Indonesian and World Folklore from a Critical Literacy Perspective: A Comparative Analysis of Cultural Values and Social Identity

Abstract

Folklore plays a crucial role in preserving cultural identity and serves as a medium for transmitting moral, ecological, and social values across generations. This article examines Indonesian (Nusantara) and world folklore from a critical literacy perspective, emphasizing how narratives function as cultural texts laden with ideology, representation, and power relations. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, the study purposively selected ten folklore texts—five from Indonesia and five from global traditions (European, African, Greek, and Norse)—to ensure thematic and cultural comparability. Data analysis followed four stages: narrative structure and symbolism, contextual interpretation, critical interrogation of ideological positioning, and comparative synthesis. Findings reveal that Indonesian folklore highlights ecological wisdom, local spirituality, and communal values, whereas global folklore tends to stress moral order, universal justice, and cosmological struggles. Both traditions, however, converge in their role as instruments of moral education and cultural preservation, though with divergent orientations. Gender representations across cultures show ambivalence, reflecting both marginalization and symbolic empowerment. The study underscores the pedagogical potential of folklore in formal education and advocates for its revitalization through digital media and community participation. Ultimately, folklore is conceptualized as a living, adaptive tradition that negotiates values and identities, sustaining its relevance in contemporary globalized contexts.