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This study examines the Massuru’ Tondok ritual as a space for encountering the Transcendent within the Aluk Todolo belief system of the Torajan community in the villages of Suppiran, Mesakada, and Salisali (SMS), Pinrang Regency, South Sulawesi. The ritual is understood not merely as a cultural tradition, but also as a religious expression through which the community establishes a relationship with Puang Matua as the Supreme Being. This research employs a qualitative method using a literature review approach. The analysis is based on Ninian Smart’s theory of the dimensions of religion, particularly the doctrinal, mythological, ritual, experiential, ethical, social, and material dimensions. The findings reveal that Massuru’ Tondok contains interconnected religious elements manifested through myths, ritual symbols, sacrificial offerings, prayers, customary regulations, communal participation, and sacred material objects. The ritual functions as a medium for expressing gratitude, seeking protection, fertility, and prosperity, while also strengthening social solidarity and maintaining harmony between humanity, nature, and the Divine. Therefore, this study concludes that Massuru’ Tondok represents a living religious and cultural heritage that continues to hold deep spiritual and social significance for the Aluk Todolo community.

This study examines the tradition of nikah malem songo within the framework of cultural Islam as a form of acculturation between Islamic teachings and local traditions in the coastal community of Tuban, East Java. The research aims to analyze the acculturation process, identify the religious and cultural values embedded in the tradition, and explore its relevance in contemporary society. A qualitative descriptive approach with a case study design was employed. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation involving religious leaders, community figures, and local residents. The findings show that nikah malem songo reflects a harmonious integration of Islamic principles and local cultural practices while maintaining the essential requirements of Islamic marriage. The tradition also contains symbolic elements, such as selecting a sacred time believed to bring blessings. In addition, the practice serves as a social mechanism that strengthens community solidarity, reinforces cultural identity, and transmits values across generations. Although challenged by modernization, globalization, and puritan religious views, the tradition continues to survive through reinterpretation and selective preservation. The study concludes that nikah malem songo represents an inclusive and contextual form of Islam capable of adapting to changing social dynamics.

This study examines the phenomenon of cyberbullying against people with disabilities in the comment column of the TikTok platform through a forensic linguistic perspective. The focus of the research is directed at the form of speech used by the perpetrator in carrying out verbal attacks. The research method uses a qualitative descriptive approach based on John Searle's speech action theory. Data was collected from comments that contained indications of cyberbullying and analyzed based on speech categories. The results showed that cyberbullying was dominated by assertive (22 findings) and expressive (14 data) speech, with the category of insults as the main instrument of verbal attack. The dominance of assertive speech and expressive insults proves that the perpetrator consciously uses statements to demean people with disabilities, either through derogatory jokes or with explicit intent to insult. These findings confirm that language in the digital space not only serves as a means of communication, but can also be an instrument of symbolic violence that impacts the dignity of the individual. This research is expected to contribute to the development of forensic linguistic studies and become the basis for efforts to prevent and handle cyberbullying against vulnerable groups on social media.

The concept of mahabbah (divine love) is one of the pinnacles of achievement in the Sufism tradition that marks the existential closeness between man and God. In the context of prophetic literature, this concept is not only present as an individual spiritual experience, but also undergoes a transformation into a communicative aesthetic and ethical discourse. This study aims to examine the transformation of the concept of mahabbah in Kuntowijoyo's poems by placing them in a prophetic literary framework that emphasizes the dimensions of transcendence, humanization, and liberation. The method used is literary hermeneutics with an interpretive approach to uncover the layers of symbolic meaning in the text. The data is in the form of selected poems that represent the themes of spirituality, Divine love, and human relationship with God. The results of the study show that the concept of mahabbah in Kuntowijoyo's poems undergoes a transformation from the concept of classical Sufism which is esoteric in nature to a more contextual and communicative symbolic expression. This transformation is seen through the use of symbols of love, longing, sincerity, and sacrifice that represent not only man's vertical relationship with God, but also a horizontal relationship with fellow humans. Thus, mahabbah in prophetic literature does not stop at the mystical dimension, but moves towards social praxisis oriented towards human values. This research confirms that poetry functions as a dialectical medium between spiritual experience and social reality, as well as a means of transforming transcendental values into concrete life.

