Mickey Mouse and Friends Characterization

I. Introduction

I.1. Background

Mickey Mouse and Friends can be considered as Walt Disney’s most influential series. Its presence have become a part of people’s childhood. It is presented with easy plot and mild joke which is able to attract not only children but also adults. I found that Mickey Mouse and Friends is closely related to the American Dream. The topic that becomes main point of Mickey Mouse and Friends story surely is close to American daily life and may represents the people.

Mickey Mouse and Friends has developed to the popular cartoon which is presented as many kinds of series. There are movie animation series, comic series, and etc. As my research source, I use the comic series which is for the bigger child because the theme isn’t as simple as the other series.

The comic series of Mickey Mouse and Friends first found in Italy and United Kingdom (Wikipedia). The drawing is done by John Stanley, meanwhile, the story itself is written by Irving Brecher. However, the publishing is done under the name of Walt Disney, considered the original idea is from him. The story emphasizes the adventure that happens on Mickey Mouse and other characters life. Usually, it tells about capturing bandits or trapping in unlucky event. Nowadays, this comic series are still ongoing. I use the 2001’s comic for my research. The number of series is 277 until 295.

As I mentioned it before, Mickey Mouse and Friends is considered as a very American story. This is why I’m interested in this story. My paper is limited to the characterization of Mickey Mouse and Friends. I will discuss about how each character represents the real character in real life.

I.2. History and Development

Mickey Mouse made his debut on November 18^th 1928. Its first appearance was in the first sound cartoon, Steamboat Willie. Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse on a trip by train from New York to Los Angeles. At first, Disney named this little mouse with red pants as ‘Mortimer’, but then he changed it into ‘Mickey’. This was the process of the birth of Mickey Mouse. Helped by his head animator, Ub Iwerks, Mickey Mouse was prepared to be filmed.

With an extra work, Walt Disney succeeded to broadcast Mickey Mouse cartoon. The Colony Theatre decided to take a chance on the film. Steamboat Willie became a success cartoon. Later, Disney not only created Mickey, he also added other characters, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and etc. The popularity of Mickey Mouse rose. In 1940, the popularity of Mickey Mouse reached the peak when Mickey became the Sorcerer’s Apprentice in the feature Fantasia. But, the World War II stopped Disney activities and also Mickey Mouse. However, Mickey Mouse could survive after the war had been over.

In early 1950s, Mickey’s friends had their own part in film. Meanwhile, Mickey Mouse had been an icon for Disney. In 1983, Tokyo Disneyland was opened, and continued with the opening of Paris Disneyland in 1992. Until now, Mickey Mouse and Friends has become the most famous and influential cartoon in the world.

I.3. Theory

The content of children literature is limited by the experience and understanding of children. Children’s books are books that have the child’s eye at the center (Hickman 1989). The limitation of the bad and the good must be seen clearly because children will recognize the good thing from seeing the bad thing. Every children literature has value that can teach them and also has interesting aspect which can attract children to read it.

For this reason, children literature usually uses the easy theme to be discussed in the story. Besides that, imagination of children also becomes the target of children literature. By developing their imagination, children can increase the creativity. Fantasy is a favourite genre of children literature. Fantasy is contrast with the reality, but in children literature impossibility becomes possibility (Pavlik 2010). Mickey Mouse and Friends’ character is animal but they act like human being. Besides that, picture also becomes attraction to the children. Comic, as we know, will be easily impressed children to read the book.

Children literature usually has two different characters, the hero and the villain (May 1995). They are created to show the values of life easily. Like what has mentioned before, children will easily know and distinguish the bad thing and the good thing. In Mickey Mouse and Friends comic, there are many stories which make the same term like a usual children literature. But there is some story which doesn’t have obvious distinction. However, it has the way to deliver the lesson by showing the regret of the good character. It may also teach that the good one can make some mistakes too.

Based on age, children literature is divided into three parts which are for younger children, children in transition, and older children (Hickman 1989). Mickey Mouse and Friends Comic is intended for the third type of children literature. It’s because it’s for personal reading, the language is in the skillful level, and sometimes has theme which is not simple. So, the middle grades until middle class children are appropriate with this comic.

