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This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of Pela Gandong in the process of social reconciliation and peacebuilding in Ambon. Using a sociocultural approach, this qualitative research attempted to examine the theory of social reconciliation in the peace-building process between two conflicting groups. The data that had been collected in the form of interviews, FGDs, and documentation sources related to pela gandong were qualitatively analyzed. The results of the research showed that structural segregation becomes a barrier to the process of social reconciliation because some communities and local elites still maintained inter-group beliefs about the existence of a common enemy due to past conflicts. Pela gandong played a role in strengthening social reconciliation amid actor antagonisms that were difficult to subside, factions among local elites that were still strong, and people who were still trapped in past traumas. Based on the spirit of pela gandong, the government and civil society, including educational institutions in Ambon, presented a peaceful atmosphere with various initiatives, starting from the formation of multi-ethnic villages, providing facilities and infrastructure for harmony, strengthening the curriculum for local wisdom "Pela Gandong" and “Pendidikan Orang Basudara” (POB), to strengthening interfaith mediation institutions in Maluku: Baku Bae, Maluku Interfaith Institution, and Maluku Interfaith Institution for Humanitarian Action. All of them were an effort to create a peaceful Ambon, make Maluku a laboratory for peace, a learning medium for other regions in Indonesia.

This research aims to understand what needs that Rachel Watson as the main character in The Girl on the Train novel is trying to fulfill by riding the train every day and how she fulfills her safety and the love and belonging needs using Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs. Before studying the needs, the writer analyzes the main character’s character and characterization. This research is using qualitative method and descriptive analysis to analyze the love and belonging needs and esteem needs of the main character. The result of this research is Rachel Watson as the main character has some noticeable characters such as imaginative, alcoholic, and liar. She fulfills her safety needs by killing her ex-husband and fulfills her love and belonging needs by trying to seek attention from her ex-husband, Tom Watson and from Scott Hipwell. Rachel fails to have the love from both Tom and Scott but finally she realizes that she is always loved by her friend, Cathy. Rachel successfully satisfies her needs until the third stage of the hierarchy: love and belonging needs.

The last decades, people can calculate other people's worth only through what they are wearing or their appearances. It makes the phenomenon of commodification and consumerism emerges in the society. This phenomenon might not harm the bourgeoisie, but it is harming the work class. This article discusses how consumerism harm the workers, meanwhile they are not realizing this. This phenomenon is clearly depicted by two main characters namely Phoebe and Gary in Five Star Billionaire, a novel by Tash Aw created in 2013. The portrayal of commodification can be seen through the action of characters in seeing the object or the persons base on exchange and sign-exchange value. This research used qualitative method with Marxist theory about consumerism. The results show that Phoebe and Gary are treated as commodity that have exchange value. Next, Phoebe is used her fake-branded stuff to give other people impression. Last, Phoebe is using Walter Chao to make she lives in luxury. How Phoebe is commodifying her stuffs leads her to follow the ideology of consumerism.

This article discusses the masculinity of the female characters, Sally Alexander and Jo Robinson, in the film Misbehaviour. Thus, this article aims to analyze the masculinity within women by focusing on the characters’ analysis of Sally Alexander and Jo Robinson. The article uses a descriptive qualitative method and takes the data from the film in the form of captured scenes and dialogues. The article uses the theory of character and characterization from Boggs and Petrie to find out the masculine characteristics of Sally and Jo and also the concept of masculinity by Peter Lehman to support the argument. Based on the findings, this research shows that Sally and Jo live in a patriarchal society and establish characteristics that can be considered masculine. Sally’s ambitious, forward-thinking, well-organized, activeness, and negligence, and Jo’s daring, indiscipline, nonchalance, aggressiveness, and independence, establish their masculinity in the form of courage, heroism, and leadership, appearance, and other behaviors, for instance, smoking. Moreover, their characteristics have both merits and shortcomings. Indeed, their experience, environment, and societal factors influence their masculine characteristics