Constructing the homosexual: A study of selected Indonesian contemporary novels, 2004-2008

• Main Author: Johan, Rizki Theodorus
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: Homosexuality in literature; Indonesian fiction; Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/7056
• Institution: De La Salle University

This thesis is an analysis of the representation of homosexuality in five contemporary Indonesian gay novels, namely: Aksana's The Most Beautiful Man, Riantiarno's Red Mirror, Simamora and Ariestanty's Shit Happens. Setyadharma's Sarcastic Romance: Love, Men and Betrayal, and Ezinky's This Is, Life. Using Dede Oetomo and Tom Boellstorff's ideas on Indonesian homosexuality, this research examines the homosexual's representation in the novels through the analysis of characters, settings, and conflicts. It also addresses the following concerns: the dominant homosexual image in each novel, the problems facing homosexuals in Indonesia, the novel's transgression of the dominant heteronormative Indonesian society, and the features of the contemporary Indonesian gay novel. The analysis shows that the dominant homosexual images are as follows: young professionals, masculine gay men, and loyal partners. The absence of the waria in the novels is worth noting. As discussed by Oetomo and Boellstorff, family, society, religion, and the law are the major obstacles that most of the characters have to face. The study contends that the publication of these novels in Indonesia is in itself a transgression of the heteropatriachal order. Regarding features of contemporary Indonesian gay novels, there are two major key themes: first one is self-discovery: and second, the search for true love. Besides the two key themes, I have also identified the absence of AIDS and the lack of an evolved political consciousness among the characters in the novels. This study ends with a recommendation for further possible studies in Indonesian gay and lesbian literature.