II. Discussion

II.1. Mickey Mouse

This cartoon character is the main character and the main icon of Walt Disney, a famous animation company. First appear in 1928 in Steamboat Willie, this mouse later becomes the legend in cartoon.

The first drawing of Mickey like picture on the left has a different form with Mickey nowadays. But Disney didn’t change the image of Mickey Mouse too much. Physically, Mickey is a black mouse with a long tail. He usually wears a red pants and no top. His shoes are yellow. This becomes the fixed style of Mickey Mouse. However, sometimes he wears something else like in Mickey and Friends Comic 277, Mickey wears a brown coat. The style can change based on the story. In Comic 277, Mickey becomes member of criminal gang. The coat in this story represents his position in the gang which is the ideas poster. The coat gives him the smart characteristic.

In comic series, the style which is attached with Mickey’s character is often changing. Not only in 277, but also in 295, Mickey wears tidy clothes which matched with the holiday condition that becomes the setting of the story. He also wants to meet Minnie, his girlfriend, in a little formal way.

The main character usually becomes a hero of the story. So does Mickey Mouse. In the comic series that I’ve read, Mickey is playing a role as the hero. He may not have strong power like another hero character, but the writer described Mickey is always able to solve the problem. In comic 295, Mickey takes an important role to stop the monopoly of toy’s trade.

Mickey Mouse presence becomes the problem solver in the story, even in another character’s story like Goofy’s. He has a kind heart and also good brain. From the others characters, Mickey is the one who can be called as the perfect character. Nevertheless, Mickey has his own character and sometimes can do a dummy thing too.

Mickey Mouse character is connected to American dream. This mouse represents a great dream which is inside an ordinary creature. Mickey is always optimism in face any problem. Without some supernatural power, strong body, and genius brain, Mickey Mouse is still able to present a good role model for American, especially for children.

II.2. Minnie Mouse

Minnie Mouse is Mickey’s girlfriend. She also makes the debut in Steamboat Willie. Minnie is a sweet character. She is rich. I said so because in comic 295, Mickey was confused when tried to decide a Christmas present for Minnie. He wanted something special that Minnie hasn’t had it before. But the problem was Minnie seems like has everything. It shows that Minnie is from the high class.

In comic 291, Minnie had a conflict with Mickey. Minnie likes dancing, and beautiful performance of magic, music, and etc. Meanwhile, Mickey considers those activities as boring things to do. Then, Minnie who was annoyed with Mickey’s word asked the magician to change Mickey into her ideal. But something’s bad happened. Bandits came and stole the magician’s tools. As the result, Mickey couldn’t be back as the one who enjoyed the detective role. Minnie was regret, but then, she tried to force Mickey to use his brain to capture the bandits.

From this story, the conclusion will come that Minnie is appropriate with the concept of girl. She likes affection, entertainment, shopping, dancing, and other things that many girls will like it too. However, she’s not a selfish one because although Mickey has changed into his ideal type, she prefers to capture the bandit than accept the ‘ideal’ Mickey invitation to go to restaurant or dance or shopping.

About the clothes, Minnie doesn’t have fixed style like Mickey does. The colour and model of her clothes often changes in every series. However, she always wears a big ribbon on her head and dress or skirt. It may to differentiate her from Mickey. Looking on the physical characteristic, Mickey and Minnie actually have the same form, a black and long-tailed mouse. Disney uses the eyelashes and dress to make the different gender. Minnie also wears high-heels. Those features make the concept of female in Mickey Mouse and Friends.

II.3. Donald Duck

The friend of Mickey is Donald Duck. He is a very famous character besides Mickey Mouse. Some people agree that Donald is the funniest character in Mickey Mouse and Friends. First, he appeared in Silly Symphony cartoon in 1934 and could grab attention from the people. As the result, Donald had his own story in 1938. Even, he surpassed Mickey Mouse in the number of cartoons reaching the theatre.

