CHAPTER 4 STRATEGY AND APPROACH

Based on the survey result, the writer will make Ramayana as a picture book for children as the solution of this problem. Picture book is chosen as the media regarding to the childrens interest and parents consideration about the book. Although children ever heard about Ramayana, some are not familiar with the story contained. Moreover, Ramayana books available in the bookstores are intended for adult readers, as the story in the books are long and complicated. Thus, it is a good opportunity to re-introduce Ramayana to children through a picture book.

4.1 Communication Strategy The writer will use three communication strategies, which are rational, emotional, and moral approach. ? Rational Approach By rational approach, the writer would define the functions of Ramayana picture book. Picture books of local folklores are rarely found in the bookstores, however, Ramayana picture book is not only included into these rare picture books, but also offers many advantages for children. Culture, moral, knowledge, and many more can be learned in this book.

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? Emotional Approach The writer expects the readers to feel various emotions which depend on each events occurred in the book. ? Moral Approach This approach invites the readers to learn moral messages delivered through the picture book. Courage, love, loyalty, and many other morals can be found in Ramayana story.

4.2 Creative Strategy As the Ramayana story is a long story and complicated, the writer will start the story briefly from the contest to find Shintas husband on Mantili until the death of Rahwana and the reunion between Rama and Shinta. By choosing these parts of the story, the writer intends to emphasize the storyline of Rama and his friends to save the abducted Shinta. The story events are chosen carefully as well. The writer will choose the main story and excludes the detailed and complicated parts so that the children can understand the storyline of Ramayana well. The survey result also shows that most parents provide electronic media as their childrens entertainment. Moreover, children who prefer to read the story through electronic media is almost as equal as those with the real picture books. As the result, the writer will make the picture book available for both media, in a form of hard copy and digital format to make Ramayana picture book can be accessed wider.

For the hard copy version of the picture book, the writer will make the story available in Indonesian language. Meanwhile, in digital format, the picture book will be available in Indonesian as well as English language as an additional. The font used for the picture book will be a sans serif font which is easily readable and not too wide or too narrow as well, to avoid dizziness. The text placement will be determined through thumbnails made for each scene. 4.2.1 Objectives 1. To re-introduce the ancient epic to children and to preserve one of Indonesian culture as well 2. To educate children moral messages delivered by the story 4.2.1 Message 1. Indonesia still has its own culture and the new generation shall getting to know better about their own country and culture 2. Indonesia has an interesting and educative story suitable for children 4.2.2 Positioning An interesting and educative picture book for children which is also preserving and featuring a national culture.

4.3 Visual Strategy The technique used for the illustration will be based on colored pencils texture, based on the survey result. The illustration will be colorful as the children are interested

with colors. The cartoon drawing style used will be based on the highest vote on the survey. 4.3.1 Keyword Culture, education, colorful, and entertaining. ? Culture The Ramayana story is one of Indonesian culture, thus, the story itself is a part of Indonesian culture. ? Education The writer points out that the story is educative. Through events contained in the story, children can learn about moral messages. ? Colorful Children are interested in colors, thus the illustrations made for the solution will be colorful. ? Entertaining Picture book is one of media entertainment, besides as a media of educating. As a media of entertainment, the picture book is expected to be entertaining. 4.3.2 Visual The illustrations made are based on the main events that the writer picked which are available for children. The events illustrated will contain color moods suitable for the atmosphere of the scene. For the cartoon art style, the writer will use a style with the highest vote, which is the c option. From this point, the writer will develop the style.

Each character will be designed by combining the elements of the original story and the modern era. In this case, the writer will add accessories which are usually worn by Ramayana characters to show its originality, combined clothing style of modern era to make it more acceptable.

4.4 Media Strategy The writer will made picture book as the main solution, and the supporting items to help the solutions promotion. 4.4.1 Picture Book (Printed) The picture book in hard copy version will be made as the book is the main solution of the problem. The size printed is estimated in 29 x 25 cm so that the size is neither too tall nor wider. 4.4.2 Picture Book (Digital Format) and CD Case The picture book in digital format is a picture book which can be read through a digital media. The size will be the same with the printed book. The digital format of the picture book will be available in CD. 4.4.3 Playing Cards The size of the playing cards is estimated to be 7 x 11 cm. The playing cards are made by art carton. The number cards are not illustrated, however, the Jack, Queen, King, and Ace cards are illustrated based on Ramayana characters.

4.4.4 Sample Pages The sample pages are made to give some previews of some pages of the book. The sample pages will be printed in its original size. 4.4.5 Website Printout The webpage for the solution will be made in one webpage, consists of a brief introduction, story synopsis, and some page previews. A little information about the author is also included. 4.4.6 Work Progress and Workbook Compilation The overall progress in making the solution, from the character designs, environment, illustrations of each scene, et cetera will be compiled in one workbook. Character design, environment, and step by step of how the illustration is made will be printed out in A3 or A2 sized paper.