Reimagining the Malin Kundang Story for Children: Visual Representations of Filial Piety Violation in Folktale Illustration

Naidi Atika Zundaro; Yasraf Amir Piliang; Riama Maslan Sihombing; Acep Iwan Saidi

doi:10.32798/dlk.1812

Published: 2025-08-22

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2025)

Reimagining the Malin Kundang Story for Children: Visual Representations of Filial Piety Violation in Folktale Illustration

Naidi Atika Zundaro , Yasraf Amir Piliang , Riama Maslan Sihombing , Acep Iwan Saidi

Dzieciństwo. Literatura i Kultura

Section: Studies

https://doi.org/10.32798/dlk.1812

Abstract

Malin Kundang, a nationally well-known Indonesian folktale, conveys a moral lesson about a disobedient child and is commonly told by parents to their children. The story’s moral theme has remained consistent across various adaptations and has been visually interpreted by different illustrators. This study examines the visual representations of filial piety violation in illustrations of Malin Kundang’s final scene. In folktales, illustrations function as a form of visual narrative that works together with the narrative text. They play an integral role in shaping young readers’ understanding of a story, particularly in articulating themes such as morality, family values, and cultural norms. As a result, the study of illustrations is crucial for illuminating how narratives serve as tools for enhancing children’s literacy, especially in decoding visual symbols. By analysing folktale illustrations, we gain insight into how cultural values are communicated across generations. For this study, five illustrations – one from each decade between the 1980s and the 2020s – were selected through purposive sampling, based on their depiction of the story’s ending. These artworks were examined using Roland Barthes’s semiotic theory to identify recurring visual themes. The findings reveal common motifs, such as social hierarchy, power dynamics, maternal sacrifice, and the decline of family values across generations. This research highlights how visual representations of Malin Kundang reflect shifting cultural perspectives on the depiction of moral values in narratives aimed at younger audiences.

Keywords:

filial piety, folktale illustration, Malin Kundang, visual representation

Similar Articles

1 2 3 > >>

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Download files

PDF

Citation rules

Zundaro, N. A., Piliang, Y. A., Sihombing, R. M., & Saidi, A. I. (2025). Reimagining the Malin Kundang Story for Children: Visual Representations of Filial Piety Violation in Folktale Illustration. Dzieciństwo. Literatura I Kultura, 7(1), 76–96. https://doi.org/10.32798/dlk.1812

Cited by / Share

Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Ahdiyat, A. N. (2021). Analisis semiotika visual pada ilustrasi sampul Majalah Tempoedisi “Jerat Kedua.” Journal Penelitian Universitas Kuningan, 12(2), 156–175. https://doi.org/10.47233/jkomdis.v5i1.2502.
Google Scholar

Aiello, G. (2020). Visual semiotics: Key concepts and new directions. In L. Pauwels & D. Mannay (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of visual research methods (2nd ed., pp. 367–380). SAGE.
Google Scholar

Barthes, R. (1972). Mythologies (A. Lavers, Trans.). Noonday. (Original work published 1957).
Google Scholar

Bascom, W. R. (1965). The forms of folklore: Prose narratives. The Journal of American Folklore, 78(307), 3–20. https://doi.org/10.2307/538099.
Google Scholar

Danandjaja, J. (1984). Folklor Indonesia: Ilmu gosip, dongeng dan lain-lain. Grafitipers.
Google Scholar

Danandjaja, J. (1992). Cerita rakyat dari Sumatra. Grasindo.
Google Scholar

De Bruijn, A. (2019). From representation to participation: Rethinking the intercultural educational approach to folktales. Children’s Literature in Education, 50, 315–332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10583-017-9330-x.
Google Scholar

Ernawati, A., & Triyono, A. (2023). Representasi citra perempuan dalam film televisi Crazy Not Rich Mentog di Warteg. Jurnal Panggung, 33(3), 417–431.
Google Scholar

Griffin, E. M. (2012). A first look at communication theory. McGraw-Hill.
Google Scholar

Hamdanputra, N. (1985). Malin Kundang (HAR, Illus.). Citra Budaya.
Google Scholar

Navis, A. A. (1994). Malin Kundang (Gerdi WK, Illus.). In A. A. Navis (Ed.), Cerita rakyat dari Sumatra Barat (pp. 42–47). Grasindo.
Google Scholar