Donald Duck, like his name, psychically, is a white duck. In my opinion, duck is the best living creature to represents a talkative character. This opinion comes by looking the mouth’s form of duck. It has long beak. Moreover, the quacking sound emphasizes it. Donald’s trait is appropriate with this opinion. Besides that, he has a bad temper. Every single thing can make him angry.

He usually wears a blue sailor top and blue cap. In the comic, Donald is usually drawn wearing black top. Different with Mickey, Donald doesn’t wear pants, meanwhile Mickey doesn’t wear top.

In the comic series, Donald is always paired with his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. The problem that must be faced by Donald is around his relation with his nephews. Donald is not smart as Mickey. However, he is lucky. If in cartoon film series, Donald always have the problem with such a little thing and end up with his lost in solving the problem. But in comic, the conflict appears when he meets an unfortunate thing such as in comic 280. This temperament duck was trapped into the bad plan of the realtors which sell an island. In fact the island isn’t same as the picture that was shown before. Donald got the problem because of his impatience.

Luckily, the island was full of rare worms. In addition, the project of new bridge would bring Donald’s new island as the strategic place. Then, his nephews reported the worms to the scientists. That island was decided into a research area. Meanwhile, the realtor heard about the bridge project. They wanted the island back. Donald used his luckiness to take revenge. He asked the realtor five times from the price that he must paid for the island. In fact, the island cannot be occupied because of the rare worms. Finally, Donald had his money back, even five times from the amount that he paid before.

In comparison with Mickey’s story, Donald, actually, doesn’t think nor do something heroic like Mickey does. His luckiness always saved him. In comic 277, he, inadvertently, helped a professor to find the theory of the floating frog. After that event, Donald became a famous duck.

II.4. Daisy Duck

The second woman character in Mickey Mouse and Friends series is Daisy Duck. She is the girlfriend of Donald Duck. Like Minnie Mouse, from the physical, people can acknowledge her by big ribbon on her head and eyelashes. She also always wears high-heels. However, although she was a female character, she never wears skirt. Disney decided duck character for not wearing any bottom cloth.

If Minnie inscribes a sweet and nice girl, Daisy tends to be an elegant, sexy, and mature woman. These traits can be seen in her looking. Daisy Duck usually makes up. The innocence side of Minnie can be seen in her round eyes. On other hand, Daisy has glazed eyes with tapering eyelashes and purple eye shadow.

Daisy Duck doesn’t have many parts in the comic which I’ve read as the research source. She appears in comic 287 when she was in picnic with Donald. Donald Duck actually just wanted to take a shoot of bird for winning an award. Daisy considered this picnic as a romantic date. She forced Donald to serenade for her with a very flirty way. Because Donald ignored her, she disturbs Donald’s photo taking and whined to be serenaded. From this scene, Daisy seems to be a very flirty woman and also a selfish one. She will never stop nagging until she gets an attention.

II.5. Goofy

The very best friend of Mickey Mouse is Goofy. Literally, his name means stupid and it matches with Goofy’s trait. Goofy is a dog. He is the tallest character in Mickey Mouse and Friends. I remember the opinion ‘the big body usually has small brain’ when I see Goofy.

Goofy appears for the first time in Mickey’s Revue (1932). Since that, Goofy always accompany Mickey as his best friend. Although, his physical is a dog, he plays a role as a human. It contrasts with Pluto that is Mickey’s pet. I think it maybe the reason why Goofy wears complete clothes, from top to toe. By his clothes, people will sense that Goofy’s character is a human not a pet.

Like Donald Duck, Goofy also has his own part in the Mickey Mouse and Friends comic series. In comic 277, Goofy felt that every single life must be respected. He, then, decided to be an animal savior. Even he didn’t want to kill an ant. But he acted over by asking everyone he met to keep distance from anthills, beehives, and etc. He even set the barrier around those insect’s house. Mickey told him that he didn’t have to do that, but stupid Goofy mistakenly got what Mickey said. Instead of stopping to save the animal’s life, he decided to keep all animals in his own house. Then, a chaos happened. However, finally, Goofy understood that saving animals’ life doesn’t mean to keep an eye for them.

