Yogyakarta, 15/9/2025 – The Master’s Program in Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a public lecture titled “Make the Invisible Visible Again: Race, Gender, and Language in Popular Literature.” The event took place on Monday (15/9) at the Soegondo Auditorium, FIB UGM, featuring Dr. Ashika Prajnya Paramita, S.S., M.A. as the keynote speaker.

The lecture was attended by students and literature enthusiasts eager to explore how ideology operates within popular texts. With an engaging and communicative style, Dr. Ashika emphasized that literature is never a neutral narrative but always carries underlying ideologies, often hidden in plain sight.

Opening her talk with the questions “What’s visible?” and “What’s invisible?”, Dr. Ashika illustrated how everyday objects and cultural products that appear neutral are in fact loaded with ideological meaning. Examples ranged from the skin-tone bias in band-aids, beauty discourses in advertisements, to the privileging of certain languages over others. Quoting Antonio Gramsci, she reminded the audience that ideology operates through common sense—perceptions that society accepts as natural. “Everyday ideology is always around us. If we are not aware, we need to check,” she explained.

Dr. Ashika further examined how race and gender are represented in popular works, particularly in superhero films. She discussed debates surrounding Sam Wilson as Captain America and the assumption that Barack Obama’s presidency signaled the end of racism in the United States, while in reality, racial tensions persisted.

On gender, she highlighted how physical strength in superhero films is typically coded as masculine, while female characters are often given invisible or passive powers. Citing Judith Butler (1993), she reminded participants that “Gender is a kind of imitation for which there is no original,” stressing that masculinity and femininity are constructed and constantly shifting.

Bringing the discussion closer to home, Dr. Ashika invited the audience to critically read representations in the Indonesian film Satria Dewa: Gatotkaca (2022). She pointed out how white-skinned characters were often depicted as bosses, while darker-skinned characters appeared as security guards or lower-class workers. Language use also reinforced hierarchies, with Javanese accents assigned to “village folk,” while the protagonist spoke Jakarta urban slang.

“Literature is never just stories. Ideologies hide in plain sight. Reading critically is seeing power,” she concluded, marking the end of her main lecture.

The Q&A session was lively, with questions ranging from the representation of women in comics, ideological bias in reading literature, to the masculine standards in modern superheroes. Dr. Ashika underscored that ideological progress is never linear but rather messy and full of resistance. She also reminded the audience of the importance of readers’ critical awareness in examining their own biases.

This public lecture demonstrated that the study of popular literature goes beyond entertainment, offering critical reflections on power, representation, and ideology in everyday life. Through this event, the Master’s Program in Literature at UGM reaffirmed its commitment to providing an academic space that engages with contemporary issues while equipping students with critical perspectives in reading texts and culture.

Author: Marsya Kamila / Public Relations, Master’s Program in Literature

Yogyakarta, 11/9/2025 – The Master’s Program in Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, hosted a two-day creative writing workshop on flash fiction, held on Tuesday (9/9) and Thursday (11/9) at Soegondo Building, Room 125, FIB UGM.

The event featured international creative writer Alexandra Masri Do, widely known as Maz Do, who holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in fiction from Cornell University, USA. Currently in Yogyakarta on a Fulbright scholarship for creative writing and research, Maz Do has published short stories in renowned literary journals such as Guernica, The Baffler, and McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern. The workshop was attended by around 20 participants, not only from the Master’s Program in Literature at UGM but also from various backgrounds outside the program who shared an interest in creative writing.

The first session, titled “Flash Fiction: Discover the Art of Short-Form Storytelling”, introduced the fundamentals of flash fiction as a compact narrative form capable of delivering depth within brevity. Alexandra opened the workshop with a provocative exercise called the Lying Exercise by Steven Doung.

She emphasized that this practice is essential because writing fiction, in a positive sense, involves “lying” by creating new realities through imagination. “Fiction is a lie, but it is a lie that reveals truth. As writers, we invent, we fabricate—but through this act of lying, we reach something deeply human and meaningful,” Maz Do explained.

Through this exercise, participants were encouraged to realize that the “lies” crafted in fiction can, in fact, serve as gateways to broader truths. Following this, Maz Do elaborated on key elements such as shape, perspective, and how a story can be viewed as a series of questions that challenge readers’ expectations.

The second session, titled “Generative Creative Workshop: Write Your Own Flash Fiction”, focused more on practice and story development. Participants engaged in simple yet imaginative exercises such as the Chair Exercise, which connected words to visuals and personal memories. Starting with the word “chair”, participants explored synonyms, compared the visual images that arose, and linked them to personal memories. From these associations, they were asked to compose short sentences and share them in group discussions.

Enthusiasm was evident throughout both days of the workshop. The atmosphere was dynamic, filled with discussions, partner activities, and reflective sharing. The presence of participants from diverse backgrounds—academics, students, and literary enthusiasts alike—brought unique perspectives into the creative process.

The workshop provided valuable insights into how a short narrative can powerfully evoke readers’ imagination. More than just theory, Maz Do equipped participants with practical skills in writing, revising, and sharpening literary sensitivity.

Through this program, the Master’s Program in Literature, FIB UGM reaffirms its commitment to creating open, innovative, and internationally engaged learning spaces. With guidance from Maz Do, flash fiction has proven to be a refreshing medium for exploring imagination and enriching today’s literary practice.

