Islamic romance novels in the Indonesian digital sphere: Between religious ornamentation and genre standardization
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study analyzes narrative formulas and serialization strategies in religious romance novels published on digital literary platforms. Using a descriptive qualitative approach based on narrative analysis, this study examined six popular novels from three platforms: Fizzo, KBM App, and Wattpad. The study results show that all novels meet the eight narrative elements of romance, with the predominance of conflict on barrier elements and crisis points rooted in the tension between love and religious norms. Popular tropes such as arranged marriage, forced love, and redemption arcs are symbolically Islamized. However, they do not change the basic structure of the narrative, which still follows the conventional romance pattern. Hook and cliffhanger strategies are used intensively in each chapter to respond to the platform's algorithmic logic and maintain reader retention. The analysis also found that the Islamic content in these novels tended to serve as a symbolic sticker to reinforce cultural identity, rather than forming the ideological framework of the narrative. Combining Regis theory, popular tropes, and Escarpit's production–distribution–consumption approach, this study confirms that digital religious romance is a hybrid genre that moves in a negotiation space between popular aesthetics, religious values, and the platform economy.
Language: Indonesian
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $49
OpenAlex ID: W7167406256
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