From this story, I concluded that although Goofy isn’t smart enough, he has a pure and kind heart. He is also an easy going. He do something easily without full of thoughts. It is so different with Donald’s characteristic which is care too much with his surroundings.

II.6. Pluto

Another dog’s character in Mickey Mouse and Friends is Pluto. Unlike Goofy, Pluto is a real dog. He is Mickey’s pet. Actually it is really strange that a mouse can pet a dog. But, in my opinion, dog is the most common pet, especially in America. As I said before, Mickey Mouse series is really American. It reflects the real life of the people in America and the environment. So this is Pluto is decided to be Mickey’s pet.

After doing research in this character, I found nothing special with this character. Pluto plays a role as a real dog. So, there’s no specific character that will symbolize some things in real life beside the fact that he is a dog. Pluto is curious like a common dog. He is also very faithful to his master, Mickey. Sometimes, he becomes so brave, but sometimes he is a coward. He appears not too much in the comic.

III. Conclusion

Mickey Mouse and Friends Comic Series can be categorized as a higher level of children literature. The theme that becomes topic of the story often doesn’t appropriate with children’s life. It brings out the love themes such as what I have elaborated in characterization of Daisy. Besides that, the plot isn’t simple. It often talks about robbery, fraud, relationship, and etc. Mickey Mouse and Friends Comic tends to be a realist story although the characters are fantasy because they are all animal. Each character symbolizes the real characteristic of human, either, a kind and smart one as Mickey, a nice and sweet girl like Minnie, a temperament and impatient man as Donald, a sexy, flirty, and selfish woman like Daisy, and a stupid but kind hearted like Goofy. They all really exist in real world.

However, Mickey Mouse and Friends Comic also has a good value to be taken as lesson for life. Through Mickey character, children are taught to be kind and always think before decide to do something. Minnie gives an example of a polite girl that is always well mannered. By reading Donald and Daisy story, sometimes it is difficult to decide a good value from it, but people can shown to children that ill-tempered and selfish can bring problem to their selves.

References

. "Disney Archives." Retrieved 29 December, 2010, from http://disney.go.com/vault/archives/characterstandard.html.

. "Mickey Mouse Analysis." Retrieved 29 December, 2010, from http://farrells.people.cofc.edu/Farrell/Mickey%20Mouse%20Analysis/MickeyMouseAnalysis.html?referrer=webcluster&.

. "Mickey Mouse and Friends (comic book)." Retrieved 12 December, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Mouse_and_Friends_%28comic_book%29.

Hickman, C. S. H. S. H. J. (1989). Children Literature in Elementary School. Orlando, Harcourt Brace & Company.

May, J. P. (1995). Children's Literature and Critical Theory. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Pavlik, D. R. a. A. (2010). The (Im)Possibility of Children's Fiction: Rose Twenty-Five Years On. Children's Literature Association: Quarterly. Maryland, The John Hopkins University Press.

A Protest

Beberapa hari yang lalu, film menarik muncul di layar televisi. Dengan judul Ghost Rider dan Nicholas Cage sebagai pemeran utamanya, saya pun memilih tidur lebih malam dan menahan kantuk demi film ini. Telat memang, karena film ini sudah booming dari awal kemunculannya di layar lebar tahun 2007 lalu. Tapi, toh, akhirnya saya nonton juga dan yang penting, gratis.

Mata saya pun tertarik menatap alur ceritanya selama lebih dari dua jam. Di tengah menjelang akhir cerita, sebuah adegan menuai protes dari benak saya. Di awal film, ada karakter laki-laki yang matian-matian mengkhawatirkan si tokoh utama, Johnny Blaze, yang selalu nekat mempertaruhkan nyawa demi mempertontonkan pertunjukan motor lompat yang fantastis. Tapi di adegan yang ingin saya protes itu, karakter baik hati ini dipergunakan oleh malaikat murtad untuk menjebak wanita pujaan Johnny Blaze yang merupakan kelemahan dari sang Ghost Rider ini-hari berikutnya ada film Spiderman yang juga isi ceritanya ada penyanderaan Mary Jane yang merupakan kelemahan Peter Spiderman Parker.

