Citra Subaltern, Comprador, dan Ambivalence dalam Novel-novel Jong Chian Lai: Analisis Studi Budaya

Works of literature do not exist in vacuum. Rather, they are inspired by society, and are created for society. Through literary works, a writer shares his society s aspirations, while also sharing his paradigm with them. This is, in fact, the focal point of Cultural Studies, that is, how the social world is constructed and represented. Members of society with an affinity for literary works are hegemonically influenced and controlled by literary devices employed to subjugate the readers own reading of society. This paper delves into two novels by Jong Chian Lai Gugurnya Langit Hijau Nanga Tiga and Pindah, and discusses the power struggle between superiors and subordinates. The analysis uncovers an obstinate paradigm of power play. In this power struggle, Jong highlights the clash between subaltern (subordinate) forces and dominant (superior) forces by making heard subaltern voices, and burying traditionally dominant voices. Nonetheless, Jong s paradigm does not defend the dichotomy or the binary clash between these two parties. Instead, he calls into place two imageries that are intertwined, ambivalence and comprador, that allow the hegemonic control of the subaltern.