Jurnal Gendang Alam (GA)

TELEVISION, LOCAL REPRESENTATION, AND CULTURAL IDENTITY NEGOTIATION AMONG BAJAU YOUTH IN SABAH: A USES AND GRATIFICATIONS CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Cyril Modili — 2026-07-01

This conceptual paper outlines a framework for examining how television consumption may influence the negotiation of cultural identity among Bajau youth in Sabah. It does not include primary empirical data. While research on the Bajau has mainly focused on traditional practices and their adaptation to modern life, little attention has been given to the role of television in young people's cultural experiences. Drawing on Uses and Gratifications Theory and studies on indigenous media representation, the paper views Bajau youth as active viewers who select, interpret, and sometimes challenge broadcast content, rather than passive recipients of cultural preservation or loss. Its core argument is that television's cultural importance for these youth is context-dependent. Where it hinges on what is shown, the language used, the creator and access conditions. Special focus is placed on local representation and its absence, distinguishing between mere visibility and respectful portrayal, and on digital inequality, which influences how rural and coastal youth can access culturally relevant content. Through a critical synthesis of literature on Bajau identity, Sabah and Malaysian television, indigenous media, and digital access, it proposes a framework and hypotheses for future research. The broader goal is to guide media production and policy that empower young people as creators of their own representation rather than passive audiences.

DANCING TEA LEAVES: BODILY AESTHETICS AND CULTURAL MEANINGS IN THE MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES OF GANNAN TEA-PICKING DANCE

Jiangmei Li — 2026-07-01

This study examines the distinctive movement techniques of the Gannan Tea-Picking Dance to reveal how bodily aesthetics and cultural symbolism express the lived experiences and resilient spirit of the Gannan people. The continuous advancement of China’s efforts to safeguard traditional culture has led to the inclusion of this dance—one of the oldest living folk traditions—on the national Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Renowned for its humor, vivid expressiveness, agile movements, and lively rhythms, the dance is characterized by three distinctive techniques: the Dwarf Step, Single Sleeve, and Fan Flower. These techniques are not only visually recognizable in performance but also embody rich layers of bodily aesthetics, folkloric symbolism, and cultural memory, serving as key features that distinguish the Gannan Tea-Picking Dance from other folk traditions. Through a qualitative research method and choreological approach, this paper analyzes these three movement techniques in terms of movement structure, expressive function, and cultural connotation. The findings reveal that the dance reenacts tea-picking and production scenes, transforming labor into an artistic expression of everyday life. Ultimately, this paper highlights the unique artistic charm and profound cultural significance of the Gannan Tea-Picking Dance, contributing to broader understandings of bodily technique and aesthetic traditions in the folk dances of southern Jiangxi, China.

DESIGNING AND VALIDATING AN ONLINE MUSIC THEORY MODULE FOR ADULTS: INTEGRATING THE ASSURE MODEL AND THEORY OF MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES

Joyce Xue Wen Low — 2026-07-01

As one of the indicators to determine whether there has been a success in online learning, the rate of adult enrolment in the education of online music theory can assist in reflecting the intended outcome. Accordingly, Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, which is also recognised as the MI theory, was incorporated with the ASSURE learning model in the present study, seeking to develop an instructional module tailored to the education of online music theory for adults. In particular, several challenges experienced by music teachers in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Malaysia, were examined. To achieve the objective, a total of 10 experienced music teachers were invited to participate in the interviews, with relevant responses provided by the teachers assisting in the needs analysis. The results demonstrated that it was important to sustain adequate levels of engagement and evaluate how the adult learners actually understood the theory, as both were discovered to be the key challenges in an online learning context. Throughout the process, a 10-unit module was also established, which was consistent with the ABRSM Grade 1 to Grade 3 Music Theory Syllabus. Furthermore, three experts were invited to help validate the relevance, clarity, and applicability of the module, thereby validating that the instructional module was not only customised for adult learners but was also intelligence-based and structured. In the future, the module could be further catered to different learning preferences and requirements, especially in the context of the education of online music theory.