Karakter itu pada akhirnya tewas dibekukan malaikat murtad, atau sebut saja iblis, setelah tubuhnya dirasuki. Johnny Blaze datang menemukan tubuh temannya itu sudah tak bernyawa. Kemudian, matanya menyusuri ruangan dan menemukan gadis pujaannya sekarat, namun belum meninggal. Ia pun beranjak mendekati wanita itu, meninggalkan tubuh tak bernyawa temannya.

"Hey, temanmu mati!" protes saya.

Tapi Johnny Blaze tak peduli. Produser pun tak peduli. Itulah akhir dari karakter ini. Mati, bahkan belum sempat saya hafal namanya, dan tak lagi disebut-sebut sampai akhir film. Karakter yang termarjinalkan. Padahal di awal jasanya terlihat besar tapi akhir hidupnya dikemas begitu sederhana.

The Phenomenon of Ulzzang

Recenty, I found an interesting topic in the internet. It was about ulzzang. Actually, it began with my hobby to search the internet all about Korean things. Then, I found this ulzzang.

Literally, ulzzang means best face. This term refers to boys or girls who have pretty face and upload their own picture to the internet. Many Korean actress and actor became famous because of this. Why I consider ulzzang is an interesting thing is not because I like their face. In the beginning, well, I admit that I liked their face and wanted to have the same face as them. However, then, I found a surprising fact of this ulzzang. They all have heavy make-up that makes them really different with their natural face. In this essay, I limit the thing which will be discussed on ulzzang girl. Until I write this essay, I haven’t found the ulzzang boy also makes up as heavy as the girl.

The ulzzang girls usually come from Asia. They have oriental face with small eyes, small nose, and yellow skin. In Indonesia, this complexion is categorizes as light complexion. This also becomes the favourite because it’s still called white but not too pale like European’s. The lacks of this face are in the eyes and nose. The makeup of ulzzang has the capability to diminish this lack and even nullify it. The main point of this kind of makeup is to give the effect of bigger eyes so they will look like anime girls. Ulzzang girls usually put the contact lens. This lens has bigger diameter than normal eyes. It’s about 14 to 18 millimeters. The next step of this makeup is put the make up around the eyes. They usually use eye liner and eye shadow with the dark colour. Besides that, they put the fake eyelashes. Not only that, an ulzzang also put heavy foundation and face powder. The shading is needed to change their small nose into the sharper one. The makeup has finished. Besides makeup, the ulzzang girls have particular hairstyle. They have straight hair and bangs. The last step that they must do is taking a picture. Usually, they take a picture with higher angle. Camera is above their face. Their eyes are toward the camera. It, again, will point out their bigger-anime look like-eyes. Another characteristic of ulzzang photograph is the lips are very thin and cute. The girls thin their lips and sometimes purse their lips in a cute way.
As I said before, I was fond of this kind of face. I thought they, the ulzzang girls, have the natural beauty and cuteness. I used to see the heavy make up in horrible way such as a heavy and colourful eye shadow, very long fake eyelashes, and a very dark eye liner. It’s why I didn’t realize that the ulzzang girls also have the heavy makeup even heavier than the one which I considered as heavy.
The next thing that happened was I thought they cheated because I felt cheated. They manipulate their face to be called pretty. They wear mask which is actually form by the society. In other words, the society decides the meaning of the beauty. The girls follow this decision and do everything to make the society accept them as pretty girl. However, not every people assume this kind of makeup is good. Based on my searching on the internet, many people show their displeasure of ulzzang. They think the ulzzang girls cheated by wearing mask which is heavy makeup. Not only women, but men also argue like that. I found many comments that questions who said the thin lips and anime look like eyes are pretty. Some men think that they prefer a natural face than an ulzzang face.

Nevertheless, I can’t deny that ulzzang become famous because it has many fans. Ulzzang has become the trend among the Asian teenagers. Starting with the anime fever, the comic artists draw their characters which represent Asian people with big eyes, very thin lips, sharp nose, and long legs. Actually, they are different with the physical fact of Asian people. But then, makeup offers the solution. Since that, many people are vying to become anime. In addition, the Korean wave helps ulzzang becomes trend. Although, there are many issues that state Koreans do plastic surgery to become beautiful, they have particular characteristic of face that is considered as pretty nowadays. They have big and round eyes. Their skin is milky white. People use this to make advantages. They pick the pretty human being, train them, and release them to the public to become society’s idols. Every Asian girl’s eyes look at them and then, the desire to be like them is appeared.

