International Journal of Social Science
Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): June 2026

IDENTITY NEGOTIATION: AMERICAN AND INDONESIAN CULTURAL HYBRIDITY IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Nawangsih Edynna Putri (Hospitality Study Program, Politeknik Indonusa Surakarta, Indonesia)
Arie Restama (Hospitality Study Program, Politeknik Indonusa Surakarta, Indonesia)
Nathaniel Nicolas Ryan (Hospitality Study Program, Politeknik Indonusa Surakarta, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jun 2026

Abstract

Globalization allows the rapid spread of American popular culture, including the Halloween celebration, to various countries, including Indonesia. Halloween is no longer represented as an authentic American culture as it adapts to Indonesian local culture. This research aims to reveal the cultural hybridity representations in Javanese traditional Halloween events organized by hotels in Indonesia and analyze the cultural hybridity formulations. This research employed a qualitative method, using Homi K. Bhabha’s theory of cultural hybridity. Data were collected through a literature study and documentation, such as footage of Halloween celebrations at hotels in Indonesia. The findings reveal that Halloween events at hotels in Indonesia embody three main concepts of Bhabha’s cultural hybridity, encompassing Third Space, Mimicry, and Ambivalence. Third Space is represented in the formulation of a new cultural product, a Javanese-themed Halloween, combining Indonesian and American cultural narrations, symbols, and aesthetics. Mimicry is reflected in partial imitation of American Halloween and cultural adaptations, presenting Javanese mystics as the main identity. Ambivalence is portrayed in the hotel’s strategy to adopt global trends and how the hotel industry maintains the local cultural identity as the differentiator. Halloween events organized by hotels in Indonesia are a practical cultural production, highlighting the ability of the hospitality industry to negotiate global and local cultures in forming a contextual hybrid cultural identity and to strengthen destination difference in the hospitality industry

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Journal Info

Abbrev

IJSS

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Humanities Computer Science & IT Education Environmental Science Health Professions Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Medicine & Pharmacology Public Health Social Sciences Other

Description

"IJSS” for International Journal of Sosial Science, published by Bajang Instiute. Published in two formats, printed version of ISSN:2798-3463 and the online version of ISSN:2798-4079, both of which are published six times in one year. The scope of the journal studies broadly includes: Culture (a ...