The series of events for the 2nd American Studies International Conference at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) continues. Organized by the American Studies Study Program on September 10–11, 2024, the conference carries the overarching theme “Global America: Exploring Flows, Borders, and Transnational Exchanges” to examine America through cross-border dynamics and global exchanges.

As previously discussed, this multidisciplinary conference does not merely explore the English language or American popular culture. Instead, it encompasses politics, technology, literature, and environmental issues. This scope is demonstrated through various subthemes—such as American Literature, American Transnational Culture, Film and Media Studies, and Digital Lives—including a primary focus on the political ecology and physical infrastructure of the global digital landscape presented by Anna M. Gade (University of Wisconsin-Madison).

American Influence in Urban Governance and Spatial Politics

Continuing the focus on the connection between global paradigms and local conditions, the conference also highlighted the concept of Transnational “American” Paradigms. This discussion invites participants to shift their perspective on America: moving from seeing it as a mere producer of cultural goods to a source of development paradigms that operate behind the scenes of daily life, including urban planning, public space regulation, and economic activities.

This idea is illustrated in a study titled “Street Vending and Urban Spatial Politics in Solo City, Indonesia: American Paradigms, Urban Landscapes, and the Politics of Informality.” The research demonstrates how the issue of street vendors and urban spatial dynamics in Solo can be read through the lens of American Studies. In this context, the city is positioned as a space where regulations, spatial design, and local economic interests interact.

Through this entire series of discussions, the conference underscores that America can be understood as part of transnational systems moving across national borders. It proves the role of American Studies as an academic space to analyze the relationship between America and various social changes around the world.

 

 

[Author: FIB Public Relations, Zaidan Abdurrahman]

 

There is a question that initially sounds simple but is difficult to answer: who has the right to tell women’s stories?

That question led Sofiana Martha Rini and her two colleagues, Priyo Joko Purnomo and Mulya Atmana Dwiyana WNA, much deeper. What began as an assignment for a prose course eventually developed into a paper presented at The 2nd International Conference Bali Gender Studies Forum (BGSF) 2026.

The paper, titled Walking in Her Shoes: Gender and Ethics of Representing Women in Post-Reform Indonesian Novels (2000–2025), went on to receive the Best Paper award at the conference, organized by Yayasan Bali Sruti on August 28–29, 2026, online.

For Sofiana, the paper did not suddenly emerge from a research desk piled high with books and theories. It began with a sense of unease.

One of the things that prompted it was Sofiana’s reading and reconsideration of the works of Panji Sukma. From there came questions about representation: how women are written, who writes them, and whether women’s experiences can truly be represented in their entirety by someone else.

The questions did not disappear after a single reading.

“The point is that we have to recognize that representation is difficult to make completely free from bias,” Sofiana said.

She even carried this concern into other discussions, including during a summer school, where she discussed representation and the boundaries one encounters when attempting to tell an experience that does not belong to oneself with Ramayda Akmal, a lecturer and literary writer, as well as Prof. Arnez.

From there, a topic that initially stemmed from a single work expanded into a broader question: how are women represented in Indonesian literature after the Reformasi era?

Together with her two colleagues, Sofiana did not stop at one or two novels. They read 21 Indonesian novels published between 2002 and 2025, written by both male and female authors from different literary backgrounds and ideological orientations.

One of the theoretical frameworks informing their analysis was Stuart Hall’s concept of representation. Within this framework, representation is not merely about making something visible or presenting something so that it can be seen. Rather, it is a process through which meaning is produced.

The question therefore shifted: who constructs meaning about women? From whose perspective are women’s experiences told? And who has the authority to represent women?

To examine these questions, they employed several theoretical tools, including Laura Mulvey’s concept of the male gaze, as well as the concepts of focalization and non-narratorial commentary in Mieke Bal’s narratology.

Their reading of dozens of female characters across the 21 novels revealed an interesting pattern.

Women increasingly appear at the center of stories. But being at the center of a story does not automatically mean being at the center of power. Women may speak. But who determines what that voice means?