This study analyzes signs and symbols in Katherine Mansfield’s short story “The Doll’s House” (1922) using Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotic approach. The study is descriptive qualitative in nature, employing data collection techniques such as close reading and note-taking. The analysis was conducted by classifying signs based on Peirce’s theory, icons, index, and symbols, through the triadic model (representamen, object, interpretant). The results of the analysis indicate that the doll’s house functions as both an icon and a symbol of social status and the false luxury of the upper class. Elements such as the smell of paint and the appearance of the Kelvey sisters serve as indices of social inequality. Meanwhile, the small lamp is the strongest symbol representing hope, warmth, and the possibility of transcending social class boundaries. Through this short story, Mansfield critiques class prejudices learned from childhood while conveying a message of empathy across social classes.

This study examines the reproduction of social inequality in education through the theoretical framework of Pierre Bourdieu within a critical sociology perspective. The background of this research is rooted in the persistent gap in educational access, participation, and achievement among students from different social classes, which indicates that education does not always function as a tool for social mobility. The objective of this study is to analyze how mechanisms such as habitus, cultural capital, social capital, and the educational field contribute to sustaining inequality. This research employs a qualitative descriptive approach, with data collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis within an educational setting characterized by diverse socio-economic backgrounds. The findings reveal that students from higher socio-economic backgrounds tend to possess dominant cultural capital and habitus that align with institutional expectations, giving them a significant advantage in academic achievement. Conversely, students from lower socio-economic backgrounds face structural and symbolic barriers that limit their opportunities. The study also finds that educational practices, including teaching methods and evaluation systems, implicitly favor certain groups, thereby reinforcing inequality. The implications of this research highlight the need for more inclusive educational policies and practices that recognize diverse forms of capital and promote equal opportunities for all students. Ultimately, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how education functions as a site of social reproduction rather than merely a neutral institution.  

The rapid advancement of information technology has reshaped modern society, in particular influencing how young individuals express their identities through fashion. The choice of clothing goes beyond mere practical functions, becoming a symbol of social status and values as young people attempt to adapt to rapidly changing trends, driven largely by digital platforms such as social media. These phenomena have simultaneously led to alarming waste production and environmental degradation, reflecting the mismatch between modern lifestyles and theological mandates on the management of creation. The fast-paced fashion industry, characterized by rapid production cycles and high consumerism, exacerbates the ecological crisis by generating large amounts of textile waste and contributing to detrimental practices in global supply chains. The study uses a qualitative approach, emphasizing literature research to analyze relevant literature and synthesize findings into meaningful discourse. Ultimately, it advocates a transformative catechesis that integrates ecological awareness into the formation of young people's faith, leveraging digital spaces to advocate for simplicity and community engagement in sustainable practices. The challenges faced in fostering this ecological awareness include the prevalence of a culture of instant gratification and the gap between knowledge and action, which hinders the alignment of belief with action. Theological reflection further emphasizes the spiritual implications of consumer behavior, placing ecological responsibility as a fundamental aspect of authentic expression of faith. Based on these insights, this paper underscores the importance for the Church to be proactively involved in the fight for ecological preservation, recognizing that true faith is manifested through tangible actions that honor the divine creation.

The development of digital technology has significantly changed the way students interact and present themselves in social life, especially through social media such as Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. One of the emerging social phenomena is flexing, which refers to the behavior of showing off lifestyle, achievements, or ownership to gain attention and social recognition. This study aims to analyze how Sociology students of Sriwijaya University interpret flexing on social media and whether flexing is more dominant as a lifestyle or as a form of social pressure. This research uses a qualitative method with a literature review approach by examining various scientific articles, journals, and previous studies related to flexing, self-presentation, symbolic consumption, social validation, and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO). The results show that flexing is not only a form of self-presentation and symbolic consumption, but also a response to social pressure in the digital environment.

