REPRESENTATION OF THE HEROS JOURNEY IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF SURABAYAS FOLKLORES

This article reports a study on folklore reconstruction as one aspect of cultural studies. This study aims at examining stages of the heros journey in three reconstructed Surabayan folklores based on Christopher Voglers theory of heros journey that describes stages a heroic character in folklores would have to undergo. Inherent in Voglers theory is a monomyth cycle approach that divides the heros journey into three major stages, which are further specified into twelve specific stages. This descriptive qualitative study identifies, describes, and evaluates Voglers twelve stages of the heros journey in six (6) Surabayan folklores-Kisah Sunan Ampel, Legenda Joko Jumput, Legenda Joko Dolog, Legenda Buaya Kapasan, Legenda Sawunggaling, andAsal Usul Kota Surabaya - which have been reconstructed into three folklores. The result of the study shows the pertaining elements of the ancient animism-dynamism belief system in the characters magical beliefs of ancestral spirits, nature, animals, gods, and the like. This study also found a transition from the old animism-dynamism belief to the monotheistic belief which could be part of later socio-historical development of religious teachings in the communities where the folklores are preserved.