Yogyakarta, June 4, 2024 – The Arabic Literature Study Program of Universitas Gadjah Mada held a National Seminar on “Arabic Language Development in Various Media” held at Soegondo Building S709, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. This event was held by the UGM Arabic Literature Study Program as a form of respect and appreciation for the dedication given by Dr. Moh. Masrukhi, M.Hum., who has devoted himself for 35 years in the world of education.

The event was attended by Suray Agung Nugroho S.S., M.A., Ph.D., as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (online), Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., as Head of the Department of Language and Literature, Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati, S.S., M.Hum., as Head of the Arabic Literature Study Program, lecturers and colleagues of Dr. Moh. Masrukhi, M.Hum., as well as students and alumni.

The event began with the opening by the MC, recitation of the holy verses of the Qur’an, singing Indonesia Raya and Gadjah Mada Hymn, remarks, National Seminar program, delivery of impressions and messages, tumpeng cutting procession, giving mementos, reading prayers together, and ending with closing.

The National Seminar “Arabic Language Development in Various Media” was hosted by Dr. Arief Ma’nawi, S.S., M.Hum. as moderator with three speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Syamsul Hadi, S.U., M.A., discussed about “Form and Meaning in Fi’il Tsulatsi and Ruba’i”. He explained that the meaning and form of verbs in Arabic are very numerous and there are 58 forms that have never been revealed. This research will provide new convenience in the productivity of the formation of fi’il mazid. in terms of form and meaning, as well as in terms of meaning and form.
• Prof. Dr. H. Tulus Musthofa, L.C., M.A., with the topic “The Development of Semantics in Arabic Viewed from Modern Linguistics”, highlighted the development of new meanings in old words, when conditions and situations affect the meaning, and also the many uses of language in different situations and uses.
• Dr. Moh. Masrukhi, M.Hum., who presented on “Verbal and Nonverbal Elements of Egyptian Print Media Commercial Advertisements: Discourse Analysis”, explained that every advertisement contains a message as well as meaning. Advertisements in Egypt besides having a semantic form, also have a semiotic form. Most magazine advertisements in Egypt do not express verbal elements, but express nonverbal elements. Ads also have nonverbal elements that can be interpreted contextually.

Through the National Seminar “Arabic Language Development in Various Media”, it is hoped that the research that has been carried out can be published and widely accessed and individual and institutional research cooperation will be stronger.

The Center for Manuscript Research, Literature, and Oral Tradition, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in collaboration with the Indonesian Literature Scholars Association (Hiski) held a Horror Literature Book Review Seminar with the theme “Horror Literature & the Ecranization Industry” on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 10:00 am – finish. This seminar was held in a mix at the Widya Graha Building Hall, 2nd floor, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jl. Gatot Subroto No. 10. Jakarta and through the Zoom Meeting application. In this seminar, the participants consisted of students, lecturers, academicians, literacy communities, and the general public who have an interest in horror literature and the field of ekranisasi.

In this seminar, the title of the material presented was “Examining Horror Events in Babad and Hikayat”. According to Cuddon, horror literature is a narrative-fictional story that scares the reader and causes feelings of disgust or hatred. Good horror literature is able to explore the capacity of fear, hysteria, madness, and everything that is on the dark side of the mind. The horror events in the chronicles and hikayat discussed consist of the episode of Dursasana’s death in Kakawin Bharatayuddha (1540); the depiction of Calon Arang’s magic ritual, supernatural beings as intermediaries, and victims of magic in Calon Arang (1647); the murder of Truna Jaya, Raden Ayu Lembah, and Raden Sukra in Babad Tanah Jawi (1647); the murder of Tun Beraim Bapa in Hikayat Raja Pasai (XV century AD); and the murder of Hang Jebat in Hikayat Hang Tuah (XVII century AD).

The Horror Literature Book Review Seminar with the material “Examining Horror Events in Babad and Hikayat” is in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) program, the fourth goal of quality education, which includes achieving quality education by ensuring the quality of education that is inclusive and equitable and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all people. In addition, with the industry subtheme, this seminar is also in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) eighth goal, decent work and economic growth, which includes efforts to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth, a productive full workforce, and decent work for all. Then, this seminar is also in accordance with SDG’s goal nine, industry, innovation and infrastructure, which includes building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and encouraging innovation.

This seminar has been reported in various media, both online and offline, such as “Dar-Der-Dor Horror Novels” and “Terror of Horror Literature” in Koran Tempo, and “Horror that Revives Literature and Creative Industries” in Media Indonesia.

On Saturday, March 23, 2024, the Association of Indonesian Literature Scholars Commissariat Jember (HISKI Jember) in collaboration with the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education of Muhammadiyah Jember University (FKIP Unmuh Jember), the Department of Indonesian Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, University of Jember (FIB UNEJ), Semiotics Journal, Cultural Context Literature Research Group (PERSADA), Oral Tradition and Local Wisdom Research Group (TERKELOK), Teen and Children’s Literature Research Group (TCLRG), and Center for English Literature and Culture (CELC), held a National Webinar entitled, NGONTRAS #32 (32nd Metasastra National Chat), This webinar invited the Head of the Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum, as a guest speaker who discussed the theme of travel literature with a presentation entitled, “Travel Writing: According to Carl Thompson”. This activity took place from 10.00 – 12.00 WIB with a series of opening, presentation by Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum. and Dr. Rahayu Puji Haryanti, M.Hum., question and answer discussion, and closing with a symbolic certificate award.

