SLEMAN — The Malam Inisiasi for new students of the Master’s in Literature Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), offered more than an introduction to academic life. It became a space where students came together, got to know one another, and expressed themselves through a diverse range of artistic performances.
Held under the theme “Antara Kata dan Kita: Sebuah Cerita yang Ditulis Bersama,” the event took place on August 28–29, 2026, at Pondok A. Salam, Kalimasada, Sleman, and brought together new students of the Master’s in Literature Program for the 2026/2027 Academic Year.
The evening opened with remarks from Head of the Master’s in Literature Program Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, S.S., M.Hum., followed by a session on UGM’s philosophy and institutional values delivered by Prof. Drs. M. Mukhtasar Syamsuddin, M.Hum., Ph.D. of Arts.
Students were also introduced to several academic initiatives within the program, including Academic Student Networking (ASN) and International Dissemination.
The artistic performances became one of the evening’s highlights. Rather than relying on elaborate staging or formal performance facilities, the students created an intimate and spontaneous setting where they could share their talents, ideas, and personal experiences.
Alya performed Nadin Amizah’s “Bertaut,” while Deni presented a musical interpretation of his own poetry. Chaca took the audience through a personal story in an English-language storytelling performance.
Adit, Nurdin, Riki, and Veto presented a theatrical piece addressing a range of social issues, including environmental and political concerns, accompanied by poetic verses. Fajri followed with a poetry reading, while Eloi brought the performances to a close with a dance.
The range of performances underscored the many ways literature and art can be expressed—not only through writing, but also through voice, music, movement, the body, and personal experience. For the students, the simple stage became a space to introduce themselves while sharing their perspectives and creativity.
Reflecting on the event, Aprinus Salam described the students’ performances through the idea of “radical art” and “zero-rupiah art.”
For Aprinus, radical art is art that is free from political and economic agendas. It is created simply as an act of artistic expression and as an affirmation of friendship and community.
One of its defining characteristics, he argues, is the absence of monetary exchange. The artists perform without payment, while the audience attends without paying. Art, in this sense, is not created for profit or accumulation, but for the sake of expression itself.
Art can also become a way of strengthening solidarity within a community. It allows people to express friendship, affection, and a sense of belonging, while at the same time revealing something of their individual character.
“The courage to free oneself from that is itself a form of radicalizing life,” Aprinus wrote.
He further noted that art is often confined to designated spaces governed by administrative requirements and formal structures. When this happens, art—which can originally function as a form of resistance—can instead become commercial entertainment and a commodity.
Against this tendency, Aprinus sees zero-rupiah radical art as a form of authentic resistance. Poetry, prose, and literature can emerge without being shaped by commercial interests, external agendas, or institutional co-optation. What remains is the experience of art itself: admiration, wonder, and emotional resonance.
That spirit, he said, was evident in the performances presented by the new Master’s in Literature students during the Malam Inisiasi on August 28.
Aprinus acknowledged that putting on a performance requires preparation and practice. Yet technical skills alone cannot produce everything that makes an artistic performance meaningful.
“What cannot be trained is the ability to bring forth spirit, personal character, and profound feeling,” he wrote.
His reflection captures what made the evening distinctive. In the midst of an event welcoming students into their new academic community, art became a space for students to reveal their personalities, share their experiences, express their ideas, and build solidarity.
Malam Inisiasi thus became more than a welcoming event. Through performances created and presented by the students themselves, the evening turned into a shared stage where words, voices, bodies, and ideas came together—becoming, in its own way, a story written together.
Author: Khotibul Umam