Author: Marsya Kamila / Public Relations, Master’s Program in Literature

Yogyakarta, 6/9/2025 — The Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, successfully held the UGM Korean Literature Festival 2025 at the Purbacaraka Auditorium. The event took place from 09.00 to 11.30 WIB and featured a series of activities including a literature seminar, award announcement, and a talk show with Cursed Bunny author, Chung Bora.

The seminar opened with a presentation by Mrs. Alfiana Amrin Rosyadi, one of the founders of the K-Lit UGM community. She shared the journey of K-Lit UGM from its early formation to its successful organization of various literary activities, including translation workshops and the first Korean literature festival in Indonesia.

Following this, Mrs. Febriani Elfida Trihtarani delivered a talk titled “Cursed Bunny: Between Horror, Magical Elements, and Social Issues.” She discussed how Chung Bora’s short story collection explores compelling narratives infused with horror, magical elements, and reflections of social issues in South Korea.

The event continued with the announcement of competition winners. In the Korean Literature Scientific Paper Competition, Az-Zahra Ahsana Amala won first place and received a prize of Rp3,000,000. Zahra also had the opportunity to present her paper titled “Analysis of Borderline Personality Disorder Tendencies in the Main Character of Lee Kkonnnim’s Novel Jugigo Sipeun Ai.” Second place went to Ajeng Adinda Putri (Rp1,500,000), and third place to Rizqi Hauna Nadhira (Rp1,000,000).

Meanwhile, in the Cursed Bunny Novel Video Review Competition, Bernadeta Dheswita Puspitasari won first place (Rp600,000), followed by Yosie Rizkha Amaf in second place (Rp450,000), and Jeanetta Gabriella Bangun in third place (Rp200,000).

All prizes were sponsored by the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, as a form of appreciation for student creativity. The organizers hope that this festival will not only serve as a platform for literary engagement but also inspire young generations to be critical, creative, and attentive to the development of Korean literature in Indonesia.

Author: Sherina Azmi A.

Yogyakarta, August 20, 2025 — The Cultural Anthropology Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada, has once again opened its Gender and Sexuality class, a regular part of the department’s semester curriculum. This semester, the class is scheduled every Wednesday from 7:15 to 9:45 a.m., running from August 20 to December 5, 2025, at the R. Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM.

The course aims to provide a critical understanding of the distinctions between sex, gender, and sexuality. Through this class, students are encouraged to grasp why these distinctions have become increasingly significant amid the changing dynamics of modern society.

A wide range of topics are discussed, including sexual taboos, sexual identity, and expressions of gender in everyday life. The course also examines how gender identity intersects with other aspects such as social class, ethnicity, race, age, and religion. Using an intersectional approach, students are guided to understand how multiple identities shape individual experiences within society.

Beyond theoretical discussion, the course also highlights the social and cultural implications of gender and sexuality issues, especially in the context of Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Students are encouraged to think critically, question social norms, and appreciate the diversity of human experiences while remaining grounded in local contexts.

The Gender and Sexuality class is open to students from the Cultural Anthropology Study Program and other departments within the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM. It serves as an important academic space for anyone interested in exploring gender, sexuality, and identity studies from an anthropological perspective, while broadening their understanding of the complexities of contemporary social life.

Photo: Freepik.com

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, 19/8/2025 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) held a special inaugural lecture for the new undergraduate students of the 2025 academic year. The event featured the keynote speaker, Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA., who presented on the theme “Healthy Relationships, Strong Minds, Enthusiastic Learning.”

In her presentation, Prof. Wening introduced her book titled “Healthy Relationships,” which is based on the principles of positive thinking, collaboration, and inclusivity. She emphasized that collaboration is the key to mutual progress, while inclusivity means involving all parties without exception, including those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, remote areas, and friends with disabilities. She asserted that healthy relationships should not only be applied among students but also between lecturers and in external collaborations such as community service and internships.

Furthermore, Prof. Wening highlighted that diverse backgrounds could lead to conflicts or violence, making awareness of justice, equality, and democracy crucial for creating a safe and comfortable academic environment. She elaborated on various forms of violence that need to be watched out for, ranging from verbal, psychological, sexual, symbolic, to intellectual violence.

During this occasion, Prof. Wening reminded the new FIB students that their selection from a large pool of applicants is a significant achievement, but it must be accompanied by humility and respect for others. She emphasized that UGM should no longer be known for the term “killer lecturers,” but rather as a University that upholds healthy relationships.

The event was interactive, featuring a question-and-answer session between the new students and Prof. Wening. The discussion was lively, with questions coming from various majors within FIB. The critical inquiries from students enriched the collective understanding of the importance of building healthy relationships in both academic and social life.

The inaugural lecture concluded with a collective call to build awareness in creating security, comfort, and a positive learning spirit. It is hoped that all new FIB UGM students can embark on their academic journey with strong minds, healthy relationships, and a sustainable enthusiasm for learning.

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this event underscores the importance of access to education and the establishment of basic living standards. By fostering an inclusive academic environment, UGM aims to ensure that all students, regardless of their backgrounds, have access to quality education and the necessary support to thrive.

Prof. Wening’s emphasis on collaboration and inclusivity resonates with the SDG goal of ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, as well as the need for development assistance in underprivileged areas. By addressing these issues, UGM is not only contributing to the academic growth of its students but also to the broader societal development.

As the new academic year begins, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM is committed to nurturing a culture of respect, understanding, and collaboration among its students and faculty. This commitment is essential for creating a conducive learning environment that promotes personal and academic growth.