MODERN ASIAN LITERATURE AND ITS ROLE IN EDUCATION ACROSS ASIA AND BEYOND Ali Mustofa English Language and Literature Department, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Surabaya E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Modern Asian literature is all works of literature produced in Asia and those which talk about Asia and beyond. When discussing Asian literature, it will also signify the works of literature that have been written by Asian writers and also by other writers from other countries which of course, about Asia. Today’s trend for Asian literary studies has shifted from a postcolonialism perspective to cultural studies since the latter has developed very fast in the rapid changing of cultural, regional, and multinational diversities. The issues in Asian literature have also touched the grounds of transnational and multidimensional problems which give more room toward different interpretations of nations and identity. Those issues will also bring up the ideas of the role of Asian literature in education across Asia and beyond since they contribute directly and indirectly to the development of the educational curriculum in Asia and other neighboring countries. The paper will briefly share some insights into the nature of Asian literature and its position in the English language studies curriculum in Asia and beyond. It also discusses some issues related to the role of Asian literature in Asian education which specifically addresses the issues of nation-building through the understanding of “the self” and “the other” in a postcolonial perspective, and at the same time rediscovers the very nature of “Asia’s sense” as well as “Asian eyes” in the scope of language and cultural studies. Keywords: Asia, Asian Literature, Transnational, Multiculturalism, Diversity, Identity INTRODUCTION Discussing Asian literature, it will certainly also refer to literature written by writers from Asia and also writers from various other regions which of course, is about Asia. Asian literature refers to the dimensions of space and time, where the literature revolves around the region— Asia and beyond. Of course, this Asian literature was written and produced with a specific purpose. Asian literature covers various genres and vehicles, from narrative literary works, poetry, drama, performance art, films, songs, video clips, literary criticism, film criticism, art criticism, and so on. However, if we look in more detail, Asian literature includes all literary and artistic works in parts of the Asian region. Then, what is meant by Asian literature? Asian literature is all literary works produced in Asia and which speak about Asia and its environment. The Asian region of course includes East Asia, Central Asia, West Asia and Southeast Asia. Literally speaking about Asian literature, it will certainly also refer to literature written by writers from Asia and also writers from various other regions, which of course is about Asia. Asian literature refers to the dimensions of space and time, where the literature revolves around Asia and beyond. Asian literature refers to the literature that was written over a period of thousands of years, in a variety of countries in Asia. Asian literature encompasses East Asian literature that includes Chinese, Japanese, and Korean literature; Central Asian literature comprising of Bengali, Indian, Pakistani and Tamil literature; West Asian Literature that covers Arabic literature, Persian literature and Turkish literature and southeast Asian Literature that is comprised of the literature of the Philippines… Asian literature can be divided into a host of different labels, categorized according 403 SECRETARIAT OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE d.a. Grha STR, Jalan Ampera Raya Nomor 11, Telepon (021) 7813708, Jakarta Selatan 12550 Website: http://hiski.or.id Bank Mandiri Account No: 142 00 1614854 - 5 to religion, zone, region, ethnic group, a literary genre, historical perspective, or the language of origin [questia.com/library/literature/literature-of-specific-countries/ other-asian-literature/asian-literature#]. Many well-known universities in the world have opened Asian studies study programs. It also includes various disciplines and knowledge about Asia, which includes language, literature, customs, traditional arts, and the way of life of its people. This working paper briefly describes some of the understandings of the nature of Asian literature and its position in the language and literature learning curriculum which specifically describes the problems of understanding nationalism through the explanation from a postcolonial perspective, and at the same time regarding findings, back to the essence of “Asian meaning” and also “Asian point of view” in the scope of linguistic and cultural studies. ASIAN LITERATURE IN THE CIRCLE OF GLOBAL CHAIN AND MULTICULTURALISM: FROM CULTURAL IDENTITY TO NATION-IDENTITY The current trend for Asian literary studies shows a tendency to change direction from a post-colonial perspective to the area of cultural studies because this term shows such rapid development and touches on culture, territory, and diversity of identities. Various problems in Asian literature have also intersected with problems between nations in Asia. The multidimensionality recorded in these literary works also provides a broader space for the interpretation of national and identity issues. Phillip F. William, in his introduction to Asian Literary Voices: From Marginal to Mainstream, “Introduction: Asian Literary Voices” pp. 9-12, explicitly stated that Asian literature … “… suggest that the marginalization of Asian literary and artistic voices will continue to shrink in the twenty-first century, and perhaps even become a footnote in history eventually. The contributors to this volume have each done their part to articulate and uncover the literary and artistic dynamism that northeast and south Asia have embodied over the past several centuries and up to the present day. Phillip F. Williams’ words imply and at the same time predict that Asian literature and artistic voices from Asia will continue to be marginalized until the end of this century, and are likely to be made into insignificant footnotes if they are not immediately written down and presented to the world public. Williams’ statement at the same time confirms the opinion that Asian literature cannot yet be juxtaposed with first-class world literature such as Shakespeare, Goethe, Kafka, and Twain. However, it does not rule out that the revival of Asian literature will strengthen the argument that Asian literature can be juxtaposed with the first world literature and is even far greater. In a review about an interesting book which is edited by Tony Day and Maya H.T. Liem, Cultures at war; The Cold War and cultural expressions in Southeast Asia about the cultures in Southeast Asia, Melani Budianta (2011: 224-226) discusses the “cold war” that occurred unconsciously by the people of Southeast Asia. The “cold war” here can also have a signification of the suspicion and cultural sentiment carried out by people between countries in the Asian region. This sentiment may originate from cultural incomprehension and insensitivity to crises experienced by countries that are considered not to be more advanced. Budianta wrote: 404 SECRETARIAT OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE d.a. Grha STR, Jalan Ampera Raya Nomor 11, Telepon (021) 7813708, Jakarta Selatan 12550 Website: http://hiski.or.id Bank Mandiri Account No: 142 00 1614854 - 5 “… the ideological division and internal split caused by the Cold War are still deeply entrenched within people’s subjectivities. One way to de-Cold War or to attempt at reconciliation is to “compare or relate historical experiences throughout third world Asia” (p. 125). It is only through “regional reconciliation” that Asian nation-states can “break out” of the deeply rooted sentiments within each national structure. The role of reconciliation and ideological unification which is segregated in the Southeast Asia region makes the countries in this region ideologically and historically separated. Therefore, a history-based unification effort is needed that can erode deep sentiments between peoples in Southeast Asia. This is none other than due to the Cold War’s impact in the past which caused ideological tensions to last until now. Concerning Tony Day and Maya HT. Liem in the book has opened the eyes of literary and cultural scholars in the Southeast Asian region that the disharmony in people’s lives in this region was caused by personal sentiments between individuals in the region which was triggered by the cold war in the past and also the differences in colonialism memories which were experienced and felt by the state - countries in the Southeast Asia region. For example, Indonesia and Singapore are former colonies. However, the two countries experienced different colonialization processes. These differences result in different psychological effects as well as different life experiences. Historiographically, the state of colonialism in the past has led to differences in the literary and cultural representations of countries in Asia. This occurs in all countries in the Southeast Asia region, for example, Malaysia and Indonesia. For example, people in both countries, Malaysia and Indonesia, also hate each other through social media or what is commonly referred to as hashtag wars. This is evidence of these sentiments and suspicions. In an article entitled “Hubungan Konsep Negara Bangsa dengan Susastra Lisan Asia Tenggara”/”The Relationship between