Family communication plays a crucial role in shaping the character and behavior of adolescents, especially in facing social challenges such as online gambling. This study aims to determine how parental communication patterns influence adolescents' involvement in online gambling activities in Lalang Village, Rana Mese District, East Manggarai Regency. Furthermore, this study also identifies various efforts made by parents to address this problem. The method used was a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collection through interviews, observation, and documentation. The results indicate four family communication patterns implemented by parents: pluralistic, consensual, protective, and laissez-faire. The pluralistic pattern is characterized by open communication and equal discussion, which encourages children to avoid online gambling. The consensual pattern combines warm communication with an emphasis on shared values. Conversely, the protective pattern tends to be dominant, where parents supervise without providing space for dialogue, resulting in children becoming withdrawn. The laissez-faire pattern, with minimal communication, makes children feel free to engage in gambling. This study uses the symbolic interaction theory, namely mind, self, and society. In addition to communication patterns, this study also found that parents undertake various efforts, such as limiting digital device use, providing advice, and increasing supervision of their children's social environment. These efforts demonstrate that their effectiveness is highly dependent on the quality of communication within the family.

This research is motivated by the reality of ethnic and cultural diversity in congregation life which reflects the dynamics of a multicultural society, where differences in cultural identity have the potential to cause social friction if not managed wisely. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with normative studies, with data collection techniques through interviews, observations, and documentation of informants consisting of pastors, congregation councils, and presbyters. The theory used is Ralph Linton's role theory which explains how individuals carry out social functions according to their status in society. The results of the study indicate that the life of the GMIT Sion Oepura congregation is characterized by multicultural dynamics as seen from the diversity of ethnicities such as Timor, Rote, Sabu, Flores, and Alor which not only enriches church life through cultural expressions in worship and church activities, but also gives rise to symbolic friction between ethnic groups, such as the tendency for the dominance of certain cultural symbols and the emergence of group ego attitudes in several worship activities, for example in the celebration of Language and Culture Month. In this situation, religious leaders play a role as leaders who embrace diversity, mediators in managing potential conflicts, and social and moral role models for the congregation through sermons, pastoral guidance, and various service activities that involve the entire congregation without differentiating cultural backgrounds. Despite the existence of cultural differences and the tendency for certain symbolic dominance, religious leaders are able to manage this diversity normatively so that it does not develop into open conflict. This study concludes that the role of religious leaders is very important in strengthening social solidarity and maintaining harmony in multicultural congregations.

This study aims to analyze the regulatory characteristics of the Regulation of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 77 of 2020 as a technical guideline for regional financial management, particularly in examining the tension between its normative nature and mandatory provisions, as well as their implications for regional financial governance. The research employs a normative juridical approach, utilizing both statute and conceptual approaches, complemented by a critical analysis of the regulation’s implementation. The findings indicate that, formally, Regulation No. 77 of 2020 is normative in nature as a guideline; however, in practice, it contains numerous mandatory provisions that bind local governments. These mandatory elements have been shown to enhance accountability and transparency through the standardization of procedures, reporting obligations, and strict supervisory mechanisms. On the other hand, the dominance of detailed rules tends to create policy rigidity, increase administrative burdens, and reduce the flexibility and discretion of local governments in adapting policies to local needs. Furthermore, the study identifies a phenomenon of formalistic or ritualistic compliance, which risks producing symbolic accountability without improving the quality of public services. The effectiveness of the regulation’s implementation is also influenced by disparities in human resource capacity, information systems, and regional fiscal capabilities. Therefore, a balance between mandatory approaches and normative flexibility is necessary to ensure that regional financial governance operates effectively, adaptively, and in accordance with the principles of good governance.

This final project was an audiovisual feature video that explored the issue of uncertainty among informal sector workers, particularly porters at train stations. The work was motivated by the limited representation of porters, despite their important role in supporting transportation services. This report aimed to explain the application of the three-act structure in scriptwriting, consisting of Act I (Set Up), Act II (Confrontation), and Act III (Resolution). The production process included pre-production, production, and post-production stages, with scriptwriting as the main focus in constructing a structured narrative. In Act I, the work introduced the station environment and the porter profession to build audience understanding. Act II developed the conflict through the portrayal of job uncertainty, income instability, and the daily life of the main subject. Act III presented a reflective conclusion through multiple perspectives and symbolic visuals. The result showed that the three-act structure effectively created a systematic narrative flow and strengthened message delivery. In conclusion, the human-interest approach combined with observational visuals effectively conveyed social realities and fostered audience empathy toward informal workers.

