Yogyakarta, 10/3/2025 – The Department of Anthropology is once again offering a special opportunity for its students by hosting joint classes with Professor Emeritus Sabine Troeger from the University of Bonn. This time, Professor Sabine is introducing two new courses:

• “Healthy Environment in the Era of Anthropocene: Human-Nature Relation, When Humans Have Become the Dominant Force Shaping Earth’s Bio-Physical Composition and Processes”
• “The Good Tourist—Images and Interpretation on the Side of the Visited Agents, Communities, and Individuals in Jogja Environments.”

Just like previous courses, these will follow a block system, with alternating schedules between the two classes. Running from February to April, the classes are open to both undergraduate and graduate students of Anthropology. More than just theoretical discussions, the program also includes a four-day fieldwork experience, where students will apply the PRA (Participatory, Reflection, and Action) method in real-world settings.

In the first half of the course, students will dive into PRA methodology and explore Bourdieu’s theory of habitus, which serves as a key foundation in community empowerment practices. The sessions are designed to be interactive, with Professor Sabine constantly encouraging students to actively engage in discussions and share their perspectives.

As the course progresses into the second half, things get even more dynamic. Learning moves beyond the classroom, and students head out into the field. Over four full days, they will interact directly with local communities, observe social dynamics firsthand, and put the PRA method into practice in real-life situations. This hands-on experience not only deepens their understanding but also offers valuable reflection on how theory and practice can come together to create sustainable empowerment initiatives.

This class is more than just an academic space—it is a platform for broadening perspectives and critical reflection. By combining theory, practice, and a human-centered approach, this course provides an invaluable learning experience for every participant.

[Public Relations of Cultural Anthropology, Daiva Keefe Kalimasadha]

The cooperation between the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts, UGM and the Department of Anthropology, FISIP, Universitas Padjadjaran resulted in several collaborative works, one of which is a visiting lecture at the campus. On May 14, 2024, Prof. Dr. Bambang Hudayana, M.A. was asked to teach at Padjadjaran University in the S1 Community Development and S2 Applied Anthropology classes. The lecture was held openly with the theme of the event “Rural and Agrarian Issues and Problems” moderated by Prof. Dr. H. Opan Suhendi Suwartaoradja, M.Si.

On that occasion, Prof. Dr. Bambang Hudayana, M.A. gave a lecture with the material “Participatory Action Research as the Power of Empowerment Anthropology”. He began with the history of the development of anthropology in Indonesia which was present starting as the leading anthropology of development (modernization agenda) where anthropologists were asked to succeed various programs with the role of mapping the potential and socio-cultural barriers to find solutions to these various problems. The development programs that involve the role of anthropologists include transmigration, green revolution, family planning, resettlement of alienated tribes, rural community development and so on. However, development anthropology has been criticized, giving rise to empowerment anthropology where participatory action research is used as a method of community empowerment or often called participatory action research (PAR). The advantages of using PAR are seeing problems that are more micro, detailed, emic descriptive, reflective, critical and more impartial. In addition, it can be used as material for the preparation of local scale development programs, advocacy, and education for the community.

Related to this, Prof. Bambang Hudayana shared the experience of research and community service in BUMDES Karangrejek, Gunung Kidul, which previously always experienced drought during the dry season. Then in 1998 the youth of the region initiated the construction of underground river water wells with the collaboration of UGM KKN students. The construction of the well was successful, even surplus water and sold outside the village to build several business units (village mart) and savings and loans from the profits managed by BUMDES.

In addition to this story, best practice was also shared on the Empowerment of Giriloyo batik artisans in Imogiri who were victims of the 2006 tectonic disaster. The PAR identified victim profiles, needs, funding schemes and forms of participation of affected communities. Prof. Dr. Bambang Hudayana, M.A. also shared PAR promoting cassava for food sovereignty in Indonesia which uses a local asset based approach; access based approach; people centered development. Not only that, Prof. Dr. Bambang Hudayana, M.A. also shared the tradition of PRA in other countries. In the lecture, students seemed enthusiastic by asking various questions.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Science, Author: Dewi W, Editor: Sandya Kirani]

On September 7 and 8, 2024, the Department of Anthropology UGM celebrated its 60th Anniversary. In its implementation, the Department of Anthropology collaborated with the Indonesian Anthropology Association (AAI) Yogyakarta region. Various activities ranging from ancestral pilgrimage, napak tilas to cooking parties are a series of the anniversary event.

To conclude the event, a wayang orang performance will be held in the hallway of the Margono building. This performance is named Wayang Orang Gagrag Anthropology with the title “Gatotkaca Wedding”. The script of this wayang performance was written by Agung Maulana Ibrahim and directed by Tunggal Wibowo who is an anthropology student class of 2022. This wayang orang performance is an attempt to revive a tradition that has been dead since 2016. In the past, the Anthropology Wayang performance was generally routinely carried out every two years and was last staged in 2016.