In a number of novels, Sofiana and her team found that women were still largely positioned around male characters.

There are women who speak, feel, love, and even make decisions. Yet their voices remain within narrative structures determined by male characters.

They found one example in Ayat-Ayat Cinta by Habiburrahman El Shirazy. Aisha has her own voice and emotional experiences. However, the way readers come to understand those experiences remains closely connected to Fahri’s position as the center of the story.

Another pattern emerges when women become the main characters.

Yet once again, being a protagonist does not necessarily mean possessing authority.

In their reading of several novels, women may become the focus of the narrative, while decisions about how their bodies, experiences, trauma, and lives are interpreted can still be controlled by a larger narrative structure.

At this point, Sofiana identified an important distinction between agency and authority.

Women may possess agency—the ability to choose, act, refuse, and even resist. But that does not necessarily mean they possess the authority to determine how their own stories are understood.

Then comes another question: what happens when women write about women?

This question brought their research to its next stage. Does representation automatically become more ethical when women are the ones writing it? Their answer turned out to be more complicated than that.

Sofiana and her team also examined works written by female authors. In these works, they found that women could indeed appear with more diverse voices, experiences, and concerns.

But for them, the author’s gender is not the only measure. The issue is not simply who holds the pen. More important is how the text produces meaning about women and the extent to which it recognizes the limits of its authority when speaking about someone else’s experience.

That is why the conclusion of their paper feels more like a question deliberately left without closure:

Can we ever fully walk in her shoes?

Perhaps not. And precisely because of that, Sofiana and her team argue, literature needs to recognize that no one can ever completely walk in another person’s shoes.

The ethical task is not to pretend that one has arrived at or fully understood that experience. It is to recognize the limits.

Interestingly, the paper that eventually brought Sofiana the award began with something very close to everyday student life: a course assignment.

The paper originated as an assignment for a prose course. After completing it and reading it again, Sofiana and her two colleagues realized that there was an idea within it that could still be developed.

They then revised the paper and submitted it to the BGSF call for papers.

Yayasan Bali Sruti has long worked to develop publications in the fields of academic literacy, social and cultural studies, women and children, language, and public policy. The organization also has publication lines for conference proceedings and book chapters. Sofiana and her team’s paper was eventually presented online on August 28.

Their presentation time was also limited—only about six minutes.

Six minutes to bring 21 novels, several theories, concerns about representation, and questions of authority before an international forum.

In the end, it was that paper that brought Sofiana and her team the Best Paper award. The recognition came not simply because of the number of novels they had read or the theories they had employed. There was a longer journey behind it: a course assignment that did not remain merely an assignment, a concern that continued to occupy their thoughts, and a question that they carried all the way into the conference room.

Who has the right to tell women’s stories?

Sofiana herself does not offer a simple answer. Perhaps there is none.

Because the further she reads, the clearer it becomes that the question of representation is not merely about who gets to speak. Whenever someone speaks about another person, there will always be a part of that experience that can never completely belong to them.

 

Author: Khotibul Umam

On September 15, 2026, SMA Islam Sinar Cendekia Tangerang visited the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM as part of their study tour program. A total of 88 students, accompanied by their teachers, enthusiastically attended the event to gain a closer look at campus life and the academic environment at UGM.

The event began with opening remarks from the Principal of SMA Islam Sinar Cendekia Tangerang, who motivated the students to make the most of this opportunity to achieve their dream university. “Therefore, gather as much information as possible from today’s meeting,” the Principal advised.

The program continued with a presentation and discussion session led by Salsa from the FIB UGM Public Relations team. During the session, the students actively inquired about the admissions process, including specific requirements for the merit-based track (jalur prestasi). Aside from admission pathways, career prospects for humanities and literature graduates were a primary concern for the students.

Addressing these questions, student representatives Candra and Mayla explained that career opportunities for FIB UGM graduates are broad and adaptable. Given the strong foundation in literature and writing, graduates have great potential in the creative industries—such as becoming writers or editors—as well as opportunities in government institutions, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu).

