Jurnal Penelitian Humaniora
Vol. 27 No. 2 (2026): Vol 27, No 2: August 2026

COLONIAL TRACES IN FICTION: HOMI K. BHABHA’S POST-COLONIAL ANALYSIS OF THE SHORT STORY COLLECTION "BEDIL PENEBUSAN" BY KIKI SULISTYO

Aslan Abidin (Universitas Negeri Makassar)
Nuratika Jamhur (Universitas Negeri Makassar)
Ridwan (Universitas Negeri Makassar)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Aug 2026

Abstract

This study examines colonial traces in Kiki Sulistyo’s short story collection Bedil Penebusan through Homi K. Bhabha’s post-colonial perspective. Employing a qualitative approach, the study uses interpretive textual analysis through close reading and thematic coding to identify mimicry, ambivalence, and in-betweenness within the narratives. The findings indicate that colonial traces are reflected in the themes of power, social conflict, and the relationship between local communities and authority. In addition, the characters’ identities occupy an ambivalent position between traditional values and modern influences. This reflects the dynamic process of post-colonial identity formation through cultural negotiation. Therefore, the short story collection Bedil Penebusan portrays social conflict and reveals the enduring influence of the colonial legacy on identity and power relations in society. This study contributes to post-colonial literary criticism by demonstrating how local Indonesian narratives negotiate colonial memory and cultural identity through ambivalent characterization and hybrid social realities. Furthermore, the findings reinforce Homi K. Bhabha’s concept of cultural hybridity as a relevant framework for understanding the persistence of colonial discourse in contemporary Indonesian literary texts.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

humaniora

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Social Sciences

Description

Jurnal Penelitian Humaniora welcomes submissions that provide insights into current and key issues dealing with humanities, especially language, literature, teaching of language and literature, and cultural studies. The journal provides a venue for humanities researchers and practitioners to ...