PEMBINAAN "REALITI" DALAM TELEVISYEN REALITI MALAYSIA: KAJIAN KES AKADEMI FANTASIA, IMAM MUDA DAN TALK TO MY MANAGER

M Fazmi Hisham — 2026-07-01

ABSTRAK

Artikel ini meneliti bagaimana rancangan realiti televisyen di Malaysia membina imejan "realiti" menerusi manipulasi produksi, elemen persembahan, dan struktur pertandingan. Bagi mengelakkan generalisasi yang terlalu meluas terhadap keseluruhan ekosistem media tempatan, kajian ini mengambil pendekatan kajian kes spesifik dengan memfokuskan kepada tiga program utama: Akademi Fantasia, Imam Muda, dan Talk to My Manager. Ketiga-tiga kes ini dikaji bagi mewakili fasa evolusi landskap TV realiti yang berbeza, bermula daripada era interaktiviti undian SMS, beralih kepada pelokalan format realiti berunsur dakwah, sehinggalah kepada pengenalan format legasi keluarga di era platform digital. Dapatan kajian berkonseptual ini menunjukkan bahawa paparan "realiti" dalam program-program tersebut bukanlah suatu rakaman spontan, sebaliknya dibina secara strategik melalui teknik pembingkaian visual, naratif bilik pengakuan, dan suntingan produksi. Namun begitu, analisis turut mendapati bahawa peserta tidak hanya menjadi subjek pasif, tetapi mengekalkan agensi mereka melalui keputusan artistik dan penguasaan persembahan di atas pentas. Secara keseluruhan, evolusi ini memperlihatkan anjakan ketara daripada naratif mobiliti sosial dan pembinaan selebriti 'orang biasa', kepada pertembungan antara autoriti agama dan komersialisme televisyen, dan kini didominasi oleh wacana pewarisan selebriti (nepo babies) serta pengurusan modal keluarga. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini mencadangkan bahawa peralihan ini menuntut tahap literasi media yang lebih kritis dalam kalangan khalayak bagi membezakan antara realiti sosial dengan realisme yang dibina (constructed realism), terutamanya dalam mendepani implikasi etika dan budaya penghakiman digital pada masa kini.

Kata Kunci: Pembingkaian Visual, Agensi Artistik/Persembahan, Pewarisan Selebriti (Nepobabies), Literasi Media.

ABSTRACT

This article examines how reality television programs in Malaysia construct the image of "reality" through production manipulation, performance elements, and competition structures. To avoid overly broad generalizations about the entire local media ecosystem, this study adopts a specific case analysis approach, focusing on three main programs: Akademi Fantasia, Imam Muda, and Talk to My Manager. These three cases are analyzed to represent different evolutionary phases of the reality TV landscape, starting from the era of SMS voting interactivity, transitioning to the localization of reality formats with dakwah (religious preaching) elements, and culminating in the introduction of family legacy formats in the digital platform era. The findings of this conceptual study indicate that the portrayal of "reality" in these programs is not a spontaneous recording, but is instead strategically constructed through visual framing techniques, confession room narratives, and production editing. However, the analysis also finds that participants do not merely become passive subjects but maintain their agency through artistic decisions and stage performance mastery. Overall, this evolution demonstrates a significant shift from narratives of social mobility and the construction of ‘ordinary’ celebrities to the clash between religious authority and television commercialism and is now dominated by the discourse of celebrity inheritance (nepo babies) and the management of family capital. In conclusion, this study suggests that this transition demands a more critical level of media literacy among audiences to distinguish between social reality and constructed realism, especially in navigating the ethical implications and digital judgment culture of today.

Keywords: Visual framing, artistic/performance agency, celebrity inheritance (nepo babies), media literacy.

PENGARUH KECERDASAN BUATAN (AI) DALAM PENCIPTAAN TEMA DAN PERSOALAN NOVEL

Norsuhaila Sulaiman — 2026-07-01

ABSTRAK

Aliran penulisan kreatif seperti puisi, cerpen, novel dan penulisan skrip turut menghadapi cabaran apabila dipengaruhi oleh perkembangan teknologi. Pada masa kini, penggunaan kecerdasan buatan atau artificial intelligent (AI) telah menjadi rakan baik dalam pelbagai bidang termasuklah pendidikan, kesihatan, kewangan, perniagaan dan karya seni. Dalam bidang penulisan novel, keterampilan idea dan kreativiti amat penting agar teknik cerita lancar, segar dan menarik. Cabaran dapat dilihat apabila, penggunaan AI pada masa kini telah banyak memudahkan penulis untuk mendapatkan idea dan bahan penulisan tanpa melalui proses kreatif yang memerlukan penulis menumpahkan daya cipta dan kreativiti untuk menghasilkan sesebuah karya yang asli. Situasi tersebut amat membimbangkan jika AI menjadi tempat pergantungan para mahasiswa untuk menghasilkan karya tanpa menggunakan kreativiti sendiri. Objektif kajian ini ialah meneliti kreativiti dan penggunaan AI melalui arahan yang berkait dengan rangka novel yang dihasilkan oleh para mahasiswa. Bagi mencapai objektif tersebut kajian ini akan menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif, iaitu analisis teks yang dihasilkan oleh 40 orang mahasiswa berdasarkan pengaplikasian AI dalam penghasilan tema dan persoalan novel bagi kursus CA32703 Penulisan Novel pada sesi 1 2024/2025 di Akademi Seni dan Teknologi Kreatif, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Walau bagaimanapun, hanya 10 mahasiswa terlibat dalam teknik persampelan data. Data kajian mengunakan analisis tematik, iaitu cinta yang menjadi tema popular dalam penghasilan rangka novel oleh para mahasiswa. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa penggunaan AI dalam merangka tema dan persoalan novel yang dihasilkan oleh para mahasiswa ini tidak berupaya mencitrakan identiti dan keunikan naratif yang dicipta. Namun begitu, pengaplikasian AI terhadap tema dan persoalan novel masih kurang memuaskan dan memerlukan kreativiti manusia dalam menghasilkan karya yang segar, bermuta dan menarik berdasarkan adunan kreativiti.