This study analyzes visual signs in the Charlie Chaplin animations Safari at The Park and The King in The Ring using Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotic framework, focusing on icons, indexes, and symbols. Film and animation communicate meaning through visual elements such as gestures, facial expressions, movements, and character interactions, making them rich for semiotic analysis. Using a descriptive qualitative method, the research identified and categorized visual signs in both animations. Results show that icons, which resemble real-world objects, dominate by establishing story settings natural safari environments in one animation and competitive boxing arenas in the other. Indexes reveal cause-and-effect relationships, demonstrating how gestures, expressions, and actions convey danger, fatigue, or emotional shifts. Symbols convey conventional or cultural meanings, such as Charlie Chaplin’s bowler hat and cane representing his comedic identity, a championship belt symbolizing victory, or a rose indicating affection. While both animations use the same types of signs, the intensity and focus vary with the narrative context: Safari at The Park emphasizes situational and natural elements, whereas The King in The Ring highlights competition and emotional reactions. This study confirms that Peirce’s triadic model effectively explains how meaning is constructed in animation through dynamic visual communication.

This study examines the Common Dange Mess at the Parish of Santo Antonius Padua Mendalam as a manifestation of the inculturation of Catholic faith with the Dayak Kayan culture. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, the study focuses on the meaning and relationship between the Church altar and the Lasah as symbols of liturgy and culture. The altar remains the sacramental center of the Eucharist, while the Lasah channels prayers, offerings, and local cultural identity, forming a harmonious dialogue without altering theological meaning. Cultural elements such as language, songs, dances, traditional attire, and ritual symbols are purified and aligned with the liturgy, ensuring that all offerings are directed to God. The findings indicate that the Common Dange Mess strengthens the faith of the Dayak Kayan community, preserves cultural identity, and affirms the practice of contextual theology, in which the proclamation of the Gospel is realized contextually, dialogically, and complementarily with local traditions, making this celebration a mature model of inculturation centered on Christ.  

The phenomenon of emotional healing has become increasingly prominent in popular culture as the younger generation experiences increasing loss, emotional exhaustion, and numbness. Popular music serves as a medium of expression, representing these emotional dynamics through poetic language and symbolic structures. This study aims to analyze the emotional representation of healing in Umay Shahab's song "Perayaan Mati Rasa" using Roland Barthes's semiotic approach. The research method used is descriptive qualitative, analyzing three layers of meaning: denotation, connotation, and myth, through breaking down the lyrics into several lexicons and reading signs. The results show that (1) denotatively, the lyrics construct an emotional arc from inner tension to self-contemplation; (2) connotatively, the use of diction and imagery represents vulnerability, resilience, and emotional reflection; and (3) at the mythical level, the song constructs release as a form of emotional maturity and loss as a process of identity formation. Thus, this song functions as a cultural representation in interpreting the process of emotional healing in popular culture.

This article discusses strengthening civic identity through multicultural education based on local wisdom in Gorontalo Regency. The main problem raised is how local culture, although recognized as a symbol of regional identity, has not been fully translated into an inclusive and reflective pedagogical design to shape students' civic awareness. This study uses a qualitative case study design based on document analysis, with data sources in the form of indexed journal articles, regional official publications, and educational documents published in 2021–2026. The focus of the study is directed at educational practices in Limboto and Dungaliyo. The data was selected purposively based on relevance, credibility, and thematic proximity, then analyzed through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawn. The results of the study show three main findings: first, huyula local wisdom as the value of mutual cooperation, solidarity, and collective responsibility functions as a cultural bridge that connects social diversity with civic disposition. Second, multicultural education is more effective when local values are explicitly integrated into classroom interactions, school habituation, collaborative work, and reflective discussions. Third, challenges arise because many local values are still implicitly practiced so that they have not yet formed a reflective citizenship consciousness. This article concludes the need for a shift from symbolic recognition to structured pedagogical design through curriculum contextualization, teacher mediation, and school-to-community partnerships.

