Abstract

This paper explores the concept of cultural ecological identity through an analysis of Shih-Li Kow’s The Sum of Our Follies (2014), focusing on how place and placeness shape both individual and collective identities. The novel situates the fictional town of Lubok Sayong as a microcosm of Malaysia, the place that reflects the interplay between unity and diversity, tradition and progress, and imagination and reality. By examining elements of placeness such as language, food, national symbols, and cultural narratives—including myths and supernatural beings—this paper demonstrates how Kow weaves ecological identity into the characters’ interactions with their environment. The analysis highlights that cultural ecological identity emerges from both physical and symbolic relationships with place, as individuals engage with their surroundings through memory, tradition, and storytelling. Myths such as Tasik Bini Empat and the Garden Boy ghost illustrate how cultural narratives become ecological expressions, binding people emotionally and psychologically to their environment. This paper argues that cultural ecological identity is not static but evolves through ongoing interaction between people, place, and cultural heritage, allowing communities to remain rooted while navigating the challenges of modernisation. Ultimately, The Sum of Our Follies offers a nuanced portrayal of Malaysian life, where identity is cultivated through both continuity and change, ensuring a sense of belonging within a fluid, multicultural landscape.