Amid the overwhelming flow of information, writing is often reduced to a mere technical skill—the ability to arrange words so they read smoothly. Yet in an academic context, writing is fundamentally an intellectual act: a way of thinking, responding, and ultimately taking a position in relation to reality.

In a workshop organized by the Master’s Program in Literature at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, M.Hum. emphasized that students should not remain confined to the classroom. Ideas, he argued, must be brought into the public domain—into mass media and shared spaces where discourse is exchanged and debated. “Students need to be present in the public sphere through their writing. It is also important to include institutional affiliation as a form of academic responsibility,” Aprinus noted.

There is often a noticeable gap between academia and the wider public. Overly technical language, ideas circulating within limited circles, and a tendency to write merely for assignments can strip knowledge of its broader relevance. This is where the essay finds its significance.

Unlike formal academic writing, essays do not demand rigid structures. They allow space for subjectivity, reflection, and even doubt. Paradoxically, this is precisely where their strength lies—in the courage to take a stance, not merely present data.

However, this freedom is not without direction. Essay writing still requires strategy. There is a long, often invisible process behind it: reading, experimenting, failing, and trying again. Prof. Aprinus illustrated that the journey of writing can be winding—from critiques that fail to “break through” to discovering more nuanced, even ironic ways of expressing ideas.

Writing, then, is not only about the end result, but about the process of finding one’s voice.

One approach offered is to use literary works as a lens for interpreting reality. Fiction is no longer seen as a separate world, but as another way of understanding the real one. From there, writers can build bridges between imagination and concrete social conditions.

Depth, too, becomes essential. In an age that favors speed and superficiality, there is a call to slow down and immerse oneself in a single idea, figure, or perspective until it is fully internalized—not to imitate, but ultimately to move beyond it.

In this session, there was no conventional Q&A. Instead, participants were invited to reflect directly through reviews of the essays they had previously submitted. The feedback may have seemed simple, yet it touched on fundamental aspects: appropriate length, fresh and relevant titles, and the courage to take a clear stance.

What may appear technical, in fact, conceals deeper questions: for whom do we write, and why?

When students begin to write for mass media, they are not merely practicing a skill—they are assuming a role. They step into the public sphere as thinking individuals who do not simply consume information, but actively produce it.

At this point, writing becomes more than just an academic exercise. It becomes a path home—a way for intellectuals to reconnect with the very reality that gave rise to them.

[Master of Arts in Literature, Khotibul Umam]

Amid the noise of everyday life, many things seem to unfold as if by default: traffic jams, crowded markets, and casual conversations in digital spaces. Yet for a social scientist, these are far from ordinary occurrences. They are living “texts,” rich with meaning and waiting to be interpreted more deeply.

During a Social and Cultural Essay Writing Workshop held on Wednesday (April 8, 2026) by the Master’s Program in Literature at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. Dr. Agus Suwignyo, M.A. emphasized that the work of social scientists does not operate within fixed spatial boundaries. Their “laboratory” is life itself—a fluid, dynamic, and often unpredictable space.

According to Agus, social scientists inhabit a broad and ever-changing field of inquiry, as their object of study is human interaction across various dimensions of life. “All social phenomena—from traffic congestion to everyday habits—can serve as material for analysis that reflects social structures and public policy,” he explained.

He stressed that sensitivity is the key foundation of a social scientist’s work. With such sensitivity, seemingly mundane phenomena can be transformed into meaningful and critical analysis.

In the discussion session, participants highlighted the condition of social critics in Indonesia, who are perceived to face pressure from the state. Agus acknowledged that the situation is neither entirely hopeful nor entirely bleak. He argued that criticism will persist as long as social awareness remains alive within society.

“What matters is the courage to question reality while remaining grounded in one’s conscience,” he said.

He further asserted that subjectivity in social analysis is inevitable, but it must be anchored in rationality and a commitment to marginalized groups. This approach is essential for upholding social justice amid the complexities of power relations.

The discussion also addressed the shifting nature of social criticism—from what was once organic to forms that are increasingly complex due to interventions by various actors, including the state. In this context, social scientists are required to be more discerning in distinguishing between authentic, organic public voices and those that are manipulative.

Ultimately, being a social scientist is not only about analytical ability, but also about maintaining integrity. As reality becomes increasingly blurred, perhaps the only reliable compass is conscience—constantly reminding us that the primary task of social science is not only to understand humanity, but also to stand up for it.

[Master of Arts in Literature, Khotibul Umam]

Archaeology students took part in a tutorial session for the Data Analysis Methods course held in the laboratory as part of their learning activities. This session represents one of the topics covered in the tutorial, focusing on the introduction to the Mohs scale and various types of rocks as part of archaeological data. During the session, students learned how to identify mineral hardness levels and understand the characteristics of rocks commonly found in archaeological contexts.

