Stereotypes in culture are interesting to discuss because we can remember the existence of multiculturalism around us. Manstead and Hewstone (1996:628) in The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Psychology, define stereotypes as socially shared beliefs about characteristics (such as personality traits, expected behaviors, or personal values) that are considered true of social groups and their members. Stereotypes about some of the things that Manstead and Hewstone mention are contained in the film Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck. Stereotypes are a person's judgment based solely on the perception of the group in which that person can be categorized (Robbins, Stephen P., Timothy A, 2010). Stereotypes in this essay are between pure Minangkabau descent and mixed Minangkabau descent. Between the two have different gaps, especially the throne and the level of honor. People of pure Minangkabau descent are considered worthy to live and set foot on Minangkabau land, while Minangkabau mixed blood is considered not on their part.
Stereotype appears in the film Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck when Zainuddin, a man of Minangkabau and Bugis descent wanted to live in Minangkabau to study Islam more. He was moved by his heart to stay there because it was his father's birthplace. Residents there do not like the arrival of Zainuddin until he is considered a "anak pisang" (people who are not ethnic) unfit to study let alone live in Minangkabau land because he is not a native of Minangkabau descent. Zainuddin also fell in love with the most beautiful girl in the village, and from a family whose descendants were honorable people who adhered to Minangkabau customs. The girl named Hayati also loves Zainuddin, but Hayati's uncle who is the customary leader is angry because he thinks that Zainuddin, who is not a native of Minangkabau descent, dares to love his nephew. "Membuat malu saja! Mau menghina kami para ninik-mamak? Mana ada orang tak bersuku tak beradat bisa diterima jadi menantu? Bisa terbalik dunia".
These differences give rise to stereotypes that lead to conflict in this film. However, Zainuddin ventured to propose to Hayati and was rewarded with rejection and expulsion by Hayati's family. "Zainuddin, lepaskanlah Hayati. Berangkatlah dari negeri Batipuh yang kecil ini."
Furthermore, Zainuddin decided to live a new life. "mulai sekarang saya akan memperbaiki jalan pikiran saya dan tidak akan mengingat hayati lagi." He chose the city of Batavia as his destination. He began to write his story together with Hayati and what he experienced while in Minangkabau. He managed to sell his book to become a best seller and became a rich man.
Culture is often a measure of a person's quality. In the film Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck, Zainuddin is described as a minority who is discriminated against because of his origins. The majority ostracized Zainuddin by insulting the dignity and sincerity of his love for Hayati. Zainuddin's resistance as a minority to the Hayati family, which is the majority, is to become a best-selling book author in the city of Batavia. Until he is wealthy, his throne and dignity are now higher than Hayati's family.