Kata kunci : Cinta, Tema, Persoalan, Novel, Kecerdasan Buatan (AI)

ABSTRACT

Creative writing genres such as poetry, short stories, novels, and scriptwriting are increasingly shaped by developments in technology. Artificial intelligence (AI) is now used as a supportive tool in various fields, including education, health, finance, business, and the arts. In novel writing, however, the formation of ideas and the exercise of creativity remain essential to producing narratives that are coherent, fresh, and engaging. The growing use of AI raises concerns when writers, particularly students, rely on AI to generate ideas and writing materials without fully engaging in the creative process required to produce original literary work. This study examines students’ creativity and use of AI in formulating themes and narrative concerns for novel outlines. It adopts a qualitative approach through textual analysis of works produced by students enrolled in the CA32703 Novel Writing course during Semester 1 of the 2024/2025 academic session at the Academy of Arts and Creative Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Although the course involved 40 students, this study focuses on 10 selected student texts that represent the dominant theme identified in the data. The data were analysed thematically, with love emerging as the most prominent theme in the students’ novel outlines. The findings indicate that AI-generated suggestions for themes and narrative concerns were not sufficient to produce a distinctive narrative identity or creative uniqueness in the students’ works. While AI can assist in the early stages of idea generation, its use in developing novel themes and narrative concerns remains limited without human creativity, experience, observation, and critical judgement. The study concludes that AI may function as a supplementary tool in creative writing, but the production of fresh, meaningful, and engaging literary works still depends on the writer’s creative agency.

Keywords: love, theme, narrative concerns, novel, artificial intelligence (AI)

TEMPORAL THRESHOLDS IN TAQSĪM: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DURATION AND MODAL EXPOSITION IN MALAYSIAN GAMBUS AND ARAB INSTRUMENTAL IMPROVISATION

Raja Zulkarnain Raja Mohd Yusof — 2026-06-30

Taqsīm occupies a central place in Arab and maqām-based musical traditions as a modality-bearing form of improvisation, yet duration has received limited attention as an analytical factor in its formal unfolding. While maqām identity may be recognised quickly through characteristic phrases, intervallic contours, or tonal cues, rapid recognition does not necessarily indicate that an improvisation has achieved sustained modal exposition, phrase development, expressive pacing, or convincing linkage to a subsequent composition. This article examines duration as a corpus-specific analytical issue through a qualitative comparative analysis of eighteen selected taqsīm examples: four Malaysian gambus field recordings, ten published Malaysian gambus recordings, and four Arab chamber-music recordings. Using exact duration, modal presentation, phrase development, register movement, ornamental elaboration, expressive pacing, and linkage to the following composition as comparative indicators, the study investigates how temporal span relates to the musical processes available within each improvisation. The findings show that the selected Malaysian gambus examples are generally shorter and more compressed, whereas the selected Arab chamber-music examples cluster around two minutes and display more sustained phrase continuity, registral exploration, ornamental pacing, and modal development. These differences should not be interpreted as automatic evidence of insufficient musicianship or pedagogical deficiency. They may also reflect genre function, performance context, instrumental idiom, local aesthetic preference, recording format, or intentional compression by performers. Within this limited corpus, durations around two minutes appear more likely to provide sufficient temporal space for observable processes of modal dwelling, phrase extension, and cadential preparation. The proposed temporal threshold is therefore not a universal rule or empirically tested perceptual boundary, but a preliminary corpus-specific analytical hypothesis. The article contributes to scholarship on taqsīm by foregrounding duration as a condition that may enable, though not guarantee, fuller modal and formal development in comparative maqām-based improvisation.

Keywords: Taqsīm, Maqām-Based Improvisation, Temporal Thresholds, Modal Exposition; Comparative Performance Analysis, Expert Analytical Listening, Arab Music Pedagogy, Malaysian Gambus

SQUARE FULL COMPOSITION IN CONTEMPORARY CHINESE FIGURE PAINTING: SPATIAL DENSITY AND VISUAL NARRATIVE IN THE 12TH–14TH NATIONAL ART EXHIBITIONS

Tianwei Xiao — 2026-06-30

In the development of contemporary Chinese figure painting, changes in compositional methods have gradually become an important factor influencing visual expression and spatial narrative. This article examines Square Full Composition in selected Chinese figure paintings from the 12th to 14th National Art Exhibitions. It defines Square Full Composition as a square or near-square pictorial structure characterized by dense surface occupation, boundary saturation, compressed spatial layering, and integrated figure-environment relations. Using image analysis and comparative case study, the article analyses three award-winning works: A Happy Family (2014), Mission (2019), and Golden Land (2024). The analysis shows that Square Full Composition supports different narrative scales: domestic intimacy, professional collectivity, and agricultural labour. The article argues that this compositional mode reworks the traditional principle of “management of position” through modern strategies of density, compression, and exhibition-oriented visual organization. Square Full Composition not only reflects the evolving formal tendencies of figure painting in the National Art Exhibition, but also demonstrates the ongoing integration and transformation of Chinese figure painting between traditional cultural contexts and modern visual experience.