REPRESENTING CULTURAL IDENTITY IN LAT’S CARTOONS: A FRAMEWORK OF MADANI CONCEPT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v7i2.1102Keywords:
cartoons, visuals, cultural identity, MalaysiaAbstract
A cartoon is a metaphor used by many visual artists to convey meaning effectively without resorting to lengthy sentences. In the Malaysian context, cartoons have long played a significant role in documenting everyday life, social relationships, and multicultural values through humour and visuals. Sadly, many underestimate the importance of cartoons in creating a harmonious environment, especially among multireligious people. This study aims to investigate Lat’s cartoons in disseminating cultural identity, focusing on the use of colour and symbolic meanings in reflecting the shared values of Malaysian society. Qualitative research methods were carried out for data collection. The Focus Group Discussion (FGD) method was applied to achieve the aim of this study. The findings reveal that Lat’s colour palette, ranging from monochromatic tones to culturally symbolic hues, evokes shared interethnic values and collective memories of Malaysian life. Visual symbols such as food, architecture, traditional attire, and kampung settings were found to embody values of compassion, harmony, and inclusivity. The study concludes that Lat’s cartoons function as powerful visual narratives that communicate multicultural unity and moral values aligned with the ideals of Malaysian society's identity.
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