The sexual narratives in motinggo busye's novels (1967-1969)

An aesthetic political study

Authors

  • Galuh Febri Putra Universitas Udayana, Denpasar, Indonesia
  • Pujiharto Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  • Aprinus Salam Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Keywords:

sexual narrative, aesthetic politics, aura, Indonesia's New Order, Sex Novel

Abstract

This study explores the ideological interventions present in Motinggo Busye’s sexual narratives from the 1960s, examining how these works serve as forms of resistance to the political, social, and moral ideologies of the New Order regime in Indonesia. Using Walter Benjamin’s concept of aesthetic politics, the research demonstrates that Busye’s works, particularly in the realm of erotic literature, engage in a subversive critique of the regime’s control over gender, sexuality, and class. Busye's sexual narratives offer a politically charged counterpoint to the regime’s promotion of patriarchal family structures and capitalist moralities. By presenting women as active sexual agents and critiquing the commodification of sexuality within a capitalist framework, Busye’s novels provide a space for ideological reflection and resistance, maintaining their aura as politically and emotionally engaged works. Through this lens, Busye’s works emerge as both a critique of the New Order’s authoritarianism and a nuanced reflection on the intersections of desire, power, and resistance in a rapidly modernizing society.

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Published

2025-07-21

How to Cite

Putra, G. F., Pujiharto, & Salam, A. (2025). The sexual narratives in motinggo busye’s novels (1967-1969): An aesthetic political study. The International Journal of Language and Cultural (TIJOLAC), 7(2), 27–39. Retrieved from https://www.growingscholar.org/journal/index.php/TIJOLAC/article/view/538

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2025): September

Section

Articles
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Copyright (c) 2025 Galuh Febri Putra, Pujiharto, Aprinus Salam

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