The Poetics of Place and Postcolonial Critiques in Ibrahim’s <i>Lemah Tanjung</i>

This study examines the impact of development and anthropocentrism on postcolonial landscapes in Indonesia, using Ratna Indraswari Ibrahim’s Lemah Tanjung as a case study. The novel explores the consequences of modernization, environmental degradation, and the loss of green spaces, highlighting the emotional and cultural disconnection from place. Set in Malang City, the narrative depicts the struggle to preserve a vital green space amid capitalist-driven urban development. Employing postcolonial ecocriticism, the study critiques the Western development paradigm that prioritizes economic growth over ecological sustainability and social justice. The study explores themes of land ownership, resistance, and the generational divide in the perception of place. The findings underscore the novel’s critique of anthropocentric attitudes and its advocacy for a more just and sustainable relationship with the land. The study concludes by examining how Lemah Tanjung presents the dialectic between development and environmental conservation, offering contrasting perspectives on the exploitation and preservation of nature.