover of this novel, it covers the story in this
novel. Based on the story, cello describes an instrument which is chosen by the
main character of this novel (Tina). In addition, cello becomes a symbol that
Tina is the daughter of Maria. In other words, the Tina’s ability in playing
cello is given by her mother (Maria).
In this story, Maria and Hendra
are separated by their each own ambition. Therefore, they live in different
country. Then Hendra lives with his daughter (Tina) in Indonesia and Maria
lives alone in German. However, they are met by classical music which they
love. It is the first time for Tina to meet her mother after they have been
separated with the long times.
Therefore, it becomes the beginning of the perfect moment of Tina. This
beginning is symbolized as the word “Prelude” on the cover of this novel. As
the lexical meaning of prelude, when Tina gets on together with her parents for
her first time, it is a beautiful beginning or introduction as prelude.
The Result of Discussion
After discussing and
analyzing this novel, the researcher found there are many things that we found
in it. Through the story of this novel, we know that the feminism ideology
still exist in society. It can be seen from the idea of the author which
telling the equality for woman.
Moreover,
the researcher also found the impact which is caused by the feminism ideology. This
ideology is impacted to Tina. This is because her mother prefers to follow his
aspiration than to be a housewife. Therefore, Tina did not have affection from
her mother for long times.
Even
the story of this novel is not based on true story, but it can reflects the
condition in our society. Many children who do not have the affections from
their mother because of feminism ideology. For instance, in our society many
women who work in other countries or become TKW (Tenaga Kerja Wanita) to replace the role of their husband. By
replacing the role of the husband, it can be seen that the feminism ideology
does not only influence to the upper class but also to the lower class. The
feminist movement was not rigidly structured or led by a single figure or
group. As one feminist wrote, "The women's movement is a non-hierarchical
one. It does things collectively and experimentally (as cited in Collins)." In fact, the
movement was deeply divided between young and old, upper-class and lower-class,
conservative and radical.
In
addition, in our society, the rating of divorce is growing up in every year.
One of the causes of it is the feminism ideology. When women have the same
right as the men, they will brave to lead their household. That’s not only
happen in Indonesian society but also in American society. As stated by Adelman
“changes in American family structure are evidenced by high rates of separation
and divorce (1993: 101)”.
After
the writer finds the feminism ideology in this novel, she also finds that there
is a correlation between the cover of the novel with the story in it. As the
explanation above, we can conclude that the picture of the cello in the cover
of this novel reflects the story of Tina and her parents after all of them are
met by the classical music.
Conclusion
and Suggestion
Feminism
is an ideology which still exist in the middle of society. From feminism
movement women can get the equality of the right as men. However, there are
some bad effects which are caused by feminism movement and ideology. From this
novel, we can take many lessons of the life.
The
first lesson is about the spirit in doing any effort. This novel teaches us to
be spirited in doing anything in our life. This lesson is shown the main
character of this novel (Tina). We should always try anything even we are sure
to do that. It means that, we should not be over confident. In other words, we
should not look down at someone or something.
The
second lesson from this novel is about keeping moving forward. This lesson is
shown by Hendra or Tina’s father. Hendra always looks to the future because he
does not want to trap in his past. He always teaches his daughter (Tina) to
keep moving forward from the past. It is a good lesson that should be followed
by us. We should not stuck in our past because we have to change to be better
person.
The last lesson from this novel is about thinking before we
act. It means that we should think twice before we decide something in our
life. This lesson is shown by Tina’s mother (Maria). Maria does not think twice
when she decides to be a cellist. Even she has the same right as feminism
ideology, but she should think about the risk that will appear.
This novel is very interesting to
read. Yet, it can make the readers feel that they are in Tina’s world. In
addition, the language of this novel can easily understood. Through reading
this novel we can know some part of classical music history which is so
famous.
For the last, hopefully this paper
can be the reference for the next researcher. The researcher expects to the
next researcher to be more sensitive about the condition in our society through
analyzing someone’s work.
Reference
List:
Ayu,N.R. (2012). Representasi berjuang pada
novel “2” (Study semiologi representasi berjuang pada novel “2”) (S1 thesis).
Pembanguanan Nasional “Veteran”
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Bergman,
Mats. (2007). The secret of rendering signs effective: the import of C. S. Peirce’s semiotic rhetoric. The Public
Journal of Semiotics I(2). Arcada University of Applied Sciences Helsinki,
Finland, hal 3
Collins,
Gail. When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women
from 1960 to the Present.
Jaggar and Grimshaw (n.d.) retrieved
from
Levine, R.., D. and Adelman, B., M. (1993). Beyond language: cross-cultural
communication (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs., New Jersey: A
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[1] An
article prepared and submitted as the final assignment of Cultural Studies
Class, English Department, Faculty of Humanities, Maulana Malik Ibrahim State
Islamic University Malang, supervised by Sakban Rosidi, Ph.D.
[2] A
student of English Department, Faculty of Humanities, Maulana Malik Ibrahim
State Islamic University Malang.
