Author(s): P.Dhayapari Perumal , Shanthini Pillai , Melissa S. Perry
Year of publication: 2021
Keywords: Semiotic technology, Postcolonial aesthetics, Digital children’s picture book apps, Malaysian identity, Multimediality, Interactivity
Methodology/Sample: Content analysis/_
Reference: Perumal, P. D., Pillai, S., & Perry, M. S. (2021). Semiotic technology as material resonance of postcolonial aesthetics in digital children’s picture book apps. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 21(4). http://doi.org/10.17576/gema-2021-2104-07
Abstract
Children’s literatures presently are produced widely through media production either as remediation of printed stories or originally produced in digital form. The current most sought after digitized communicative practice of the media is the digital children’s picture book app due to its multimediality and interactivity. This quality of the picture book app paves the path for an aesthetic and cultural transformative exchange. However, these digital children’s picture book apps have been found to contain diversity and multicultural gaps. Furthermore, the noncognitive/affective quality of these interactive digital book apps that is evoked through senses like touch, hearing and sight needs further investigation. Hence, through a qualitative approach, the digital children’s picture book app version of the Malaysian animated series Upin and Ipin: Storybook: The Rain and The Sea Part 1 was selected as case study for this paper. Selection criteria consisted of three aspects; narration being in English and contained Semiotic Technology i.e. digitized meaning-making modes, the contents reflect characters, symbols and narratives that portray Malaysian culture, history and identity. The research reveals a postcolonial aesthetic that extensively operates based on the ideologies of the dominant class or culture through the representations of ethnic nationalism. This shows a built in intrinsic value according to the context of the dominant culture that can be found in the aesthetic engagement in the transcultural space of this picture book app. This article contributes to scholarship cross-cultural engagement in the affective space of postcolonial digital picture books
> Summary
- The paper analyzes the aesthetic dimension of Malaysian identity markers in a digital children’s picture book app.
- It highlights the transcultural aesthetic and cultural transformation through animated visuals.
- The representation of diverse Malaysian ethnic groups fosters a sense of unity and belonging.
- The study emphasizes the importance of historical narratives in nurturing nationalism among Malaysians.
- It concludes that the app serves as a contact zone for cultural engagement and postcolonial aesthetics.
> Problem statement
- The paper discusses the diversity and multicultural gaps in digital children’s picture book apps.
- It highlights the dominance of a single culture in representation, affecting minority groups.
- The study emphasizes the need for adequate representation of diverse ethnicities in children’s literature.
- It critiques the promotion of majority languages, alienating minority speakers.
- The research aims to explore postcolonial aesthetics in shaping Malaysian identities through digital storytelling.
> Methods used
- The study employs a qualitative approach to explore digital children’s picture book apps.
- Data collection methods suggested include questionnaires, surveys, or interviews.
- The research focuses on the aesthetic and cultural transformative exchange in digital narratives.
> Practical implications
- The study aims to benefit educators and app developers by exploring diverse representations in digital narratives for young readers.
- It highlights the need for further research on the impact of postcolonial digital texts on children’s identity formation.
- The findings suggest that minority group users may feel a lack of recognition in digital narratives.
- The research emphasizes the importance of addressing multicultural gaps in children’s digital picture book apps.
- It advocates for the inclusion of diverse characters and narratives to enhance cultural representation .
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