THE HARMONY OF HUMAN BEING, NATURE AND THE CREATOR: A STUDY ON OMAHA AND MINAHASA CULTIVATION SONGS

• Main Authors: , MERLIN MAYA MAUKAR, , Prof. Djuhertati Imam Muhni, M.A., Ph.D.
• Format: Theses and Dissertations NonPeerReviewed
• Published: [Yogyakarta] : Universitas Gadjah Mada 2012
• Subjects: ETD
• Online Access: https://repository.ugm.ac.id/98021/; http://etd.ugm.ac.id/index.php?mod=penelitian_detail&sub=PenelitianDetail&act=view&typ=html&buku_id=53806
• Institution: Universitas Gadjah Mada

Since this study is based on interdisciplinary studies, American Studies theories Reconcilliation of Time, Reconciliation of Discipline and Reconciliation of Space proposed by Tremaine McDowell and Micro to Macro proprosed Leo Marx are applied beside the literary theories, Semiotic suggested by Roland Barthes and the theory of interpreting folklore introduced by Alan Dundes. Comparative theory proposed by Hurskainen is also utilized. This research is a qualitative research implementing descriptive analytical method. Data are gathered through library research. Primary data are the cultivation songs from Omaha of Native America entitled The Ritual of the Maize and Minahasa of North Sulawesi entitled New Rice. Secondary data are the social, cultural and historical background of those two societies, especially on cultivation or agricultural activities. Folksong is a part of the communities preserved as the identity and passed on through generations in oral or customary forms. The objectives of this study are to comprehend with the meaning of the songs particularly cultivation song which is utilized in cultivation ceremonies of two societies: Omaha of American Indian and Minahasa of North Sulawesi, to compare them and to show how songs inter-correlated with the whole elements exists in the universe. Having analyzed the data, it can be concluded that the songs are functioned as prayer, encouragement and tradition keeper. The songs initiated to create harmony of the Creator and His creations. The cultivation activities starting from the spreading of seeds, the growth of the plant and the harvest are symbolizing the stages of life. The life which has given by the Creator and it should be used for creating another life. In that way the process of life continuity can be maintained and the harmony of the universe can be sustained.