Through this visit, the students of SMA Islam Sinar Cendekia Tangerang are expected to gain a clearer understanding of academic life at FIB UGM and feel inspired to pursue their higher education goals.

 

[Author: Humas FIB, Zaidan Abdurrahman]

Students of the Arabic Literature Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) attended a course on Entrepreneurship and Personal Development featuring a guest lecture on “Arabic-Based Entrepreneurship Opportunities” delivered by Kuwat Prasetya, S.S. on September 14, 2026. During the session, Kuwat highlighted the importance of mapping out and planning one’s dreams, then turning them into systems and habits as a form of commitment and consistency in achieving them. He also emphasized that small habits practiced repeatedly can create a significant impact. In explaining this concept, he referred to the key principles presented in Atomic Habits.

After raising students’ awareness of the importance of building systems and habits to achieve their future aspirations, Kuwat shifted the discussion toward the importance of Arabic language proficiency and the career opportunities that can be developed through this skill. According to him, Arabic proficiency is becoming increasingly valuable in the workplace, particularly when complemented by English language skills.

“Don’t come only when you need a job. Come with value,” he said.

Kuwat explained that the value of Arabic Literature graduates is not determined solely by their academic achievements or degree certificates, but also by the competencies they possess, particularly their Arabic language skills. He noted that Arabic proficiency should not be limited to fusha Arabic, but should also include amiyah, the variety of Arabic commonly used in everyday communication.

He encouraged students to start learning amiyah, particularly Saudi amiyah, for those interested in pursuing careers in the Hajj and Umrah sector. Proficiency in amiyah can help individuals communicate more closely with Arab communities while gaining a better understanding of their cultural and everyday contexts.

Beyond the Hajj and Umrah sector, Kuwat also outlined various career opportunities available to Arabic Literature graduates, including diplomacy, business and trade, hospitality, translation, digital media, and education, including Arabic Language Education.

“Build an identity, not just a target,” Kuwat said.

Through this course, Arabic Literature students are expected not only to identify their aspirations and future career opportunities, but also to understand the competencies they need to develop from an early stage. The experience and insights gained from the speaker are expected to serve as valuable preparation for students to take concrete steps, develop productive habits, and pursue their goals through small actions carried out consistently, rather than leaving those goals as mere ideas in their minds.

 

Author : Hashifa Zara Ahfiyani

The Master’s Program in Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held an Expert Lecture on the theme “Language Politics” on Monday, 7 September 2026. Held at the Soegondo Building, FIB UGM, the event provided an academic forum for exploring the relationship between language and social, political, and regional dynamics, particularly in Southeast Asia.

The Expert Lecture featured two speakers who offered complementary perspectives. Jerôme Samuel from the Institut National des Langues Orientales, France, delivered a presentation entitled “Language Politics in Southeast Asian Countries.” His presentation explored the dynamics of language policy and politics across Southeast Asian countries, as well as the strategic position of language in social life and regional relations.

The second speaker, Dr. Merry Andriani, S.S., M.L.C.S. from Universitas Gadjah Mada, presented “The Politics of Indonesian as a Working Language in ASEAN.” Her presentation provided insights into the position and role of Indonesian in the regional context, particularly in relation to the development of ASEAN and the potential of Indonesian as a language for communication and cooperation within the region.

The discussion was moderated by Dhisna Luklu’ul Fauzan, S.S., a student of the Master’s Program in Linguistics. The interaction between the speakers and participants was an important part of the event, providing opportunities to further explore language politics from diverse perspectives.

Through this Expert Lecture, the Master’s Program in Linguistics, FIB UGM, continues to provide an academic space that encourages students and participants to understand language not only as a means of communication, but also as an integral part of social, political, identity, and regional dynamics.

The Master’s Program in Linguistics, FIB UGM, extends its appreciation to the speakers, moderator, and all participants for their contributions to the event. It is hoped that the Expert Lecture on “Language Politics” will broaden perspectives and encourage further discussion and research on language politics in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

 

Author: Magister of Linguistics Program