The side which accepts many advantages is the one who see this issue as chance to earn money. The actresses and singers are under the management. They use their beauty to earn money. The company owners use these girls as their advertisement’s model. The sales will rise. Not only that, the instrument of ulzzang such as the big contact lens, eyeliner, and other makeup will be salable. The conclusion is the concept of beauty, nowadays, has become a tool to earning money. The one who is trapped in this concept, actually, has become the victim of trend and money maker for the owners of capital.

"Cause I'm Goo Yong Ha"

Awalnya, saya nekat membeli DVD dengan judul Sungkyunkwan Scandal itu karena termakan strategi sang produser dengan mengikutsertakan si terkenal Yoochun sebagai pemeran utama dalam drama seri itu. Tapi setelah beberapa episode berlalu, saya justru terkesan dengan kehadiran karakter lain, si Yeorim Goo Yong Ha.

Awalnya, saya benar-benar 'ngeblank' cerita apa yang disajikan. Diperparah subtitle bahasa Indonesianya yang membuat saya makin 'ngeblank'. Akhirnya saya menemukan ide 'brilian'. Saya ganti dengan subtitle bahasa Inggris dan "TAARRRAAA!", akhirnya saya mengerti juga.

Latar waktunya dari zaman dulu Korea, Dinasti Joseon, tepatnya saat Raja Yeongjo berkuasa. Tempatnya berkisar di Universitas Sungkyunkwan, tempat aliran konfusianisme dipelajari bagi para mahasiswa calon pejabat ini. Ceritanya tak sesederhana yang saya kira. Banyak fakta sejarah di dalamnya, tentang persaingan di dunia politik masa itu, tepatnya perseteruan antara dua partai, Noron dan Soron, yang sebenarnya sama-sama pecahan dari Partai Seoin.

Dari dulu, yang namanya kekuasaan selalu jadi incaran manusia. Raja tak bisa percaya dengan para menterinya, takut kekuasaannya sewaktu-waktu digulingkan. Para menteri juga tak bisa saling mempercayai, sama-sama saling mengincar kekuasaan. Hierarki sosial yang tak berpihak pada rakyat terbentuk. Saat itu, partai Noron yang mendominasi kancah politik mendapat keuntungan-keuntungan dalam hidup, termasuk di lingkungan Sungkyunkwan. Hanya golongan bangsawan yang dapat mengenyam pendidikan di universitas ini. Kemudahan mendapat pendidikan juga diberikan bagi mereka yang punya uang, pilihannya dapat menyuap pengawas, atau membeli bocoran jawaban, atau menyewa pengganti. Rakyat biasa sulit, apalagi perempuan. Perempuan yang bisa mengembangkan bakatnya hanyalah gisaeng atau wanita penghibur. Bakat itupun bertujuan untuk menambah daya tarik gisaeng dalam 'melayani' para bangsawan ataupun kelas atas.

Nah, apa yang mau dibicarakan di drama ini adalah harmonisasi politik yang dianggap mustahil dengan menampilkan tiga karakter utama yang berbeda latar belakang, Lee Sun Joon dari Noron, Moon Jae Shin dari Soron, dan Kim Yoon Hee alias Kim Yoon Shik dari rakyat biasa yang juga seorang wanita. Selain itu, ada upaya pembentukan Joseon baru yang merupakan proyek dari Raja terdahulu dan ingin dilanjutkan Raja yang sekarang. Dengan kata lain, upaya terhadap pencapaian harapan yang sulit, karena Noron dengan sigap sekaligus diam-diam menentang upaya itu. Tapi yang namanya drama Korea, tetap, yang menonjol adalah tema percintaannya, antara Lee Sun Joon, Kim Yoon Hee, dan Moon Jae Shin.

