Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Literature: “Literature as a Source of Wisdom”, July 11-13, 2019, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia ISBN: 978-623-7086-21-5

A SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH OF LITERATURE IN SHORT STORY SENYUM YANG KEKAL BY KORRIE LAYUN RAMPAN

Mursalim

Indonesian Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Mulawarman, , Indonesia

Email: [email protected]

DOI: 10.24815/.v1i1.14439

Abstract

Sociology is a social science which is the last result of knowledge development. Furthermore, the sociology of literature is applied in the research because it increases the understanding of literature in relation to society, explains that imagery is not contrary to reality although literary works are imaginatively consumed, but the imaginative framework cannot be understood outside the empirical framework and literary work is not merely an individual symptom but a social phenomenon. The objective of this study is to find out and to describe the elements of sociology of literature in short story Senyum yang Kekal created by Korrie Layun Rampan. Technically, this study discussed the relation between literature and sociology; also, this study used sociological methods by describing the facts and characteristics related to population or particular areas systematically and accurately. Hereafter, this paper explained several aspects such as: (1) introduction; (2) discussion and description which included (a) sociological aspects such as social facts, social history, social behavior and social event, and (b) literature aspects as a social condition such as jobs, residence, customs, and romance; and (3) closure.

Keywords: Short story, sociological aspects, literature.

1. Introduction

Sociology is a social science which is the latest result of knowledge development. Sociology appears later in knowledge development because sociology is based on the progress which is achieved by other sciences (Ratna, 2004, p. 1). Sociology of literature is applied in this study because it is able to increase the understanding of literature in relation to society, explain that imagery is not contrary to reality although literary works are imaginatively consumed, but the imaginative framework cannot be understood outside the empirical framework and literary work is not merely an individual symptom but a social phenomenon (Ratna, 2004, p. 1). If literary works are related to the sociology of literature, then it will have a very broad meaning. Sociology of literature talks about ways in which humans adapt to their

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environment. Literary works are related to people’s lives, even people are often able to determine the value in the literary work. Furthermore, Pradopo (2001, p. 113) added that literary works are created by authors who cannot be separated from his society and culture. It is often seen in Indonesian literature since 1970, although previously this socio-cultural background also appeared in Indonesian literature. One of the literary works that can be used as a media for self-expression is a short story. Short stories are short essays in the form of prose. Furthermore, the short story which is examined and presented in this paper is a short story entitled Senyum yang Kekal, by Korrie Layun Rampan. Korrie Layun Rampan is an Indonesian writer, born in Samarinda, , August 17, 1953, from Dayak Benuaq ethnic. The works of Korrie Layun Rampan are very interesting to read and to study because his books always use daily language which makes it easy for readers to read, but sometimes the local language is also used to make it more interesting. In addition, the excellence from the content of short story Senyum yang Kekal is we can find out about the life of the inland tribes in Samarinda, and the setting of the events in this short story is using historical background in the past. With reference to the description above, the problems formulated in writing this paper are as follows: 1. What are the sociological aspects in short story literary works, Senyum yang Kekal by Korrie Layun Rampan in terms of social facts, social history, social behavior, and social events? 2. What are the socio-cultural conditions in the short story, Senyum yang Kekal by Korrie Layun Rampan in terms of jobs, residence, customs, and romance?

2. Literature Review

Short stories are short essays in the form of prose. In short stories, the characters’ lives are presented, which are full of contentious events that are touching or pleasant, and contain an impression that is not easily forgotten (Kosasih, 2014, p. 431). Furthermore, Laurenson and Swingewood (1972) said that although sociology and literature have certain differences, they can actually provide an explanation of the meaning of literary texts. This can be understood because the object of sociology is about humans, and so is literature. Literature is an expression of human life that cannot be separated from the roots of society. Thus, although sociology and literature are two different things, but they can complement each other. Then, Wolff in Faruk (1994, p. 3) added that literary sociology is a formless discipline, not well defined, consists of a number of empirical studies and various experiments in the more general theory, in which they are similar on that they are dealt with the relationship of literature and society. Thus, Ratna (2004, p. 2) said in detail that there are a number of definitions regarding the sociology of literature that needs to be considered in order to find the objectivity of the relationship between literary work and society, among others, as follows:  Understanding of literature in consideration of social aspects.  Understanding of the totality of works accompanied by social aspects contained in them.  Understanding of literary works as well as community relations which are the background of it.  Sociology of literature is a two-way (dialectical) relationship between literature and society.  Sociology of literature seeks to find interdependent quality between literature and society

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Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Literature: “Literature as a Source of Wisdom”, July 11-13, 2019, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia ISBN: 978-623-7086-21-5

3. Research Methods

3.1 Operational Definition Giving the limitations to the study is very important. This aims to facilitate the determination of the direction and objective of the research. In addition, with certain limitations, the concentration of a problem can be done more effectively and efficiently. The operational definition in this study is to describe the short story Senyum yang Kekal by Korrie Layun Rampan in terms of the sociological aspects of literature. To clarify the objectives of this research, the following variables and indicators are described as parameters in this writing, they are (1) variables about the sociological aspects of literature with indicators: social facts, social history, social behavior, and social events, (2) variables background of socio-cultural conditions with indicators: jobs, residence, customs, and romance.

