The 4th semester students of French Language and Literature study program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada held a photo exhibition entitled “Problème du Jour: Bonjour” from May 3-17, 2024 at Luweng Soegondo, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. This exhibition is part of the project of the Introduction to French Literary Theories class with lecturers Prof. Wening Udasmoro, M.Hum, DEA, Dr. Arifah Arum Candra Hayuningsih, M.A, and guest lecturer Prof. Elizabeth Drexler from Michigan State University.

The exhibition was designed in the form of project-based and case-based to apply the theories learned in class in a real context. Through the photographs on display, the students raised various social issues and inequalities that exist in Indonesian society. The exhibition is divided into several small themes covering poverty and inequality, the paradox of life in Indonesia, as well as social and educational issues. The themes raised in this exhibition are in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) point 4 on quality education and SDGs point 10 on reducing inequality. Through their work, students are trying to express the importance of awareness and action in addressing these issues.

Universitas Gadjah Mada won the overall champion in the Sarasehan Nusantara XI Imbasadi event. Sarasehan Nusantara XI was held at the State Hindu College Mpu Kuturan Singaraja (STAH N Mpu Kuturan Singaraja) on May 17-19, 2024 offline.  The three-day event raised the theme “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika: Harmony in Diversity” and included various events, such as various competitions, lontar seminars, and the culmination of the event in the form of the awarding night and the election of Putra and Putri Imbasadi 2024.

The competitions held during Sarasehan Nusantara XI were quite diverse. There were six (6) competitions, including the National Scientific Writing Competition (LKTIN), the election of Putra and Putri Imbasadi 2024, national typography competition, poetry musicalization competition, cultural poster competition, and cultural documentary video.

The Universitas Gadjah Mada contingent represented by the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) sent eight (8) students to participate in the entire series of events. The eight students included Bima Muslih Wicaksono (class of 2022) as the head of the delegation, Haryo Untoro (class of 2022), Muhammad Siswoyo (class of 2022), Kintan Dewinta Putri (class of 2022), Ganes Larasati (class of 2023), Meifiri Arini Pitaloka (class of 2023), Muhamad Rafi Nur Fauzy (batch 2023), and Rafif Wicaksono (class of 2023).

After participating in a series of events, the delegation of Universitas Gadjah Mada brought good news by getting several nominations for champions in several competitions, namely:

• 1st place in the Cultural Poster Competition – Meifira Arini Pitaloka

The Cultural Poster Competition illustrates the diverse backgrounds of Indonesian society, namely ethnicity, religion, and race, which live in harmony.

• 1st Runner-up Putri Imbasadi 2024 – Ganes Larasati

The selection of Putra and Putri Imbasadi went through a rigorous selection, starting from filing, talent interest test, public speaking, to the grand final stage. After going through a long series of processes, Ganes Larasati paired with Reidha Prastya from Universitas Sebelas Maret Regional Literature Study Program was given the mandate as the 2nd Runner-up 1.

• 2nd place in the National Scientific Writing Competition – Haryo Untoro and Muhammad Siswoyo

The National Scientific Writing Contest that was written contained the title Representation of Jagat Harmony in Syair Drojogan Wayang Kulit Jawa Timuran Subgagrag Surabaya. This research raised the material object in the form of Drojogan poem, a suluk or sulukan that is developed by a puppeteer before the Surabaya subgagrade Timuran Javanese shadow puppet begins. The disclosure of the language style in the Drojogan poem which contains a description of the means, media, and actors of the shadow puppet performance and its preservation is the focus of this Scientific Paper.

• 3rd place in National Typography Competition – Muhamad Rafi Nur Fauzy

National Typography Competition in the form of a painting of Joglo, a Javanese traditional house, which is decorated with beautiful and precise Javanese script writing. 

• General Champion of Sarasehan Nusantara XI – Universitas Gadjah Mada

In addition to the four competitions above, Universitas Gadjah Mada was crowned the overall champion in the Sarasehan Nusantara XI Imbasadi event.

These achievements are inseparable from the spirit of the students of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, in promoting, appreciating, preserving, and enlivening the various cultures that live in Indonesia in a bond of harmony. With the implementation of Sarasehan Nusantara XI and the title obtained, it is hoped that it can spark the enthusiasm of students to continue to maintain and promote existing cultural heritage and can strengthen relations between students of regional literature study programs throughout Indonesia.

Our gratitude goes to all parties who participated in supporting and organizing this event. We also ask for support and blessings so that the Temu Budaya Nusantara XXX activities held at Universitas Gadjah Mada can run successfully.

Indonesia is diverse, Imbasadi unites

Author: Haryo Untoro

n commemoration of the 74th Anniversary of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), UGM held various events and activities. One of the events was a wayang kulit performance titled “Banjaran Dwijawara”. The performance was a cross-style collaboration, combining the Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Banyumasan, and East Javanese styles in one wayang performance. The event was held on Saturday (16/12/2023) at Grha Sabha Pramana.

The story “Banjaran Dwijawara” is a compilation of the biographies of Rama Bargawa, Resi Dorna, and Arjuna. These three characters are faced with various complex problems. Rama Bargawa faces the oligarchs who act arbitrarily, Resi Dorna faces the issue of inclusivity, while Arjuna is in an era of gender equality.

In the implementation, students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program participated in enlivening and making the wayang performance a success. Their participation was manifested in their roles as the crew, the performers as musicians and singers who are members of the Keluarga Kesenian Mahasiswa Universitas Gadjah Mada, and Muhammad Siswoyo, a 2022 student, who became the dalang (puppeteer) of the East Javanese wayang kulit performance.

The story “Banjaran Dwijawara” is not only a form of entertainment, but also a means of learning through moral messages about how to behave and make decisions when facing a problem. In addition, this wayang kulit performance also serves as a medium to introduce and preserve wayang kulit art and its various styles, which are a form of cultural wealth in Indonesia. The introduction and preservation of Indonesian culture through this wayang performance is in line with point four of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely Quality Education.

Nine students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) have successfully implemented a teaching program for students at SMA Negeri 1 Seyegan. This teaching program is a collaboration with the principal of SMA Negeri 1 Seyegan, as a joint effort to preserve Javanese culture, particularly the use of Javanese script. The program was held from December 12 to 21, 2023, and concluded with a competition on December 22, 2023.

Nine students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program participated in this program. They are Sindi Virninda, Nanda Nursa Alya, Rafael Raga B.P., Faradila Putri M., Ahmad Nur Astha, Enjang Prasetyo W., Fazi Arifian Pradara, Novita Nurhasanah, and Inayah Milati. The teaching was conducted using creative methods, with the hope that students could understand Javanese script comprehensively.

Nanda Nursa Alya, one of the teaching participants, expressed her joy in an interview, “It was very exciting because we were able to interact with the students.” Nanda explained that this program not only benefits students but also develops their skills of students, “This program trains us as students to be able to become teachers as well as friends for the students. In addition, this program also demands the creativity of students in creating good and enjoyable learning methods and media for students.”

With the implementation of this teaching program, Nanda hopes that the activity can be carried out every year. “I hope this program will always be there every year,” she said. This teaching program is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, especially the fourth point, Quality Education, which aims to improve the quality of education.