Okky Madasari’s Poem “Kepala Babi” as a Representation of the Transformation of the Symbol of Violence: A Literary Appreciation Perspective

Abstrak

In sociopolitical dynamics, a gap often exists between the theory and practice of enforcing power; while theoretically, rulers project absolute dominance, in practice, they frequently rely on symbolic intimidation to silence public critical reasoning. This study aims to describe the structural integrity of the physical and inner aspects of the poem "Kepala Babi" (The Pig’s Head) and to dismantle the semiotic mechanisms behind reversing the meaning of terror objects into instruments of subversive resistance. The method employed in this study is qualitative-descriptive, utilizing content analysis dissected through the lenses of structural poetry theory and cultural semiotics. The main findings indicate that the poem "Kepala Babi" possesses solid structural integrity, wherein vulgair-macabre physical elements organically integrate to convey the poem's defiant and cynical inner layers. Furthermore, the study uncovers a radical mechanism of deconstruction and re-coding of violence symbols, where material objects of intimidation, such as the pig's head and rat carcasses, are successfully reclaimed by the public and transmuted into back-aggression energy through culinary metaphors (rica pedas perlawanan) and metaphysical psychological warfare (teluh). In conclusion, this study asserts that the poem successfully represents the radical transition of grassroots society from passive recipients of violence to active counter-attackers; proving that the effectiveness of state terror automatically blunts and recoils to destroy the rulers' own psychological stability once the public possesses the cultural courage to invert the logic of intimidation.