Lupakan ketiga karakter di atas, yang ingin saya bicarakan di sini adalah karakter ke empat yang juga utama karena gambarnya menghiasi sampul depan. Namanya Goo Yong Ha. Ciri-cirinya: selalu memakai baju dengan warna mencolok dan membawa kipas, selalu terlihat ceria, selalu berada di kejauhan dan mengamati suatu peristiwa, dan yang terakhir, selalu berada di saat tepat nan darurat untuk menyelesaikan permasalahan. Pemberesan masalah yang cantik dan saat ditanya "Kenapa? Kok bisa?", ia menjawab "Cause I'm Goo Yong Ha". Saat dipercaya untuk menyelesaikan permasalahan, lagi-lagi alasannya membawa namanya, "Because you're Goo Yong Ha".

Meski begitu, ia bukanlah sosok yang dengan ajaib mampu menyelesaikan segala permasalahan. Kekhawatiran, kepanikan, dan strategi juga dihadapinya. Namun saat waktunya tiba, ia menghidupkan namanya dengan pengamatannya yang cerdik dan berpikir keras. Masalah yang dihadapinya pun teratasi diiringi dengan senyumannya seraya berkata "Cause I'm Goo Yong Ha"

Kisah dari Palmerah

Dulu....

Sang ibu penuh kasih sayang. Sang ayah selalu penuh canda meskipun terkadang emosi tak bisa ditahannya. Dua anak kecil yang sering dibilang kembar, padahal kakak beradik, biasa bersepeda di luar atau sekadar bermain taplak. Sang kakak selalu berada di sebelah adiknya yang selalu dihiasi cengiran manis di wajahnya, bercanda tawa bersama. Sang nenek selalu memasak makanan enak dan yang pasti penuh gizi. Sang bibi yang hangat punya hobi mengajak dua anak kecil tadi jalan-jalan. Sang paman, meskipun cuek, tak pernah keberatan dua anak kecil itu bermain dengannya.



Sekarang....

Sang ibu disibukkan di toko dengan uang yang kadang seret kadang lancar. Sang ayah mengalihkan perhatiannya ke seperangkat elektronik yang dijajakannya. Sang nenek tetap memasak makanan bergizi namun keluhan selalu keluar dari mulutnya. Sang bibi pergi dari rumah, tinggal di tempat berbeda dan bergelimang gemerlap duniawi. Sang paman masih di situ, bersama anggota keluarga barunya, membangun keluarga yang menganut prinsip materi dengan tingkat kecuekan yang semakin tinggi. Sang adik yang dahulu di wajahnya dihiasi cengiran kini menjadi seringai super judes nan acuh, pikirannya pun terjun semakin dalam bersama 'si cowok' dan teman-temannya.

Sang kakak........................bingung sendiri di sini.

Close-minded

I don't know why, but the 'close-minded' still annoys my ears till now. It has been two days since 'close-minded' came to my ear clearly. However, I can't release the effect of that phrase. Arrggghhh! Annoying!

Truthfully, I was a little bit hurt when she said that to me.

"What?! Close-minded?!", said me but just in my mind.

"Please, open your mind. Don't be too strict," she said.

Then, I told her that I am not a close-minded person. I just want to see any problem based on my ideology. Whatever I said, she ignored my reason. She even told me and warned me to be careful with my dangerous and strict mind. If God didn't give me patience, my anger would burst without realizing what I was doing there before.

Did she think that life was just on earth? Come on, she was the one who must open her mind.

Since that day, I've known that it's not easy, even so hard. What I am doing now isn't simple as I thought before. There are many people out there who still consider me as a close-minded person. I wonder how to fix this problem. One absolute answer is never giving up, right?

Dead End

Tadi pagi di kala saya sedang malas-malasnya bangun dari lelapnya tidur, pikiran itu kembali mengganggu di pikiran saya. Hal yang pertama kali saya lakukan pagi ini adalah membuka laptop saya, dan melanjutkan pekerjaan saya yang itu. Ya, yang itu. Si penganggu tidur saya itu pun berhasil menyita perhatian saya pagi ini.