Dr. Mahirta, M.A., as the course lecturer, guided the tutorial session in the laboratory. Through this guidance, students were able to engage in direct observation while deepening their understanding through hands-on practice. In addition to strengthening analytical skills in processing archaeological data, the activity also supports the development of more applied and contextual learning, contributing to the advancement of quality education.

Writer:  Muhammad Irsyad
Photo: Dr. Mahirta, M.A.

Amidst the warm and heartfelt ambience of Eid Al-Fitr, the English Department program conducted a Syawalan event at Gadjah Mada University Club (UC), Universitas Gadjah Mada. It was held on Thursday, 31st March 2026, as an annual occasion for lecturers and former lecturers to seek and offer forgiveness while also fostering the bond within the English Department family. Not just Syawalan, this year’s event is particularly special because it also marks the farewell of a recently retired lecturer, Dra. Rio Rini Diah Moehkardi, M.A.

The attendance at this event includes lecturers and retired lecturers from the English Department, along with their families. Throughout the event, they get to talk and reminisce about the memories they shared as part of the English Department family. The Eid atmosphere remains lively, with many hands greeting each other warmly.

The event began with a greeting and speech from Dr. Adi Sutrisno, M.A., a former Head of the English Department. He proceeds to give a word on the ups and downs the English Department has faced due to the lecturers that must leave—whether to study abroad or retire—one by one. Thankfully, owing to the contribution and hard work from the remaining lecturers, they managed to bounce back and maintain the major’s credibility.

He also pays tribute to Dra. Rio Rini Diah Moehkardi, M.A., for her remarkable contribution to the English Department. In this opportunity, Mr. Adi, as a representative of the English Department, handed over a token of appreciation for Mrs. Rio: a memory book filled with words and thoughts from lecturers and students of the English Department. Mrs. Rio expresses her gratitude upon receiving the gift, thanking her fellow lecturers who accompany and enrich her experience in the English Department.

Congrats on your retirement, Mrs. Rio! Thank you for being a part of the English Department family. We hope you will stay healthy, happy, and lively as ever.

Author: Gulma Zahra Auradatu

Yogyakarta, April 19, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) held the first session of the Professorial Forum titled “Humanities for Governance and Social Transformation: Language, Literature, and Policy Politics.” This academic forum reviewed several proposals and research plans from academics that addressed various strategic issues, ranging from the dynamics of political legitimacy and customary land conflicts to the urgency of forensic linguistics in law enforcement.

The Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, and Alumni at FIB UGM, Dr. Mimi Savitri, emphasized that the theme of this forum aligned with the faculty’s research roadmap. She encouraged researchers to formulate their proposed studies into strategic recommendations for future policymakers.

“The goal is to determine how existing research can be recommended as policy briefs. We hope FIB can make a significant contribution,” said Dr. Savitri during her opening remarks.

She added that the forum intentionally invited doctoral students to motivate them and provide a concrete overview of how to draft a dissertation research proposal.

Moving into the presentation session, Professor Bambang Hudayana presented a research proposal titled “Prophecies on the Legitimacy and Delegitimacy of Indonesian Presidents.” He planned a study to examine how the leadership of Presidents Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto intersects with narratives of political prophecies or divine mandates (wangsit) on social media. Through this proposal, Professor Hudayana intends to combine the concept of Javanese power cosmology with networked religion theory. This research plan will explore how political prophecies express the spiritual hopes of the public while also serving as a symbolic instrument to either legitimize or delegitimize the power of leaders.

In the second presentation, Dr. Nur Aini Setiawati reviewed a draft book titled “Customary Land in Indonesia: Policy Politics and the Dynamics of Agrarian Conflict in the 20th Century.” This book draft seeks to bridge normative legal studies and social movement studies regarding agrarian conflicts. Dr. Setiawati explained that agrarian disputes are essentially a clash of two perspectives. There is the communal understanding of society, which views land as a generational living space, colliding with the state’s view of land as a legal and administrative object. Therefore, this book draft will uncover the history of state policy formation and its social consequences at the local level, which frequently trigger the loss of community access to customary territories.

The third presentation featured a linguistic perspective from Professor I Dewa Putu Wijana through a research plan titled “Linguistics and Forensic Linguistics.” He designed this study to respond to social interactions in the digital era, which often give rise to disharmony and verbal abuse. The research plan emphasizes that as public legal awareness increases, forensic linguistics will take on a central role. This applied linguistics approach is projected to resolve various cases of language-based crimes by utilizing branches of linguistics such as phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and sociolinguistics.

The various drafts of academic works originating from this forum demonstrate the strong commitment of the humanities in formulating a foundation for solving societal problems. Thorough research planning related to language, culture, and history is highly essential for establishing equitable public governance. Ultimately, the effort to prepare this humanity-based research is expected to help reduce inequalities in living spaces, create an ethical communication climate, and encourage the development of more peaceful and resilient social institutions for the future.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]