SDGs 4: Quality Education | SGDs 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Yogyakarta (06/03/2024) – After spending the month of Ramadan full of wisdom, it is time to celebrate the blessings and warmth of Syawalan. The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program held a Syawalan event with great joy and a spirit of togetherness. This event took place in the hallway of the 4th floor of the Margono building on May 2, 2024, starting at 04.00 PM WIB until completion, attended by students from the 2020-2023 batch along with all the lecturers.

The festivity of the syawalan event was warmly opened by Bagus Ulin Nuha, a student from the class of 2023 who acted as the announcer of the event. Followed by remarks from Gilang Cahyo Nusantara, as the head of the Kamastawa Department Student Association (HMJ), and Dr. Daru Winarti, M. Hum. as the head of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program. In her speech, Dr. Daru Winarti, M. Hum. expressed her gratitude for the presence and togetherness that was established in this special moment.

After the speeches, it was followed by the reading of the Syawalan pledge led by M. Rafi Nur Fauzy, a 2023 student, and followed by all attendees. The syawalan event was also enlivened with a tausiah delivered by Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., a lecturer in literary studies. The tausiah brought an important theme about the true meaning of Eid al-Fitr, inviting the audience to reflect and interpret the moment of fitri more deeply. After the sermon, the event continued with a joint prayer led by Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A. The peak of the warmth of the event occurred during the halal bi halal session, where all attendees jointly expressed their apologies and forgiveness, strengthening the ties of brotherhood among them. The moment of joy was immortalized in a group photo session which was also the closing session of the syawalan activity.

Syawalan is not only a religious ritual, but also a place to strengthen the relationship between students and lecturers as part of the family in the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program. This syawalan activity is also interpreted to be self-reflective, learn to forgive, and build harmonious relationships. Through this moment, it is hoped that awareness of the importance of good relationships and respect for others will continue to be instilled, become part of the formation of a quality person, and be ready to face a bright and challenging future.

Author: Haryo Untoro

SDGs 3: Good Health and Well-Being | SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Yogyakarta, April 24, 2024 – The Association of Arabic Literature Students UGM (IKMASA) held a Halal Bihalal event on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at Siti Baroroh Building A201, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. This event is a regular agenda of IKMASA conducted during the month of Shawwal and is mandatory for all Arabic Literature students at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The event was attended by Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati, S.S., M.Hum., Head of the Arabic Literature Program, Arief Budiman, S.S., M.A., an Arabic Literature lecturer, and the speaker, who is an alumnus of Arabic Literature UGM, Ustadz Ibnus-Sakan Al-Faishal, S.S., M.Sc.

The event began with an opening by the MC, followed by welcoming speeches and the recitation of the Shawwal pledge by the Head of the Program, the Arabic Literature lecturer, the Chair of IKMASA 2024/2025, and representatives of the 2021, 2022, and 2023 cohorts. This was followed by a presentation by the speaker, moderated Q&A sessions, games, the presentation of souvenirs, a documentation session, and concluded with a closing.

The agenda discussed the theme “Weaving Harmony in Togetherness, to Strengthen the Foundation of Unity,” which can be summarized with the following quotes:

“Halal bihalal is a cultural product in Indonesia initiated by Abdul Wahab Chasbullah. It was first held in 1948 at the Merdeka Palace to reconcile DI/TII, Masyumi, Kartosuwiryo, and others to prevent division at that time.” – Ustadz Ibnus-Sakan Al-Faishal, S.S., M.Sc.

“The blessing of halal bihalal is that it can strengthen the bonds of friendship between one another, between students and lecturers, maintain harmony, and reinforce togetherness.” – Ustadz Ibnus-Sakan Al-Faishal, S.S., M.Sc.

It is hoped that through this general lecture with the theme “Weaving Harmony in Togetherness, to Strengthen the Foundation of Unity,” Arabic Literature students will be able to maintain their bonds of friendship, thereby creating a sense of togetherness among each other.

SDGs 4 Quality Education | SDGs 4: Education | SDGs 4: Cultural diversity | SDGs 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | SDGs 1: Non-discrimination

American Literature is one of the courses in the Master’s Program in American Studies that uses American literary works from the classical era to Post-Modernism as the objects and materials for discussion. This American Literature class provides students with a new experience in exploring the relationship between American literary works and the country itself. Based on the understanding that the narrative of a literary work represents the author’s thoughts on the events they have experienced and the occurrences around them, this class presents various understandings of American literature and how it projects the state of society in each era, such as the Romanticism, Realism, and Harlem Renaissance eras.

In this lecture, the discussion began with an explanation of the Post-Modernism era, which emerged around the 1960s. With the development of new art forms like performance art as a result of World War II, other forms of art, including literary works, were also influenced, especially in terms of characteristics. Some of the characteristics explained in this session include how writers began to focus on the experiences of others with different backgrounds, or write about how power and ideology from those in power can influence society’s perception of their surroundings, while also raising awareness among the public about everything they believe in and hold dear.

Using Amanda Gorman’s work, ‘The Hill We Climb,’ which was recited during President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, the class discussion connected the author, a young Black woman, with America, particularly in its real-world context. Through presentations and discussions between students and the professor, this class produced various interpretations of how this poem depicts American democracy from a minority perspective. After lengthy discussions, the result of these student-professor dialogues and interpretations was that, despite America’s many ‘sins’ in the past, especially towards Black people, this poem serves as a call for all Americans, regardless of race, to pass on a better democracy and country to future generations.

Besides conducting an in-depth discussion on the meaning of a literary work, the conversation also delved into the writing style of Black authors, who use certain linguistic structures, and the presence of intertextuality, or the use of writings from other Black authors to reinforce the message being conveyed. Moreover, the discussion covered the characteristics of post-modernist literature and how ‘The Hill We Climb’ embodies one of these post-modernist traits.