THE SCENT OF SAKE: A FAILURE IN THE EMBODIMENT OF JAPANESE WOMAN IDENTITY TO BE AN AUTHENTIC SUBJECT

Zietha Arlamanda Asri; Mira Utami; Sulistya Ningtyas

doi:10.22146/poetika.v7i2.51610

THE SCENT OF SAKE: A FAILURE IN THE EMBODIMENT OF JAPANESE WOMAN IDENTITY TO BE AN AUTHENTIC SUBJECT

https://doi.org/10.22146/poetika.v7i2.51610

Zietha Arlamanda Asri^(1*), Mira Utami⁽²⁾, Sulistya Ningtyas⁽³⁾

(1) Alumni S2 Sastra Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Universitas Gadjah Mada
(2) Alumni S2 Sastra Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Universitas Gadjah Mada
(3) Alumni S2 Sastra Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Universitas Gadjah Mada
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

Identity is seen as something important to humans in society, as it shows the origin of the self. Sometimes, someone cannot accept the identity that is attached to them, which will lead to the process of forming a new identity. This case also happens to the main character of The Scent of Sake, a novel by Joyce Lebra published in 2009. Rie Omura is not allowed to interfere in the sake making business, so that she tries to change that identity. Thus, this study aims to examine the process of identity formation that occurs in the character of a Japanese woman, represented by Rie. To answer the research problem, this study uses a textual analysis as the research methods. The theory used to assist the analysis is a perspective proposed by Žižek regarding the formation of subject’s identity to achieve the stage of authentic subject. The results show that in her efforts to unbind herself from the symbolic order, she makes attempts to rule the brewer house. However, her action cannot be categorized as a radical action since it cannot bring her out of the Symbolic. It confirms that Rie is failed to be an authentic subject.

Keywords: Japanese Woman, Authentic Subject, Žižek, The Scent of Sake

Identitas dipandang sebagai sesuatu yang penting bagi manusia yang hidup bermasyarakat karena menunjukkan asal-usul. Terkadang, seseorang tidak dapat menerima identitas yang melekat padanya, yang akan memantik tindakannya menuju pembentukan identitas baru. Hal ini juga terjadi pada karakter utama dalam novel "The Scent of Sake" karya Joyce Lebra yang terbit pada tahun 2009. Rie Omura tidak diizinkan ikut campur dalam bisnis pembuatan sake, sehingga dia mencoba mengubah identitas dan pelabelan tersebut. Dengan demikian, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui proses pembentukan identitas dalam karakter wanita Jepang, yang direpresentasikan oleh Rie. Untuk menjawab permasalahan penelitian, analisis tekstual digunakan sebagai metode penelitian. Teori yang digunakan untuk membantu analisis adalah perspektif Žižek mengenai pembentukan identitas subjek untuk mencapai tahap subjek autentik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dalam upayanya untuk melepaskan ikatan dari tatanan simbolis, Rie berupaya untuk berperan penting di perusahaan produksi sake milik keluarganya. Namun, tindakannya tidak dapat dikategorikan sebagai tindakan radikal karena tidak dapat membawanya keluar dari Yang Simbolik. Hal ini mengkonfirmasi bahwa Rie gagal menjadi subjek autentik.

Kata Kunci: Perempuan Jepang, Subjek Autentik, Žižek, The Scent of Sake

Keywords

Japanese Woman, Authentic Subject, Žižek, The Scent of Sake

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/poetika.v7i2.51610