3.2 Types of Research This study used descriptive qualitative method. Amunuddin (in Sutri, 2009, p. 31) said that qualitative descriptive means that the data analyzed are not in the form of numbers or coefficients relationships between variables. Qualitative research contains quotes collections for illustrations and filling in field material. Data collected are meaningful vocabularies, sentences, and images. Therefore, this type of research is in the form of qualitative research which does not use objects with calculations, numbers, percentages or statistics, but emphasizes naturally in terms of quality through descriptive data in the form of words, notes relating to the meaning of values and understanding.

3.3 Data Source The data source of this research is a local short story from East Kalimantan. This short story tells about life in the inland of East Kalimantan, and its content tells a lot about culture, love, and life in the inland that is mingled with nature.

3.4 Data Collection Technique The technique used in collecting data is through library research by taking notes of the documents or archives related to the purpose of research such as the technique of reading the whole story and then analyzing and reviewing the social aspects. Then, taking note technique by noting down the data that is relevant to the object of research.

3.5 Data Analysis Technique In this study, the technique used in analyzing data is structural analysis technique that is an approach that examines the constructive elements to find the full meaning of the work, such as social facts, social history, social behavior, social events, and ethnography which is a way to understand the character of a society’s socio-cultural life.

4. Results and Discussion

4.1 Social Facts 4.1.1 Place facts The place where the short story Senyum yang Kekal, can be found in the following quote.

“The clatter can also be heard like the edge of the music that slides in the night. I don’t usually hear the music like this in Balikpapan or , not even in . It sounds oddly rhythmic in a tight passage. There is a distinction between the tones of drumming, shrill sounds, like the

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sound of metal casting, guitar passages spreads in rhythm to an uneven beat” (Paragraph 1, p. 1).

From the quotation above the author explains the existence of Balikpapan, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta, then a character named Inas had attended school or visited the mentioned places.

4.1.2 Facts of the names of people The fact of the name in the short story Senyum yang Kekal, can be found in the following quote.

“He scooped up his clothes, and I scooped up my clothes. We both left the other friends in the opposite direction. The next day, at school I wrote a letter, “Forgive Inas, In?” Through Asnah I received a reply, “I’m sorry too, Ine, In?” Since then my heart has always trembled” (Paragraph 15, p. 4).

In the quotation above, the name “Inas” is the name of a child from the inland, a Dayak child, because the writer is from Dayak ethnic, then Inas is the main character in the short story, Senyum Yang Kekal.

4.1.3 Facts about objects/materials Regarding to the fact of the object/material used in the short story, Senyum yang Kekal, can be seen in the following quote:

“I’m from my mother’s house in Rinding. From Samarinda, passes Melak, Barong Tongkok, I took an ojek and walked on foot. I just arrived last night from Klotok” (Paragraph 29, p. 8).

From the excerpt above there are objects or materials that are still used from the past until now. They are boats and Klotok which are used to cross the sea and rivers.

4.2 Social History The social history that occurred in the short story, Senyum yang Kekal, that the story tells the past memories remembered by the character Inas. What happened to Inas when he was a child in his village? For more details it can be seen in the quote as follows:

“Childhood habits led me to the river water bridge. Logs with a diameter of two three meters are lined up as decked rafts with two roof-enclosed restrooms. Usually the bathers only use the closed restroom” (Paragraph, 10 p. 2).

In the quotation above, the writer writes the childhood story of the character in the short story. Inas is a tribal child living in a village far from the modern city. In the past, the bathers only used cloth and pants to defecate, now they use restroom because of the time development. Inas remembered the situation around river. Inas told about her memories how the way of people in bathing in cut wooden in the shape of logs.

4.3 Social Behavior The atmosphere of interdependence is a must to guarantee human existence. The social personality of the character Inas is depicted in the short story, Senyum yang Kekal as in the following story fragment.

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Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Literature: “Literature as a Source of Wisdom”, July 11-13, 2019, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia ISBN: 978-623-7086-21-5

“I leave first, until we meet in the city. We can go back to study together or meet as needed. I will propose to you after graduating from university” (Paragraph 18, p. 5).

