Reading Postcolonial Liminal Space in the Euphoria of Characteristic KNIL Soldiers of Surabaya Reenactor Community

Andrian Dektisa H

2017

Abstract

Homi K. Bhabba in his postcolonial study mentioned liminal space as the “third space” for the relation between the colonizers and the colonized. This space becomes the embodiment of mediation and negotiation. It becomes a “more harmonious” relation between the colonizers and the colonized who are described as attracting each other and “enjoying” the relation. This liminal space is described to be very contrasting, ironic, and opposing to Fanon’s or Said’s postcolonial study which is very rigid and clear-cut in differentiating the perspectives of the colonizers and the colonized as to make the relation between the two very strained and replete with conflicts. The relation in the liminal space is a ‘fun’ one for both the colonizers and the colonized, in which they enjoy the relation in the form of hybridity, mimicry, and various forms of resulting ambivalence. At the present time, the relation between the East, which is generally ex-colonized people, and the West, which is usually the colonizers, is “accidentally” preserved in many forms. One of them is the euphoria in applying visual characteristics as KNIL soldiers in the contemporary social acitivities, such as leisure bicycling on Sundays, or visiting a wedding party, watching movies, and others. This article will elucidate and analyze the phenomenon applying Bhabba’s postcolonial perspectives and interpreting the euphoria of postcolonial liminal space in the KNIL reenactors’ activities in Surabaya. I use a qualitative research and apply observation and interview with reenactment practitioners as the technique of data collection. The analysis is done by using a descriptive explanatory method as an interpretation of material objects.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Dektisa H A. (2017). Reading Postcolonial Liminal Space in the Euphoria of Characteristic KNIL Soldiers of Surabaya Reenactor Community.In Proceedings of the International Post-Graduate Conference on Media and Communication - Volume 1: IPCOMC, ISBN 978-989-758-337-7, pages 326-332. DOI: 10.5220/0007328903260332

in Bibtex Style

@conference{ipcomc17,
author={Andrian Dektisa H},
title={Reading Postcolonial Liminal Space in the Euphoria of Characteristic KNIL Soldiers of Surabaya Reenactor Community},
booktitle={Proceedings of the International Post-Graduate Conference on Media and Communication - Volume 1: IPCOMC,},
year={2017},
pages={326-332},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0007328903260332},
isbn={978-989-758-337-7},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the International Post-Graduate Conference on Media and Communication - Volume 1: IPCOMC,
TI - Reading Postcolonial Liminal Space in the Euphoria of Characteristic KNIL Soldiers of Surabaya Reenactor Community
SN - 978-989-758-337-7
AU - Dektisa H A.
PY - 2017
SP - 326
EP - 332
DO - 10.5220/0007328903260332