Si pekerjaan itu terpampang di layar laptop saya. Saya hanya memandanginya selama sekian detik. Lalu, saya taruh jari-jari saya di keyboard. Siap untuk mengetik. Tapi...

Berdetik-detik saya diam sampai akhirnya saya berkata, "Nggak tahu mau nulis apa?". Seandainya kejadian tadi pagi dikomikkan, mungkin akan ada efek-efek orang yang hanya terlihat kakinya dengan tulisan besar-besar 'GUBRAK!'

Buntu. Ditambah dengan suasana kamar berantakan saya yang tak mendukung. Akhir-akhir ini kertas-kertas mengganggu penglihatan dan ruang gerak saya. Tapi tetap tak kunjung saya rapikan.

Dengan pikiran buntu, saya paksakan mengetik apapun yang saat itu terlintas di benak saya. Waktu yang mepet terus menekan sampai akhirnya selesailah pekerjaan saya yang itu.

Tapi itu selesai, si penganggu di pikiran saya belum hilang. Bagaimana ini? Bagaimana itu? Bagaimana ini itu? Diterima takut, ditolak sebal. Seperti itulah kiranya suara-suara yang terus berbunyi di alam bawah sadar tapi sadar saya. Pada akhirnya, saya berkesimpulan bahwa apapun hasilnya pasti itu yang terbaik untuk saya. Kesimpulan klise dan tetap saja hati saya tak tenang. Suara-suara itu masih terus berbunyi.

Why?

Trapped in this miserable and confusing world, a big question mark appears in my mind. A question word always annoys my sight. It's "why?". Why do people say something meanwhile someone say the opposites? Why do people care about a small thing meanwhile the big problem are ignored? Why do people feel their life are alright meanwhile scare spreads out on other side of the same world?

For the sake of human, for the sake of woman, for the sake of labor, for the sake of children, etc, etc. Each man solves their problem with their own thinking. Clear? Not really. It just add some new problems.

Why don't they say for the sake of universe? The solution actually has written since long time ago. But most people deny it. They deny perfect solution?!

Why oh why?

Finding Me Smile and Knowing Why

The day came when most of the people would say 'huff!'. On the other hand, I could feel my heart's beat not because I was nervous. Meanwhile, I couldn't hide my excitement from the coming of this day. First reason was my loneliness. During this holiday, I just stayed in my 3x6 room. Alone (not really because one of my friend still stayed too). Just eating food from the man who always stood outside the house two times a day and shouted 'Hipotesa'. I couldn't explain how I can bear it. Second, I had waited time that there were people who listened to my statement of religion, Moslems, God, khilafah. What I saw was not the crowded of people but piles of gold. Very nice treasure! Big excitement filled my mind.

Then, this morning, increasing of my happiness occurred. My hand phone vibrated. Its display showed that there was message. I read it and surprised that the message was from my lecture. What he said made me arrived at the climax of excitement. He said I possibly could get A if I came to campus tomorrow. I must do some retest but the possibility for getting a better mark is high.

I came home (3x6 room), figured out how much could I get if that subject was fixed. Then, some numbers appeared . Beautiful! So relieving! My dream would become reality. Target could be reached. If I imagine that, smile show up on my face.

Many thanks to Almighty God.

Me, Myself, and I

It's not about a story of a girl in a fairytale. It's not a story of a character in Hollywood movies. It's just a story about me. That means, don't ever hope of a perfect ending with an exciting plot. Never!

About me?! Is it important?

Ye-a, I don't think so but whatever, I'm just trying to write anything i feel.

Maybe i will begin about my blog title.

A Drop of Blood on The Purple Velvet. Cool, isn't it? These words came on my head when i was on trip to Bandung. On one of the bus' seat, I was looking on the green sight from the window. Feeling sleepy, I wondered about the cool words for my blog. Then, these came.

Blood.
I am a fan of goth. Blood = goth. Blood represents sin and purple, is my most favorite colour. Beside that, there's velvet. I think it's an elegant cloth. So, imagine that there's s drop of blood on the (dark) purple velvet. Exactly. The blood still stain the velvet. However, the blood can't be seen clearly.