The puppet cast this year not only involves students but also involves several alumni, active lecturers and lecturers who have retired. The selection of players aims to show that the relationship between students and lecturers of the Department of Anthropology is not rigid. The rehearsal and preparation of the cast began on September 15, guided by the director and scriptwriter. The rehearsal starts from reading the script, deepening the character to blocking exercises so that the cast can explore the character being played.

On September 7, the cast held a dress rehearsal to finalize their roles. Unlike usual rehearsals, now the players must really memorize the script and explore the characters they play. The director and scriptwriter emphasized not to make mistakes and just follow the flow of the dialog when they enter the stage.

A few hours before the performance, the cast began to be dressed up by makeup artists who were also anthropology students. Starting from the makeup to the costumes, they worked deftly and in accordance with the puppetry rules. Once ready, the cast began to gather behind the stage to prepare supporting equipment such as mics and props. Although it was raining heavily and the performance was postponed for some time, the enthusiasm of the audience remained high.
In the story, Lesmana tries to get the heart of his idol Pregiwa who has been matched with Gatotkaca. With the help of his uncle Sengkuni’s incitement, Lesmana managed to persuade his father (Duryudana) to marry him to Pregiwa. Gatotkaca who did not agree with this finally chose to leave his house and wandered in a sad state and did not agree with his father’s decision. Lesmana’s wish caused a dispute between the Kurawa family and the Pandawa family. Fights between families were inevitable. In the end, Pregiwa still chose to marry Gatotkaca, the love of her life.

The performance, which does not carry the classical style of Yogyakarta or Surakarta, is packaged in a unique way that emphasizes comedy with a little sarcasm satirizing some of the hot topics at that time. The performers are required to improvise to create funny dialogue but still understandable to the audience. Laughter was inevitable when the cast made funny movements or when one of the actors told a joke.

The performance ended with the introduction of the cast. The parties involved hope that the Anthropology Puppet show can provide entertainment for the audience and hope that it will be continued in the following years. Thus ended the series of the 60th Anniversary of the Department of Anthropology.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Science, Author: Nandito Jodi Syaifulloh, Translator: Sandya Kirani, Editor: Sandya Kirani]

The 2024 Independent Campus Competition Program (PKKM) carried out by the UGM Anthropology Department has reached its peak with the presentation of research results and village development. The event, which took place at the Margono Building FIB on December 03, 2024, was a place for participants to present the results of their field work and community service. In this PKKM program, students of the Cultural Anthropology undergraduate program collaborated to conduct research and empowerment activities in Pandansari village, Paguyangan District, Brebes. They chose various research themes that are relevant to the problems faced by the village community, such as agriculture, irrigation, education, tourism, and waste management.

Irrigation is a crucial factor in agricultural activities, especially related to the management and access to water sources, as well as the use of fertilizers, adaptation strategies to climate change, and criticism of farmer card policies studied through an anthropological perspective. The broader problems of agrarian society do not only revolve around the process of planting to harvesting, other research also discusses the agricultural commodity trading system. In the tourism cluster, students conducted research on the governance and sustainability concept carried by Pandansari as a tourist village. This theme also correlates with social navigation among the younger generation in Pandansari Village towards social dynamics, changing values, and community expectations.

Finally, participants from the Bina Desa program presented a reflection of the activities they carried out during the month. Starting with discussing community awareness of the importance of waste management then evaluating the application of the Titen application for data collection.

This PKKM 2024 program accommodates students to experience conducting field research by learning directly in the community, students assess that field research activities have a huge impact on the development of their knowledge and application of methodologies. In addition, social sensitivity and cultural experience are also important things to reflect on. Through this activity, the Department of Anthropology UGM is committed to realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 4, namely quality education and number 11, namely sustainable cities and settlements.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Science UGM, Author: Novilatul Ananda Ramadhani, Photo: Bonifacius Edo Wisnu Waskita, Translator: Sandya Kirani, Editor: Sandya Kirani]

Thursday, August 1, 2024, the Department of Anthropology, Universitas Gadjah Mada welcomed the arrival of new students of the Bachelor of Cultural Anthropology Study Program in the 2024 Kampung Budaya, Students Orientation Program. Keprodian, which is a series of Kampung Budaya 2024 Pioneer events, is a medium for new students to get to know anthropology study programs in general. This activity discusses ranging from the KRS system, ethics in contacting anthropology lecturers to the habit of calling Mas / Ma’am to anthropology lecturers. At this year’s Keprodian event, Mrs. Atik as the Head of the Study Program conveyed some advice to new anthropology students, one of which was ethics in contacting lecturers. For example, when contacting lecturers, it should be done during working hours. With smiling faces, the new students listened carefully to the information given.

The department was not very busy that morning, many lecturers including Mas Pujo as the Head of the Department of Anthropology UGM were traveling abroad. Even so, lecturers and staff who could not or who were present were still introduced followed by exposure to programs such as tandem research, field research teams, and so on. The administrators of Kemant (Anthropology Student Family)-an association of anthropology students at UGM-also introduced themselves and explained their work programs.

Author: Daiva Keefe Kalimasadha
Photo : Puspita Nindya Sari