Novianti, N. (2022). Indonesian folk narrative on the interstices of national identity, national values, and character education. Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics, 16(1), 99–116. https://doi.org/10.2478/jef-2022-0006.
Google Scholar

Nurgiyantoro, B. (2004). Kontribusi sastra dalam pembentukan kepribadian anak. Cakrawala Pendidikan, 2, 203–231.
Google Scholar

Pelangi (2013). Malin Kundang (Adam S., Illus.). Elex Media Komputindo.
Google Scholar

Ratri, D., Sihombing, R. M., Fahmi, N. E., & Indrayati, R. I. (2022). Elaborating visual narrative into modern adaptation concept for picture book with Indonesian folklore theme. In B. Titisari, A. Riswarie, & D. H. Danurdoro (Eds.), Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Art, Craft, Culture and Design (ICON‑ARCCADE 2021) (vol. 625, pp. 468–475). Atlantis. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211228.061.
Google Scholar

Sugiarti, S., Andalas, E. F., & Bhakti, A. D. P. (2023). Motif durhaka dalam cerita rakyat nusantara. Satwika: Kajian Ilmu Budaya Dan Perubahan Sosial, 7(2), 593–605. https://doi.org/10.22219/satwika.v7i2.31388.
Google Scholar

Sambangsari, S. (2008). Malin Kundang si anak durhaka (A. Asman, Illus.). In S. Sambangsari (Ed.), Kumpulan cerita rakyat Nusantara (pp. 18–21). Wahyu Media.
Google Scholar

Sihombing, R. M. (2014). Pergeseran representasi sosok ibu dalam ilustrasi buku anak Indonesia tahun 1973–2013. Unpublished PhD dissertation, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia.
Google Scholar

Tarigan, G. A. (2022). Malin Kundang (G. A. Tarigan, Illus.). In A. Renny, Untaian askara nusantara: 13 adaptasi cerita rakyat nusantara (pp. 23–32). Elex Media Komputindo.
Google Scholar

Thahar, H. E. (2017). Mothers parenting pattern to her son in Minangkabau legend Malin Kundang: A sociological study. In Atmazaki, Y. Rozimela, Jufrizal, Indrayuda, D. Anwar, S. Fatimah, H. Ardi, & M. A. Arianto (Eds.), Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Languages and Arts (ICLA 2017) (pp. 191–194). Atlantis.
Google Scholar

https://doi.org/10.2991/icla-17.2018.33.
Google Scholar

Udin, S. (Ed.). (1993). Rebab Pesisir Selatan: Malin Kundang. Yayasan Obor Indonesia.
Google Scholar

Yuni, S. W., & Raudatussalamah, R. (2020). Relasi orangtua‑anak pada keluarga Melayu: Analisis berdasarkan perspektif psikologi indijinus. Jurnal Psikologi, 16(2), 163–174. https://doi.org/10.24014/jp.v16i2.10952.
Google Scholar

Zenab, A. S., Mayang, A. A., & Anggana, R. D. (2023). Permainan anak sebagai sarana pengembangan karakter dalam budaya Sunda. Panggung, 33(2), 141–154. https://doi.org/10.26742/panggung.v33i2.2598.
Google Scholar

Naidi Atika Zundaro

zundaron@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7368-9211

Affiliation:

Bandung Institute of Technology Indonesia

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Naidi Atika Zundaro – MA, prepares a doctoral dissertation at the Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia). Her research interests include visual storytelling, children’s book illustration, and cultural studies. Contact: zundaron@gmail.com.

Yasraf Amir Piliang

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8027-3735

Affiliation:

Bandung Institute of Technology Indonesia

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Yasraf Amir Piliang – prof., works at the Faculty of Art and Design, Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia). His research interests include semiotics, arts and design discourses, and cultural studies. Kontakt: yappiliang@gmail.com.

Riama Maslan Sihombing

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0949-7677

Affiliation:

Bandung Institute of Technology Indonesia

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Riama Maslan Sihombing – PhD, works at the Faculty of Art and Design, Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia). Her research interests include children’s book illustration, visual narration, and typography. Contact: riama.maslan@itb.ac.id.

Acep Iwan Saidi

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3413-7139

Affiliation:

Bandung Institute of Technology Indonesia

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Acep Iwan Saidi – PhD, works at the Faculty of Art and Design, Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia). His research interests include semiotics of art, design, and cultural studies. Contact: acepiwan@fsrd.itb.ac.id.