Rianti Manullang is a PhD candidate at the Centre for the Arts in Society

More information about Rianti Manullang

I am a lecturer and researcher specializing in Dutch-Indies literature, with a focus on the representation of Indonesian culture, history, and voices in both Dutch and Indonesian literary traditions. Currently, I am pursuing a PhD at the Leiden University Centre for Arts in Society (LUCAS), where my research explores Indonesian traces and voices in Dutch-Indies literature across multiple genres, from 19th-century travel literature to 21st-century historical novels and popular culture. I have experience developing projects to promote the learning of the Dutch language and fostering cultural collaborations between Indonesia and the Netherlands. My areas of expertise include modern Dutch literature, post-colonial studies, comparative literature, and the intersection of language and culture in colonial and post-colonial contexts.

Research

This research compares Dutch and Indonesian sources to examine the representation of Indonesian culture, history, and voices in Dutch-Indies literature from the 19th to the 21st century. It looks at various genres, starting with 19th-century travel literature, where Dutch writers shaped views of Indonesia, followed by colonial-era novels that portray Indonesian experiences. The study also explores children’s literature from the 20th century, historical novels from the 21st century, and the representation of Indonesia in Dutch popular culture, including films and media. By comparing these works, the research highlights how Indonesian voices have been represented, integrated, and sometimes marginalized in Dutch literature, revealing the complexities of colonial and post-colonial exchanges.

Grants and awards

This PhD research is funded by the Indonesian scholarship program Beasiswa Pendidikan Indonesia Pelaku Budaya (Indonesian Education Scholarship for Cultural Practitioners).

Curriculum Vitae

Rianti Manullang first encountered Dutch literature in 2008 as a bachelor’s student at the Universitas Indonesia. Since late 2014, she has been affiliated as a non-permanent lecturer with the Dutch Studies Department at Universitas Indonesia in Depok. She later pursued a master’s degree in Modern Dutch Literature in Leiden and Cultural Studies at Universitas Indonesia.

As a lecturer, Rianti has been actively involved in various projects to enhance the learning of the Dutch language in Indonesia, foster cultural collaborations with Indonesian institutions in the field of Dutch language and culture, and conduct research alongside her colleagues in the Dutch Studies Department.