Representation of Javanese Beliefs in the Film Sumala (2024):Magical Realism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36312/w2e3ep60Keywords:
Magical realism, Javanese beliefs, Local wisdom, Sumala film, SpiritualityAbstract
The phenomenon of the representation of local beliefs in modern Indonesian films shows a tendency to combine traditional elements with contemporary storytelling styles, but studies that specifically examine this combination through the perspective of magical realism are still limited. This study aims to reveal how the film Sumala (2024) represents Javanese beliefs through three main elements of magical realism according to Wendy B. Faris, namely the irreducible element, merging realms, and disruptions of time, space, and identity. The study uses a qualitative descriptive method with data sources in the form of scenes, Dialogues, and visual symbols in the film. Data are analyzed through a process of reduction, classification, interpretation, and drawing conclusions based on the theory of magical realism and the concept of Javanese beliefs. The results show that Sumala presents magical objects, spiritual rituals, and human interactions with spirits as magical elements that are naturally accepted in the story world. This representation illustrates the Javanese view of life that emphasizes the balance between the rough universe and the subtle universe as an important part of the cosmological order. This study concludes that the magical elements in Sumala not only function as narrative aesthetics but also play an important role in preserving Javanese spiritual and cultural values. This finding has implications for strengthening film and cultural studies, particularly regarding the representation of local wisdom in modern Indonesian cinema.
Downloads
References
Anggraini, A. D., & Raharjo, R. P. (2022). Mysticism in a collection of stories. Basastra: Journal of Language, Literature, and Education, 10(2), 537–552. https://jurnal.uns.ac.id/Basastra/article/view/60774
Aprilia, D. (2022). Public perception of ritual offerings. TANDA: Journal of Cultural, Language, and Literary Studies (e-ISSN: 2797-0477), 2(5), 8–13. https://aksiologi.org/index.php/tanda/article/view/1848
Dzarna, & Oktarini, W. (2023). Hegemony in the Madurese short movie (Critical discourse analysis on political language in Indonesia). KEMBARA: Journal of Language, Literature, and Education, 9(2), 562–580. https://ejournal.umm.ac.id/index.php/kembara/article/view/24589
Dzarna. (2016). The meaning of diction in the poetry collection Doa Untuk Anak Cucu by WS Rendra. Belajar Bahasa: Scientific Journal of the Indonesian Language and Literature Education Program, 1(2), 226–236. https://jurnal.unmuhjember.ac.id/index.php/BB/article/view/399
Fanisia, L., Fathurrozi, M. A., Yudistian, P. A., & Damariswara, R. (2022). Javanese beliefs in the novel KKN di Desa Penari by Simpleman: A symbolic study by Clifford Geertz. Bahtera Indonesia: Journal of Indonesian Language and Literature Research, 7(2), 456–466. https://bahteraindonesia.unwir.ac.id/index.php/BI/article/view/280
Faris, W. B. (2004). Ordinary enchantments: Magical realism and the remystification of narrative. Vanderbilt University Press.
Febryani, A., Trisfayani, T., & Mahsa, M. (2024). Elements of magical realism in Funiculi Funicula by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Kande: Journal of Indonesian Language and Literature Education, 4(2), 203. https://ojs.unimal.ac.id/kande/article/view/13444
Fita, S. D., & Pamungkas, O. Y. (2023). Exploration of Javanese cultural values in the story collection Kisah Tanah Jawa ‘Jagat Lelembut’ by Mada Zidan (Mbah Kj) and Bonaventura D. Genta. RUANG KATA: Journal of Language and Literature Studies, 3(2), 168–182. https://jurnal.umnu.ac.id/index.php/jrk/article/view/1023
Fitria, A. A. (2024). Magical realism in the short story Kerisku Kasangsaranmu by Suparto Brata. Arnawa, 2(1), 1–12. https://journal.ugm.ac.id/v3/arnawa/article/view/12513
Hisbullah, S., Mahmuddin, R., & Syaripudin, A. (2024). Implementation of Maqasid Syari'ah in food offerings consumption. AL-FIKRAH: Journal of Islamic Studies, 1(1), 181–200. https://journal.stiba.ac.id/index.php/fikrah/article/view/1669
Inzaghi, M. R., Purnomo, M. H., & Komariya, S. (2024). Magical realism in the film Jagat Arwah by Ruben Adrian (A review of the five characteristics of magical realism by Wendy B. Faris). Wicara: Journal of Literature, Language, and Culture, 3(1), 82–90. https://ejournal2.undip.ac.id/index.php/wicara/article/view/22621
Kasmawati, K. (2022). Literary criticism with a pragmatic approach to the short story “Malaikat Juga Tahu” by Dewi Lestari. DIKSI: Journal of Educational and Social Studies, 3(2), 253–261. https://www.jurnal.bimaberilmu.com/index.php/diksi/article/view/245
