An awareness of the inequalities in the production and dissemination of knowledge between the Global North and the Global South forms the basis for the development of the discourse on decoloniality within both academic and artistic spheres. This new awareness that reality is not universal but rather pluriverse has prompted academics and art practitioners to re-examine everyday life to develop a sensitivity to the roots of power imbalances that may otherwise go unnoticed. The latest issue of Lembaran Antropologi vol. 4 no. 2 explores the theme “Anthropology and Decolonialisation in Performance Studies and Art Criticism” and features Rachmi Diyah Larasati from the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Global Change, University of Minnesota, as editor, inviting readers to engage and gain a deeper understanding of how art and performance now reflect anthropological critique in artistic practice.

This edition discusses artistic practice not merely from an artistic perspective, but also in terms of efforts to convey concerns and social critique regarding everyday social phenomena. Issues concerning narratives of governance, expression, and living spaces form the core of the contributions in this edition. Moving beyond artistic practice based on established standards or conventions, attention is also drawn to the figures who determine these standards. Articles by Chaterji & Loravianti and Pangastuti re-examine the conventions or standards of artistic practice in the MTQ competition and the trans-cultural experiment of ‘Swan Lake’ using gamelan instruments. The presence of standards or conventions as criteria for artistic evaluation must be re-examined: which narratives or values predominantly influence artistic judgement?

Turning to the aspect of dance as a symbolic embodiment that takes root in the human body, rich in meaning and social messages. The article by Sekar Sari and Listyorini demonstrates that dance or choreography conveys messages and expressions to highlight issues regarding care work and forms of resistance against the narrative of global capitalism embedded in daily life. The final topic in this edition discusses the living spaces of folk arts such as Reog Ponorogo (Nurdiyanto, Amrullah, Mahadewa) and Horeg (Nursilah, Gietty, Setyani, Yoesoef). Both forms of folk art, which were originally performed in daily life through communal spaces, are now increasingly being featured in festivals, indicating the commodification of folk art as part of the tourism industry. Does this shift from communal activity to institutionalised practice create a space for negotiation between artists and audiences? To explore this discourse further, please access this edition via the following link: https://journal.ugm.ac.id/v3/LA/issue/view/916

[Okky Chandra Baskoro]

Yogyakarta, May 7, 2026 – Professor Dr. Aris Munandar, M.Hum. was officially inaugurated as a Professor of English Pragmatics at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). The inauguration ceremony took place at the UGM Main Building on Thursday, May 7, 2026. In his inaugural speech, Prof. Aris emphasized the importance of developing English pragmatic competence oriented toward linguistic diversity in Indonesia.

Prof. Aris explained that English now serves as a crucial global communication tool for economic growth and education systems. Based on the concept of World Englishes, the diversity of the English language is divided into three circles. Indonesia falls into the expanding circle category. This position makes Indonesia a receiver of English norms from native-speaking countries, or the inner circle.

Indonesians learn English as a foreign language without a historical background of British colonialism. This condition creates unique challenges and characteristics. The characteristics of the English spoken by Indonesians are indirectly influenced by both the national language and regional languages. One of the most striking differences is seen in the application of politeness principles, which often differ from native speaker norms.

Today, intensive English communication occurs among speakers from developing nations. Prof. Aris gave an example of common interactions within the UGM campus environment between international students from Asia and Africa and the local academic community.

“As English has become an international lingua franca and the number of speakers in expanding circle countries continues to grow, there is a wide possibility of English communication occurring among fellow speakers from these expanding circle nations,” explained Prof. Aris during his speech.

Therefore, Prof. Aris believes that pragmatic competence with a multilingual orientation must be continuously developed. This approach aims to prevent society from adopting a monolingual view that could potentially generate negative perceptions of English variations in developing countries. He asserted that the diversity of English is an inevitable linguistic reality.