The quote shows Inas’s loyalty who was responsible for what he did to Ine, that he would remain loyal to Ine. It tells about social behavior how people must leave for studying, because of lack of school at that place. It also shows the behavior of those persons about loyal toward their promises.

4.4 Social Events A struggle of Inas who wants to continue studying outside his area to continue his education in Yogyakarta and the struggle of his loyalty to Ine depicted in the following quotes.

“Bathing, swimming, for years, until we both realized that we were naked. Just like that she blushed and I felt myself like Adam being expelled from Paradise, like the story I had read in an old book, we felt equally awkward and troubled like we had sinned” (Paragraph 15, p. 3-4).

The quotations above described the social life felt by Inas who fell into forbidden love that made Inas become hesitated to leave the village. However, Inas remained loyal and responsible even though Inas told Ine to wait for him after graduating.

4.4.1 Socio-cultural situation in short stories Senyum yang Kekal The socio-cultural aspects contained in the short story, Senyum yang Kekal is a culture that is mentioned in short stories, such as jobs, residence, customs and romance. Jobs related to the socio-cultural situation

“I did not care of Ine, she was a daughter of a trader, had a ship and all provisions, and necessities, as well as correspondence needed, were easy to do, because her uncle was an official who went back and forth to the Regency and Province” (Paragraph 18, p.5 ).

The above quote explains that the work is a social activity and becomes a culture for the people who did it. Renting a boat still exists in community and become a culture for the community. It tells about the situation of a place which is near to the river. Then, the jobs relate to the river like had a ship.

4.4.2 Residence Residence can describe socio-cultural conditions.

“Lamin is a traditional house. Our house which is considered to be primitive” (Paragraph 6, p. 2).

In the quotation, it has been explained that a place to live in the inland of East Kalimantan is called Lamin. Lamin is the name Dayak tribe’s house and lamin is a part of culture as residence in the Dayak community.

4.4.3 Customs Customs in short stories, Senyum yang Kekal become socio-cultural conditions.

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“The music that (semayup) was just like that was Belian’s passage that came from the next village, like fifteen years ago” (Paragraph 8, p. 2).

The excerpt from the short story explains that custom still exists today, Belian is proof that there are still customs. Belian is kind of fortune teller who has responsibility in medical treatment for Dayak. They use many rituals as part of custom that happens in Dayak.

4.4.4 Romance Love is a feeling given by God to someone to love each other. Love can only work if both parties are sincere. Romance also becomes a socio-cultural situation, and becomes a culture in society in the story, Senyum yang Kekal as described in the following quotation.

“It was strange, after I forgot about the sweet memories and the likes when I was teenager, last night I dreamed of meeting again with Ine” (Paragraph 22, p. 5).

In the quote above, it tells us that there is a love that all humans can feel, as well as Inas who still loves Ine. Sweet memories are a sign of romance as a feeling in those characters.

5. Conclusion Based on the findings and discussion in the short story, “Senyum yang Kekal”, then it can be concluded as follows: 1. Sociological aspects in the short story Senyum yang Kekal are as follows: a. Social facts describing places such as East Kalimantan, Rinding, Balikpapan, Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Europe, facts about the names of characters namely Inas, Ine, and Tante Syarifah, facts about objects or material are taxis, motorcycle taxis, and klotok, then the fact about time is to tell the time in the period fifteen years ago. b. Social history is the story of the character’s childhood in the story, “Senyum yang Kekal”. c. Social behavior is in the form of literary psychology related to Inas’ sadness, intelligence and loyalty. d. The social event, Inas remembered her old love Ine. 2. The socio-cultural situation in the short story, Senyum yang Kekal described (a) work as renting a ship, (b) place of residence, that is the setting of the story in the inland of East Kalimantan and its house so-called min, (c) customs which still believe in mysticism or supernatural nature, and (d) romance which is Inas’s love of Ine that is still hard to forget. 3. Literary works are not born of cultural emptiness, and take advantage of the social conditions around them. This is what is described in the short story, “Eternal Smile”.

References

Faruk. (1994). Pengantar sosiologi sastra [Introduction to literature sociology]. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar. Kosasih, E. (2014). Kompetisi ketatabahasaan dan kesustraan: Cermat berbahasa Indonesia [Grammatical and literary competencies: Carefully speak Indonesia]. Bandung: Yrama Widya. Pradopo, R. D. (2001). Metodologi penelitian sastra [Literary research methodology]. Yogyakarta: PT. Hanindita Graha Widia.

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Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Literature: “Literature as a Source of Wisdom”, July 11-13, 2019, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia ISBN: 978-623-7086-21-5

Ratna, N. K. (2004). Teori, metode, dan teknik penelitian sastra [Theory, method, and technique of literary research]. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar. Laurenson, D., & Swingewood, A. (1972). The sociology of literature. London: Publishing Limited.

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