The Performativity of Non-Heterosexual Subjects: A Textual Analysis of Arisan! 2 (2011)

Abstract

In Indonesia, homosexuality is still perceived as problems mostly related to “moral” decadency even though it has long been deep-rooted and practiced in many parts of the archipelago. In contemporary Indonesia, two opposing discourses have been voiced. Those opposing homosexuality have been actively promoting their objection to the growth of this alternative sexuality while others keep campaigning the countering discourses to include these non-heterosexual subjects. Arisan 2 is Nia Dinata’s film which portrays the life of non-heterosexual subjects in urban context. As a cultural product, a film is inseparable from certain dominant ideology. Through textual analysis and cultural studies perspective as well as Butler’s performativity, the objective of this paper is to explore the performativity of the non-heterosexual characters in the film and how they negotiate their sexuality. This paper also aims to analyse how their sexualities are articulated within heteronormativity as the dominant ideology.