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RE-INVENTING THE SELF: CONSTRUCTIONS OF IDENTITY IN MALAYSIAN BLOGOSPHERE

RE-INVENTING THE SELF: CONSTRUCTIONS OF IDENTITY IN MALAYSIAN BLOGOSPHERE. Dr. Noraini Md Yusof School of Language Studies and Linguistics Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Presentation Outline . Introduction Representation and Identity

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RE-INVENTING THE SELF: CONSTRUCTIONS OF IDENTITY IN MALAYSIAN BLOGOSPHERE

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  1. RE-INVENTING THE SELF: CONSTRUCTIONS OF IDENTITY IN MALAYSIAN BLOGOSPHERE Dr. Noraini Md Yusof School of Language Studies and Linguistics Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

  2. Presentation Outline • Introduction • Representation and Identity • Malaysian Blogosphere • Representation of Self • Avatar • Gender Performavity • Appropriation of History • 3 Malaysian Bloggers • Raden Galoh, Hikayat Mamak Bendahara and Tun Teja Ratna Benggala • Conclusion

  3. Representation and Identity • Substitution – process of standing in for someone or something, or rather acting as a substitute for the ‘real thing’ • representation is implicated in the process of me becoming me • 3central issues: who performs the representation; what the representation means; and what effects the representations have • weblog (blog) functions as a medium for the representation of self

  4. Representation: Definitions • Prendergast (2000: 1): complex nature • the first “is the sense of represent as re-present, to make present again, in two interrelated ways, spatial and temporal” – representation as Darstellung, German word referring to the notion of making or rendering presence • the second is the sense of “delegating presence, or Vetretung: the substitution of something for something or someone else”

  5. Malaysian Blogosphere • examination of the self representations of three Malaysian bloggers and to discuss issues relating to their constructions of identity through avatars and personal ruminations • Raden Galoh • Hikayat Mamak Bendahara • Tun Teja Ratna Benggala • Traditionally, aspects of identity are characterized in terms of gender and interpersonal characteristics • emancipation and anonymity of cyberspace offer Malaysian bloggers an opportunity to re-invent themselves

  6. Blog: Representation of Self • bloggers assume on-line identities to achieve visibility in cyberspace and yet remain invisible • incarnation through avatar, an ‘alter ego’ or a representation to re-present blog identity • embodiment of the self, a new personification of what is a familiar idea • Gender Performavity • deconstruct ion of accepted norms of gender • Appropriation of identities in Malaysian history to create alternative identities • self-representation is ‘re-visioning’ in nature

  7. Blog Persona • blogger’s distinct voice is carried through in every blog post • invokes “the feeling of accessibility and familiarity” that the readers have with the blogger • blog persona is a conscious construction • personal identity is revealed • personal identity is concealed

  8. ONEBREASTBOUNCING WITH ONLY ONE BREAST LEFT, I TOLD MYSELF TO BOUNCE AND LIVE STRONG. HENCE, THE BLOG NAME. NOW, WITH MANY CANCERS IN MY BODY, I STILL SEEK THE MERCY AND LOVE FROM GOD TO BOUNCE AND LIVE STRONG, INSYA'ALLAH! DALILAH TAMRIN (http://onebreastbouncing.blogspot.com/) "Breast Cancer Metastasis is a Test of My Faith, Love and Resilience" Raden Galoh BANTING, SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN, MALAYSIA A Breast Cancer Metastasis Survivor, still fighting the battle...

  9. Appropriating History RadenGaloh RadenGalohChenderaKirana has agency to voice out and share her emotions with her readers her narratives are very personal and intense I know, something is definitely not right with my life. I feel lethargic. I feel fatigue, even when I get up. …I try putting up a happy face but the eyes droop with tiredness. princess of Majapahit and wife of Sultan MansorShah Marriage sealed the union between two rivaling empires in the Malay Archipelago in the 15thcentury a pawn in the political game that men played to assert power her voice remains unheard in a world where narratives favor masculinity

  10. Raden Galoh’s Gendered Identity We know whether we are male or female not because of our body, its shape and parts, but because we perform our gender, the way we perform other aspects of our identity. She uses her body to promote her agenda. MY BARE CHEST …two sides to Raden Galoh: one part woman with a breast; the other, like a man, flat-chested, but not quite… The Aftermath of Mastectomy

  11. Dato’ Bendahara Speakz (http://hikayatmamakbendahara.blogspot.com/ ). ABOUT ME Hikayat Mamak Bendahara The author is a not so conventional Malaysian; he wishes, desires and loves to remain anonymous in the blogging world. The blog reflects the authors view of the Malaysian political and social scene; he claims no responsibility on the repercussions or influence his writings may have to the world at large.

  12. Appropriating History HikayatMamakBendahara Bendahara Sri Maharaja TunMutahir refers to himself as Dato’ Bendahara power of speech through his blog social critique dissenting voice – criticizes both the government and the opposition issue of identity a Tamil-Malay descent who went on to become the most renowned person second only to the Sultan in Melaka a staunch supporter of the sovereignty of the Sultan a powerful character whose voice is heard by both royalty and commoner

  13. teja • Gender: Female • Occupation:Serikandi Melayu • Location:Semenanjung Tanah Melayu : Malaysia About Me Muslim, Malay, UMNO member, BN supporter alif ba ta tuntejaratnabenggala Are your feet tied? Are your hands cuffed? • Interests • politics • economics • science & technology • reading • writing • traveling • Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad • Ketuanan Melayu • Sejarah Melayu • old literatures "Tun Teja Ratna Benggala,Pandai membelah lada sulah,Jika tuan tidak percaya,Mari bersumpah kalam Allah,"

  14. Appropriating History TunTeja TunTejaRatnaBenggala empowered by the liberty of cyberspace to voice her opinions, not just about her personal self speaks out against the challenges to nation-building transformation of the ‘silenced’ historical character prim representation of her avatar is tarnished by her language nature of serikandi - many bloggers choose ‘TunTeja’ daughter of Sri Amar Di Raja Pahang convinced by Hang Tuah (or Hang Nadim) to marry Sultan Mahmud Shah Legend claims she followed Hang Tuah thinking that he loved her (or use of love potion) died a queen, in Merlimau, Melaka, while retreating with other members of the Melaka royal family from Portuguese attack in 1511

  15. Conclusion • We all put on a gender performance, whether traditional or not, anyway, and so it is not a question of whether to do a gender performance, but rather what form that performance will take • disguising one’s identity allows one to be truthful to one’s true self for one is not bound by the norms of an on-line community • The dynamic nature and constant re-drawing of rules in cyberculture not only sanctions the blurring of gender lines but also the manipulation of the personal and shared past • Identifying ambivalence in the way one perceives oneself and the choices made to present one’s self to others as well as attributing that ambivalence to social factors bring to light issues pertaining to identity reconstruction in present-day Malaysia

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