Representation of Ethnic Relations in the Selected Teen Novels from the Ethic Sociocultural Perspectives

Abstract

Teen novels often describe the uniqueness of ethnic relations, interests, and universal issues multicultural societies face. This description requires a specific exploration to examine the extent to which teen novels represent ethnic relations. Therefore, this study analyzed ethnic relations in teen novels from the perspective of sociocultural ethics based on the Theory of Ethics in Literature. The methodology of this research is descriptive qualitative text. The analysis and study focused on sociocultural identity and background, interracial relations, and sociocultural phenomena found in selected teen novels: Ayah, Nyanyian Musim Rusuh and Nanyang. The findings found that all three selected teen novels contain a means of consolidating ethnic relations and are capable of being a sociocultural expression vehicle that symbolizes the multicultural society in Malaysia. In conclusion, the selected teen novels have been shown to provide enlightenment and understanding of ethnic relations. These selected teen novels are further proposed as multicultural educational materials that can shed light and understanding on ethnic relations. The study found that certain novels for teenagers played a significant role in introducing them to the concept of ethnic relationships. This understanding can help them appreciate and comprehend the relationships between various ethnic groups in Malaysia. Additionally, research indicates that teen novels that provide insights into community cultures can enhance literacy among youth, broaden their cultural horizons, encourage critical thinking, and promote goodwill among them. The study concludes that teen novels are a powerful medium to convey ethical messages that stress the importance of preserving ethnic relations. The researchers suggest that future research explore other reading materials to better understand the topic.