This descriptive paper is based on a research in Madura, Indonesia, in 2014. The research data was mostly through indepth qualitative interviews and direct observation that have been developed into ethnographic case study. These methods were informed by a methodological approach derived from the 'structural constructivism' of Pierre Bourdieu. The main concept of "dukun" (supernatural/magic service providers) of Clifford Geertz was employed to theorize the findings and frame the argument. Within eight-month research period in Madura, I interviewed 19 dukuns and describe them using pseudo-names. Madura's dukun phenomenon demonstrates that magic is undoubtedly one of the main strategic resources available for mobilization in Madura to gain social/economical and political standing within society. Moreover, due to the fact that Madura is known as one of the most devoted Islamic Area Strictestin Indonesia, it is important to find out how dukuns' magical ability actually comes into being and is performed.
This research was based on a study conducted in four regencies of Madura Island, the mostly Muslim Island in the East Java Province of Indonesia. This research was descriptive qualitative and employed an ethnographic case study, which consisted of interviews, participant observations, and documentation as data collecting method, and analyzed by discourse analysis and textual analysis method. Magic agents, the informants in the present research and commonly referred to in Madura as Dhukon were Muslim. In addition, the existence of magic agents on the Island with its dominantly Muslim population was relatively clandestine since practicing/utilizing magic is among the biggest sins in Islamic teachings. Most of these magic agents had no other jobs, and made magic as their primary business commodity to meet their needs and their families. Therefore, their income for their lives relied on their community service activities as supernatural agents. They were likely to perform as Muslim (always wearing Arabic outfits) in daily life and employed some attributes taken from the Qur’an/Hadiths as their ‘tools’; thus, their income was blessed, rather than sinful, income. On average, their income from being Muslim magic agents was mostly higher than that of RMW (Regional Minimum Wage). The researcher argues that being a Muslim magic agent in Madura is a profitable professional job, among other jobs with geographical limitations.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.