Yogyakarta, 23/5/2025 – On May 11, 2025, the HIKARI dance group performed as one of the featured acts at Okaeri Reborn 2025, a cultural festival organized by UGM’s Vocational School. For this performance, they presented Yosakoi Odori, a vibrant festival dance originating from Kochi Prefecture, Japan. Known for its energetic movements and fast-paced rhythm, Yosakoi captures the spirit of togetherness and the joyful celebration of life deeply rooted in Japanese culture.

HIKARI’s performance was set to the song “Shunki Mushin Mirai e”, a well-known number in the world of Yosakoi performances. The song conveys themes of spring, sincerity, and a hopeful outlook toward the future. The dance was brought to life by four students from the 2023 cohort: Rani, Ibel, Amel, and Febby, whose spirited and harmonious choreography left a lasting impression. Their use of umbrella props not only enhanced the visual appeal but also added a theatrical layer that deepened the emotional resonance of the dance.

Through this performance, HIKARI didn’t just introduce Japanese culture on a surface level—they embodied it within a local context, offering a holistic form of cross-cultural learning. Dance became a medium through which students experienced core Japanese values firsthand: teamwork, consistency, and self-expression—all internalized through intensive rehearsals and live performance.

By creating opportunities like this, the program aims to nurture students who don’t just learn about Japanese culture from textbooks, but who also actively engage with it in meaningful ways. Events such as these reflect the importance of fostering a participatory, creative, and supportive learning environment—one that cultivates not only intellectual growth but also emotional and personal development.

[Public Relations of Japanese Literatrue, Barra Taura Nursaid]

Yogyakarta, 23/5/2025 – Korean Major Talk Show, also known as KOMETS, is an annual event organized by the Korean Language Student Association (Himahara) with the aim of introducing the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada. The event features inspiring speakers from the program and is open to the general public. This year’s KOMETS was held online via Zoom on March 9, 2025, starting at 09:00 AM (WIB).

For 2025, KOMETS adopted the theme “Korean High School” with the tagline “A Journey To The Glory”, inspired by the popular South Korean drama Study Group. The theme reflects the perseverance and spirit of students in navigating a challenging journey toward discovering and preparing themselves for admission into the Korean Language and Culture Study Program. The event aspires to provide prospective students with in-depth insights into the academic environment and opportunities offered by the program at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The event commenced with welcoming remarks from the Chair of Himahara, Khalisha Zukhrufa Hayya Risatmoko, the Head of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Dr. Achmad Rio Dessiar, B.A, M.A, and the Chief Organizer of KOMETS 2025, Uut Sriutami. The opening was followed by a presentation by Sherina Azmi Ahmad, an administrative staff member of the study program.

The session continued with presentations from two speakers who have participated in exchange programs in South Korea: Nyimas Aliyah Prajnia Paramitha, recipient of the 2024 Hyundai CMK Global Scholarship, and Raden Ajeng Dian Sari, recipient of the 2024 Global Korea Scholarship. In the middle of the session, a fun interactive quiz on South Korea was held to engage the participants.

The final speaker was the event’s special guest star, Kim Suengwon, a student from Busan University of Foreign Studies and a 2024 awardee of the AIMS Program Exchange, who is currently studying at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

KOMETS 2025 was attended by approximately 55 enthusiastic participants and received overwhelmingly positive feedback. The event successfully introduced the Korean Language and Culture Study Program to a broader audience. “Don’t be afraid to try, and keep striving until you succeed.” — KOMETS 2025 Speaker.

[Public Relation of Korean Language and Culture, Justin Liepangi]

Yogyakarta, 21 May 2025 — The American Studies Students and Alumni Association (ASSAA), in collaboration with the American Studies Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held a public lecture titled “Representations of American Families in the Media” on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Jakarta time).

The event featured Dr. Suzie Handajani, M.A., a lecturer at the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, as the keynote speaker. In her lecture, Dr. Suzie explored how American families are portrayed across various media forms—from television and film to advertisements. She explained that these representations not only reflect the cultural values prevalent in American society but can also reinforce or challenge them. Using various examples, Dr. Suzie illustrated how media plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions of what constitutes a “family” and what an ideal family life looks like in the American context.

