Professor Dr. George Quinn from the Australian National University (ANU), Australia, delivered a public lecture at the Kampung Budaya FBS UNNES on Thursday, April 17, 2025. The lecture, attended by hundreds of students from the Javanese Language and Literature Education Study Program and the Javanese Literature Study Program, was themed “Rural Landscapes in Modern Javanese Literature.”
According to George Quinn, the portrayal of rural imagery in contemporary Javanese novels exhibits significant diversity. On the one hand, the village is a setting of origin, frequently imbued with romanticism through its natural environment and social dynamics.
Conversely, Quinn noted that the village is also frequently depicted as a place of departure. Consequently, several novels portray the village as a destination for the mudik tradition (the annual homecoming during Eid al-Fitr), while the narrative’s primary focus remains centered in urban environments.
The Vice Dean of Planning and Resources of FBS UNNES, Dr. Muhamad Burhanudin, stated that the public lecture aimed to provide fresh perspectives to the students. The knowledge shared by lecturers and experts would further strengthen their understanding and preparation for their studies at the university. Furthermore, Pak Burhan hoped the speaker would inspire the students.
Speaking in Javanese, Pak Burhan remarked, “Even Professor George Quinn, who is not Javanese, deeply understands and has thoroughly studied our culture. This should catalyze for the students to continue diligently in their studies.” Dr. Sucipto Hadi Purnomo, a Faculty of Languages and Arts (FBS) UNNES lecturer, moderated the public lecture.
George Quinn also participated in several other activities during his visit to Indonesia. Before the commencement of the public lecture, he donated several books to the study programs and engaged in a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony for educational and research collaboration. (DZ/*)
