EMBODIED INTIMACY AND SOFT POWER IN INDONESIAN CINEMA: A CULTURAL AND POSTCOLONIAL READING OF PANGKU
Keywords:
Embodied Intimacy, Soft Power, Indonesian Cinema, Postcolonial Reading, Cultural DiplomacyAbstract
This study explores the gesture of pangku—holding or seating someone on one’s lap—as a site of embodied intimacy in contemporary Indonesian cinema, while examining its role in projecting Indonesia’s soft power. Pangku is commonly portrayed as an affectionate familial gesture, but cinematic representations reveal deeper cultural, social, and political meanings. The study aims to analyze how pangku functions narratively and semiotically, and how it contributes to Indonesia’s cultural diplomacy by promoting national identity and values globally. A qualitative approach was employed, analyzing four contemporary Indonesian films 2024 and conducting semi-structured interviews with five film scholars. Thematic narrative analysis, combined with a postcolonial lens, was used to uncover the symbolic and ideological layers of pangku. Findings suggest that pangku not only conveys intimacy and care but also communicates cultural values that can enhance Indonesia’s soft power. The gesture simultaneously reflects societal hierarchies and postcolonial influences, providing a medium for cultural expression and global image-building. This study contributes theoretically to film and postcolonial studies and practically to cultural diplomacy and international relations.References
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