Agik Nur Efendi, Anas Ahmadi, Titik Indarti, Suhartono, Octo Dendy Andriyanto, Resdianto Permata Raharjo
Land is not just a physical entity, but a cultural artifact embedded in historical, ecological, and socio-political dynamics. In Indonesian local narratives, land functions as a place of conflict, where modernization, capitalism, and environmental degradation intersect with indigenous cultural knowledge and values. This study examines the transformation of perceptions of land in selected Indonesian literary works, employing the frameworks of ecosemiotics and ecocriticism to analyze how narratives encode shifting human-land relations. By analyzing novels such as Mata di Tanah Melus, Tanjung Kemarau, Api Awan Asap, Tanah Tabu, and Sanggarguri, this study reveals how literature functions as an ecological archive that records the socio-environmental struggles of local communities. Findings show that traditional conceptualizations of land-rooted in spiritual, communal, and ecological ethics-are increasingly challenged by capitalist expansion, urbanization, and environmental exploitation. This has led to the evolving and shifting perceptions of how local Indonesian communities view land. This study highlights how Indonesian literature articulates resistance to land commodification and environmental deprivation through symbolic and narrative strategies. This interdisciplinary approach contributes to the environmental humanities by emphasizing the role of storytelling in fostering ecological awareness and advocating for sustainable land management. Ultimately, this research underscores the cultural significance of land in the local imagination and its implications for environmental justice and conservation efforts in Indonesia. © 2025 Angelo Pontecorboli Editore. All rights reserved.
Institut Agama Islam Negeri Madura, Indonesia; Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia
