Folklores and stereotypes in the context of identity construction of the Madurese

Folklore not only serves to entertain but has other social functions. Based on the content analysis of a number of folklores pertaining to the Madurese people, this article attempts to analyse how folklores can be one of elements that contributes to the formation of the Madurese identity. Result of the analysis shows that folklores on the Madurese are rooted from several sources, namely, from the Madurese community, Dutch colonial records, and other ethnic groups. Part of the folklores does not only contain stereotypes but also serves as an identity capital of the Madurese. Folklores that stem from the Madurese themselves in the form of legends manifest positive imageries of the Madurese people. Whereas folklores that are products of interpretations by other people on the Madurese display more negative imageries and identity of the Madurese. In line with the current developments, folklores that had been previously circulated orally, have now been disseminated through the migration process and the mass media, such as the print media and the internet.