This study aims to examine the gastronomy of the traditional culinary dish Ayam Napinadar as part of Batak cultural identity, covering aspects of history, ingredients, processing techniques, cultural values, and preservation challenges. The background of this research is based on the importance of maintaining the sustainability of traditional cuisine amid modernization and changes in consumption patterns. The method used is a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews with three informants, namely an MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Eterprises) practitioner, a traditional leader, and a consumer. The results show that Ayam Napinadar has a unique characteristic in the use of andaliman and blood (gota) as its distinctive flavor. Traditionally, the cooking process involves grilling over firewood to produce a characteristic smoky aroma, although it has now shifted to more practical methods without altering the original recipe. From a cultural perspective, Ayam Napinadar holds symbolic meaning as an expression of prayers, blessings, and joy in various Batak traditional ceremonies. However, there are challenges in its preservation, such as the declining participation of younger generations in traditional activities and the increasing influence of modern foods. In conclusion, Ayam Napinadar functions not only as food but also as a medium for preserving cultural values and ethnic identity. This study provides benefits as a basis for developing gastronomic tourism and strategies for preserving traditional cuisine through education, collaboration, and the use of modern promotional media.

This study examines the role of spiritual intelligence in shaping students’ understanding of happiness in the digital era from an Islamic psychology perspective. Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach, the research involves university students who actively engage with social media. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal a significant shift in the meaning of happiness, from a substantive and intrinsic concept to a more symbolic and externally driven construct influenced by digital culture and online validation. Nevertheless, spiritual intelligence functions as a reflective and stabilizing mechanism, enabling students to reinterpret happiness as a deeper, more meaningful inner state. From the perspective of Islamic psychology, true happiness (sa’adah) is grounded in closeness to God and the internalization of spiritual values in daily life. This study underscores the importance of spiritual intelligence in addressing psychological challenges in the digital age and fostering a more balanced and authentic sense of well-being among students.

Land conversion associated with renewable energy expansion generates profound socio-cultural transformations in agrarian communities. This study aims to analyze how wind power development reshapes agrarian identity, social capital configuration, and the meaning of land within rural society from an anthropology of development perspective. This research applies qualitative literature-based analysis supported by recent peer-reviewed scholarship on land use change, rural transformation, social capital, and political ecology. Conceptual synthesis integrates sustainable livelihood framework, identity negotiation theory, and energy landscape analysis to construct an interpretive analytical model. Findings indicate that agricultural land conversion produces deagrarianization, occupational shifts, and reconfiguration of social stratification. Land is redefined from a genealogical and productive space into infrastructure and investment asset. Social capital grounded in kinship networks, customary institutions, and local organizations functions as a resilience mechanism through risk redistribution, collective solidarity, and participatory negotiation. Energy landscapes restructure symbolic and material relations between community and territory, generating both hybrid identities and conflict dynamics. Inclusive governance determines whether renewable energy fosters adaptive transformation or deepens commodification and exclusion. Renewable energy transition in rural areas requires socio-cultural recognition beyond technical implementation. Integrating local identity, participatory governance, and community ownership strengthens just and sustainable transformation pathways.

This study examines the relationship between voice, silence, and narrative authority in three poems by Najwan Darwish: I Write the Land, The Shelling Ended, and Barely Breathing. Drawing on postcolonial theory and discourse analysis, this research employs a qualitative approach through close reading to explore how silence is represented and transformed within the poetic texts. The findings reveal that silence in these poems is not merely the absence of voice but a complex condition shaped by historical erasure, political marginalization, and psychological trauma. Furthermore, the analysis identifies a central paradox: while the poems repeatedly articulate the loss or impossibility of voice, they simultaneously function as acts of articulation. This paradox demonstrates that silence does not eliminate voice but reconfigures it into indirect, fragmented, and symbolic forms of expression. Ultimately, the study argues that poetry serves as a medium of narrative resistance, enabling marginalized voices to challenge dominant discourses and reclaim narrative authority. By articulating silence, Darwish’s poetry creates an alternative space in which suppressed experiences can be expressed, preserved, and reimagined.