With her academic background in cultural anthropology and media studies, Dr. Suzie encouraged participants to critically examine the stereotypes, dominant narratives, and social dynamics that emerge from the representation of families in American media. The topic is highly relevant not only to students of American Studies and Cultural Studies, but also to anyone interested in media studies, communication, and family dynamics in a global context. Through an interdisciplinary approach, participants were invited to see media not merely as entertainment, but as a site of meaning-making that influences how we understand the world around us.

In her presentation, Dr. Suzie highlighted the significant transformation in the representation of American families as media transitioned from traditional television to digital platforms. One example she discussed was The Cosby Show, a popular 1980s sitcom that portrayed the life of an upper-middle-class African-American family. This show was seen as an effort to construct an ideal image of Black families in the public eye—an important step in reshaping perceptions of African-American communities through mainstream media.

However, according to Dr. Suzie, media representations of families are not static. With the rise of digital media and streaming platforms, narratives about American families have become more diverse, inclusive, and complex. Digital media has created space for previously underrepresented voices and perspectives to emerge—ranging from families of various racial, class, and sexual orientation backgrounds to non-traditional family dynamics that are now more widely represented in popular culture.

The lecture was conducted in an interactive and enthusiastic atmosphere. Students were not just passive listeners; they actively engaged in discussions, shared insights, and compared their own cultural experiences with media and family concepts. These discussions provided a collective space for reflection on how the media content we consume daily subtly shapes our views and expectations about family life.

Additionally, in her presentation, Dr. Suzie touched on the history of American television shows aired in Indonesia since the 1990s, before local soap operas began to dominate the screen. Series such as Married with Children, Young Sheldon, and The Simpsons were highlighted as examples of how media constructs various family archetypes—from the absurd and humorous to the intellectual and unconventional. These shows not only entertained but also carried American values and worldviews that, consciously or not, influenced Indonesian audiences.

This lecture is part of the Media and Popular Culture Studies course, which aims to encourage students to think critically about social representations in the media. Through its interdisciplinary framework, the course invites students not only to be media consumers, but also conscious and reflective readers of the cultural messages embedded in various forms of popular media.

[Post Graduate in American Studies, Gilang Hadian]

Yogyakarta, 22 May 2025 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held an insightful event titled “Young Lecturers’ Dialogue.” The event took place in Soegondo Building, Room 709, and aimed to foster collaboration among early-career lecturers while addressing the opportunities and challenges they face in their academic careers. The Dean of FIB officially opened the event, highlighting the importance of education in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

The event showcased the diverse profiles of FIB lecturers, noting their academic backgrounds and varied research interests. This diversity is vital to creating a dynamic academic environment that encourages innovation and collaboration. One of the key topics discussed during the event was the professional development of early-career lecturers. Monitoring the progress of advanced study programmes for lecturers was also a central point of discussion. The need for a supportive environment that promotes continuous learning and professional growth was emphasised, as it aligns with the SDG goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and fostering partnerships to achieve shared objectives.

The discussion also introduced the “Accelerated Doctorate and Professorship Programme,” designed to support the academic advancement of young lecturers. This initiative seeks to provide resources and assistance to those pursuing higher degrees, ensuring they can contribute more effectively to the academic community. The programme addresses the urgent need for qualified educators across disciplines, thereby enhancing the overall quality of education at FIB UGM.

However, the journey toward a successful academic career is not without its challenges. Participants discussed various obstacles, including limited research funding, publication pressure, and the need for work-life balance. These challenges can hinder the progress of young academics and affect their motivation and job satisfaction. To address these issues, the dialogue focused on strategies and institutional-level solutions. As the event progressed, participants engaged in lively discussions and a Q&A session. These interactive segments allowed young lecturers to voice their concerns and seek advice from peers and senior faculty members. The exchange of ideas and experiences fostered a sense of community and solidarity among participants.

In conclusion, “Young Lecturers’ Dialogue” at FIB UGM served as a platform to address the opportunities and challenges faced by early-career educators. By encouraging collaboration and open communication, the event aimed to empower young lecturers to navigate their academic paths successfully. The insights gained from this dialogue will undoubtedly contribute to ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of education at Universitas Gadjah Mada and support the broader objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Bulan Churniati]