Kusumatatwa, K., Nagoro, K. S., & Setiadi, A. (2021). Metaphysical aesthetics in the art of Kris as a medium for learning. Journal of Contemporary Indonesian Art, 7(2), 74–89. https://journal.isi.ac.id/index.php/jcia/article/view/5501
Liani, D. R., Sutejo, S., & Novitasari, L. (2024). Magical realism in the novel Srimenanti by Joko Pinurbo. Jurnal Bahasa Dan Sastra, 11(2), 108–117. https://jurnal.stkippgriponorogo.ac.id/index.php/JBS/article/view/439
Majid, A. (2020). Social representation in the film Surat Kecil Untuk Tuhan (Semiotic and literary sociology study). Diskursus: Journal of Indonesian Language Education, 2(2), 101. https://journal.lppmunindra.ac.id/index.php/diskursus/article/view/6668v
Nadhira, N. A. (2022). Representation of moral values in the film Bebas (Sociology of literature study). DEIKTIS: Journal of Language and Literature Education, 2(2), 161–169. https://dmi-journals.org/deiktis/article/view/256
Nadirawati, A. S., & Adhisty Dwiriyani Putri. (2025). Representation of mystical culture in the movie Waktu Magrib: An anthropolinguistic study. KOHESI: Journal of Indonesian Language and Literature Education, 5(2), 28–41. https://www.jurnal.uniraya.ac.id/index.php/Kohesi/article/view/2928
Ningsi, S., Ibrahim, C., Halika, L. O., G Sumule, M., Iba, L., Harianto, E., & W.O, L. (2023). Representation of communication culture between Javanese and European societies in the film Guru Bangsa Tjokroaminoto. Journal of Computer Science and Visual Communication Design, 8(1), 207–221. https://journal.unusida.ac.id/index.php/jik/en/article/view/669
Nur, A. J. (2020). Exotic Arabic inscription on the Kris Tangguh Kamardikan. Jurnal CMES, 13(1), 33. https://jurnal.uns.ac.id/cmes/article/view/44560
Nursalim, M. P., & Rahim, W. (2025). Dimensions of magical realism in the novel Sang Keris by Panji Sukma. Pena Literasi, 8(1), 137–151. https://jurnal.umj.ac.id/index.php/penaliterasi/article/view/26937
Pamungkas, B. A., Dava Patria, T. A., & Asadulloh, H. (2024). Analysis of the film Ngeri-Ngeri Sedap: A Roland Barthes' method approach. MediaKom: Scientific Journal of Communication, 14(1), 17–30. https://ejournal.amikompurwokerto.ac.id/index.php/AGUNA/article/view/2838
Pamungkas, O. Y., Zulaikha, S., & Ana Khusnul Khotimah, D. (2022). Magical realism in the novel Sang Nyai 3 by Budi Sardjono. Kawruh: Journal of Language Education, Literature and Local Culture, 4(2), 69. https://journal.univetbantara.ac.id/index.php/kawruh/article/view/2342
Praditha, D. G. E. (2021). The role of traditional villages in minimizing accidents during performances in drought conditions (Trance). Jurnal Hukum Saraswati, 132–145. https://e-journal.unmas.ac.id/index.php/JHS/article/view/1861
Riani, R. R., Setiadi, D., & Firdaus, A. (2022). Screen adaptation of Ananta Prahadi by Risa Saraswati to Ananta by Rizki Balki. Lingua Rima: Journal of Indonesian Language Education and Literature, 11(3), 33. https://jurnal.umt.ac.id/index.php/lgrm/article/view/7193
Rijali, A. (2018). Qualitative data analysis. Alhadharah: Journal of Da'wah Studies, 17(33), 81–95. https://jurnal.uin-antasari.ac.id/index.php/alhadharah/article/view/2374
Rosul, K. (2024). Representation of Javanese culture in the film Sewu Dino. Jurnal Komunikasi & Budaya, 119–123. https://jurnal.umt.ac.id/index.php/cpu/article/view/12394
Silaban, A., Nasution, A. R., Simanullang, C., Nasution, D. S. N., Azizah, F., Pakpahan, G. L., Firmansyah, I., Priska, N., & Purnamasari, I. (2024). Analysis of factors influencing traditional beliefs in Javanese society. RISOMA: Journal of Social Humanities and Education Research, 2(6), 178–185. https://journal.appisi.or.id/index.php/risoma/article/view/408
Siswantoro. (2020). Literary research methods: Structural analysis of poetry. Pustaka Pelajar.
Suaedi, H. (2021). The dimension of local wisdom in the novel Laskar Pelangi. BELAJAR BAHASA: Scientific Journal of the Indonesian Language and Literature Education Program, 6(2), 189–198. https://jurnal.unmuhjember.ac.id/index.php/BB/article/view/4953/0
Ulhaq, S. D. (2023). Magical realism as a representation of critique in Manusia Kelelawar by Damhuri Muhammad. Jurnal Ilmiah SEMANTIKA, 5(1), 49–56. https://jurnal.umus.ac.id/index.php/semantika/article/view/1170
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Anindya Oktaviona, Hasan Suaedi, Dzarna Dzarna
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with JOLLS agree to the following terms:
- For all articles published in JOLLS, copyright is retained by the authors. Authors permit the publisher to announce the work with conditions. When the manuscript is accepted for publication, the authors agree to implement a non-exclusive transfer of publishing rights to the journals.
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