The presentation by Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., began with an explanation of the theme of travel literature according to Carl Thompson, who stated that travel literature is the result of an encounter and negotiations over the differences or similarities that accompany it. All travel writing has two intertwined aspects, a report on the wider world and a record of an unknown person or place, revealing the writer’s self along with values, inclinations, assumptions, and culture in addition to the culture addressed by the travel story. The function of travel stories is to inform the outside world, reveal the self, and represent the other.

In addition, a number of literary works are presented as examples of discussion, each of which is explained in terms of the three functions previously mentioned. The literary works are novels that are dissected for exposure to identify and review parts of the novel. From the series of national webinar activities that have been held, this activity is also part of the Community Service carried out by Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., in the form of education and creating a national level literature and literature discussion space.

The Visiting Professor National Seminar organized by the American Studies Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences on Monday, February 19, 2024 at the Auditorium of the Soegondo building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, is one of a series of events to commemorate the retirement of Prof. Ida Rochani Adi, S.U. The seminar was named “Seminar on Popular Culture and Literature” led by moderator: Dr. Herman Felani, M.A. with Prof. Ida who acted directly as Keynote Speaker. The National Seminar event also presented two professors, both of whom are alumni of the American Studies Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, namely Prof. Mister Gideon Maru from Universitas Negri Manado who acted as the first presenter and Prof. Nuriadi from Mataram University who acted as the second presenter. Both Prof. Gidion and Prof. Nuriadi discussed the social society’s view on the phenomenon of American popular culture and literature and its influence in Indonesia.

According to the view of the speakers at the seminar, literature is something that is always synonymous with “fiction”, “the result of fantasy”, “imagination”, and “fabrications” made up by the author. Although not wrong, this view tends to “degrade” literature as a creative work, and a science in the social humanities. In fact, in a deeper sense, literary works are expressions of feelings, thoughts, views on life, character principles, and ideal visions of life that are owned or dreamed of by a writer either in the form of “fiction” (novels, short stories, folklore, legends, etc.), or “non-fiction” (letters, essays, speeches, biographies, autobiographies, etc.). This discussion can be seen from the themes discussed by the speakers: American Literature in the Puritan Era as well as Popular Culture. The extraordinary discussion was closed with comments from Prof. Ida, then continued with the giving of souvenirs and certificates for moderators and presenters as well as group photos.

In addition to the Seminar in Popular Culture and Literature, another agenda that attracted literature enthusiasts in the series of Prof. Ida Rochadi Adi, S.U.’s After-Duty events was the Book Review [R]EVOLUTION OF SASTRA IN THE DIGITAL ERA: Theoretical and Historical Perspectives whose author is none other than Prof. Ida herself. The agenda, which began at 10.30 at the same place and date, was also one of a series of retirement events for Prof. Dr. Ida Rochani Adi, S.U. Guided by two other moderators, Dr. Anna Sriastuti, M.Hum. from Satya Wacana Christian University, Salatiga and Dr. Rif’ah Innayati, M.A. from Trunojoyo University, Madura. Both explained that the book aims to respond to technological developments that are able to change the mature order of one discipline. While trying to capture the lament of a discipline that faces the dilemma of technological change, the book also tries to offer a framework of thought in responding to the development of the digital world in the world of literature using theoretical and historical perspectives. In addition to providing food for thought and contemplation, the book also provides new ideas on the phenomenon of literary works in the development of the digital world in the modern era. Finally, both speakers strongly recommended reading the book because it can really open up thoughts about literature in the digital era.

On Wednesday, March 06, 2024, the Department of History of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM held a seminar series on the history of Chinese people in Indonesia. The seminar entitled “The Role of Chinese in Indonesian History” was held in the Multimedia Room, 2nd Floor, Margono Building, Faculty of Arts UGM from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. This seminar was very interesting because the speakers who attended to present their research results came from China. Meanwhile, Dr. Farabi Fakih, M.Phil. from the Department of History UGM served as moderator.

The first speaker in the seminar was Guanmian Xu, an Assistant Professor from the Department of History, University of Peking. His research titled “Capitalism to Genocide: Batavia’s Sugar Frontier, 1700-1740” which explains the emergence of Chinese capitalism in the sugar industry and its relation to the Chinese genocide in Batavia in the 18th century. Xu, who used a global-history perspective in his research, revealed that the thick issues of racism, violence, and cross-cultural misunderstanding were factors that influenced the ethnic cleansing.

Meanwhile, Ma Guanglu who is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the School of International Relations, Xiamen University presented the results of his research entitled “Bung Karno’s Body and Chinese Doctors”. In his presentation, he explained about diplomacy in the medical field between China and Indonesia that occurred in 1962 until the fall of Sukarno’s government in 1965. Ma’s presentation quite clearly shows the political position of President Sukarno at that time towards the Chinese government.