Cultural Representation of Chinese-Indonesians in Ca Bau Kan (The Courtesan) in the Context of Spice Trading and Nationalism

Abstract

The object of this research is Nia Dinata’s film, Ca Bau Kan, which was adapted from Remy Sylado’s novel. The research focuses on the representation of Chinese-Indonesians which pertains to the context of the maritime spice trade route and the concept of nationalism. Set in Batavia in three different decades, namely the 1930s, 1940s, and 1960s, the film depicts the journey of a Chinese-Indonesian character from the Dutch colonial era and the Japanese colonial era to the era of the independence revolution. The research method used is a qualitative method through the theory of film studies, which is juxtaposed with the historical approach to see how Chinese-Indonesians are represented in the film. The findings show that the film attempts to represent the Chinese-Indonesians accurately, albeit with the continuous presence of inaccurate stereotypes. The findings show Chinese-Indonesians’ economic contribution that reflects the history of the spice trade maritime route in Indonesia.

Chinese Ethnic Religious System in the Novel Kancing yang Terlepas by Handry TM

“…This type of literary work is undoubtedly exciting to study more deeply. Several related studies, among others, raise issues of social, political, and ethnic Chinese culture in short stories and novels (Nafsichah, Saryono, & Sunoto, 2021;Ilyas, Nuratikah, & Wardana, 2020;Murti & Retnosari, 2019;Sabillah & Wachidah, 2022;Sutandio & Arifin, 2022).…”

“…Murti and Retnosari (2019) have put forward the politics of multiculturalism in Handry TM's novel Kancing Yang Terlepas. Sabillah and Wachidah (2022) have examined discrimination against ethnic Chinese in the novel Miss Lu by Naning Pranoto and the novel Dimsum Akhir by Clara Ng, followed by Sutandio and Arifin (2022) who examine the representation of Chinese-Indonesian culture in Ca Bau Kan in the context of the spice trade and nationality. The similarity of these studies is that they examine Indonesian Chinese society in literary works.…”