On Monday, August 5, 2024, the Master of Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has successfully held an online socialization of new student admissions. This activity was attended by all new students of odd semester 2024/2025 after they completed the registration stage. This socialization aims to introduce the lecture process and various important information related to the study program.

The event, which started at 10.00 WIB, went smoothly and was attended by many participants. Through the Whatsapp Group platform, new students were given the opportunity to interact directly with the study program, namely Dr. Aprinus Salam, M.Hum. as the head of the master of literature study program, and get a detailed explanation of the procedures for lectures and other academic activities. We hope that this activity provides optimal benefits and readiness for new students in starting their academic journey.

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Starting from a Familiarity Night activity for postgraduate students in literature class 23, even period, on Sunday 3rd of March 2024 in Kalimasada, there was another event that they had without planning. Their agenda that morning was having breakfast. Coincidentally, there was a place to order food near the villa where they were staying. When they got there, who would have thought that this place was the house of Mr. Sardi or who is familiarly called Sardi Beib. So after eating at his house, they were shown works of art that Mr. Sardi had made from used goods. They saw various kinds of works, from statues, masks, night lamps, to the famous crystal wayang.

Pak Sardi also said that all of his work is processed from used items that are no longer used. In other words, he turns rubbish into something beautiful and valuable. This is so because he had marketed his work abroad at fantastic prices. He also often organizes cultural arts activities which are then covered by local, national and foreign media. According to Sabrian, one of the students who had the opportunity to visit at that time, the visit was very inspiring, because in addition to introducing wayang, Mr Sardi also shared his experiences while working in the world of arts and culture. This further motivated him to continue learning about arts and culture, as a literature student.

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After attending their first lecture for about 3 weeks, it would be incomplete if they did not get to know each other better. Therefore, the Master of Literature new students at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences held a familiarity night to strengthen the bond between the master of literature students. The activity was held at Villa Kalimasada in Kaliurang for two days starting from 2nd to 3rd of March 2024. Their spirits were not dampened despite the heavy rain on the day of their departure. Gathering at the Faculty, they left together for the villa at 4pm and returned home at 10am the next day. 

With this activity, it is hoped that the Master of Literature new students of 2024 even period can familiarize themselves with each other so that all forms of lecture activities in the future can run well. In order to achieve this goal, various event agendas were compiled that were able to strengthen their closeness, starting with personal introductions to get to know more, eating together, and playing games that they prepared themselves to make the atmosphere of the activity more fun and not boring.

The elected Chair of the KAGAMA FIB-Ikasasdaya Alumni for 2022-2027, Paksi Raras Alit, is a graduated student of Javanese Literature at his Bachelor’s level and Master of Literature at his Master’s level at from Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University. This man, who was born on June 16th 1985 in Jogja, apparently has had the blood of an artist since birth. How could it not be, he was born into a family and environment of artists. His mother, Noor W.A (rest in peace), was a Jogja theater figure who founded the Jeprik Theater and initiated the sampakan theater genre in the 1980s. Since he was a toddler, Paksi has even been involved in staging several Jeprik theater plays, such as “Megatruh (Sendrek)”. During his school era, his artistic skills were further honed by regularly representing his school in several art competitions and winning several trophies and awards. He continued his enthusiasm for art at school after entering college. 

During college, Paksi increasingly demonstrated his existence in the world he was interested in. He was a part of several music arts communities and several bands such as Revolver, Community of Terang Bulan Acoustic Malioboro, Bonanza, and Jasmine Akustik which released an album in 2011. It wasn’t enough just to join, Paksi then created the Mantradisi Arts Group which explored music and Macapat, and released works in the album compilation of Tembi Music Festival in 2016. Paksi then acted as a scriptwriter, director and musician in Mantradisi’s works. Apart from Mantradisi, Paksi also founded a group called PAKSIBAND. This Javanese keroncong group has successfully released several singles such as “Keroncong Suka-suka” (2021), “Gembira Loka” (2022), and “Keroncong Lebaran” (2022).

Beside being busy in the world of music, Paksi is also involved in the world of acting. He was involved as an actor in the performance “Dongeng Cinta-Ceuk Aing” (2020) by Sujiwo Tejo, and played as the main actor in the musical film “Ayun-ayun Negeri” (2021) by Garin Nugroho. In the world of literature and culture, Paksi is active in the movement to preserve Javanese language and script. This is proven by him establishing the Jawacana community which is involved in Javanese literature. This community consists of UGM Javanese Literature alumni as well as Javanese literature and culture activists in Yogyakarta. Paksi Raras Alit also has activities in organizing arts and culture festivals in Yogyakarta. Amazingly, Paksi was appointed as a member of the Yogyakarta City Cultural Council in 2021.