This condition has practical implications for language proficiency evaluations, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Such standardized tests are still considered biased because they heavily prioritize native speaker norms. As a solution, Prof. Aris proposed adjustments to local evaluation instruments. The Academic English Proficiency Test (AcEPT) at UGM needs to be designed as a relevant benchmark for speakers in Indonesia. This test should incorporate materials that reflect the local realities of Indonesian speakers without violating generally agreed-upon linguistic standards.

An inclusive understanding of English language diversity aligns with efforts to create an equitable and adaptive education system. Through a multilingual approach, cross-border interactions involving diverse cultural backgrounds can run harmoniously. Ultimately, this step supports the creation of an equal and inclusive global order, where every individual receives equal respect without losing their local identity roots. This resonates with UGM’s vision to remain deeply rooted in local wisdom while achieving global respect.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, October 17, 2025 – The Indonesian Culture and Language Learning Service (INCULS), Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), has officially opened registration for the Regular Program – Even Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year. This program offers international students the opportunity to explore Indonesia through its language, arts, and traditions, right in Yogyakarta, a city renowned as the cultural and educational heart of the nation.

The program, which will take place from February 16 to June 19, 2026, is designed to provide a learning experience that focuses not only on language skills but also on cultural understanding. Through this initiative, INCULS contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), by providing inclusive access to language and cultural education for learners from around the world.

Students are placed according to their language proficiency levels, ranging from Beginner (A1, A2) to Advanced (C2.1, C2.2). The curriculum covers reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary, delivered through interactive methods that connect classroom learning with real-life communication.

Beyond classroom activities, participants are invited to experience Indonesia more deeply through various cultural enrichment programs, such as Batik workshops, Gamelan (traditional music) classes, and visits to cultural and historical sites around Yogyakarta. Through these cross-cultural experiences, the program also supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by fostering intercultural understanding and strengthening international friendships.

INCULS additionally offers elective courses such as Indonesian Culture, History and Politics, Tourism, and Translation, allowing students to broaden their academic perspectives based on their interests. At the end of the semester, participants will receive an official certificate and academic transcript, which can be transferred to their home universities.

Through collaboration with various international institutions and participation from students across the globe, INCULS also advances SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering cross-cultural learning environments that enhance global understanding of Indonesia while strengthening international academic networks.

Registration for the Regular Program – Even Semester 2025/2026 can be completed online via admission.ugm.ac.id/registration. Further information is available at bit.ly/INCULSHowtoApply and bit.ly/INCULSBrochure

With the spirit of “At INCULS, language meets culture, and learning becomes a journey of discovery,” UGM invites international students to join and explore the richness of Indonesia’s language, culture, and humanity. ✨

[Public Relations, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM,  Alma Syahwalani]

Monday, October 6, 2025 – What if development did not have to repeat the same failed models?

This question is the main premise of the book Reimagining Development in Southeast Asia: Alternative Practices from the Grassroots and Social Movements. On Monday, October 6, 2025, the Department of Anthropology held a soft launch of the book Reimagining Development in Southeast Asia: Alternative Practices from the Grassroots and Social Movements. This book is the result of collaboration between a number of researchers who highlight various social, political, and geographical contexts in the Southeast Asian region. Through various field studies and theoretical reflections, this book places alternative development as its main focus, while inviting readers to reimagine the meaning of progress from the perspective of communities that have often been marginalized in mainstream development discourse.

Furthermore, the authors also invite us to question the perspective that limits people’s experiences within the framework of the nation-state. The division of regions such as “Southeast Asia” is in fact inseparable from the excesses of colonialism, which sought to compartmentalize social and cultural spaces into separate entities. Through this lens, Reimagining Development in Southeast Asia not only discusses alternative forms of development, but also how we can reimagine cross-border relationships—both historical and cultural—which are in fact a vital source for the emergence of grassroots development practices.

At the book’s soft launch on Monday, two of its authors, Ananeza P. Aban, PhD Researcher from Ghent University, and Jose Monfred C. Sy, PhD Researcher from the University of Hong Kong, were present to give a brief presentation on the outline of the book and the main topics discussed. Both highlighted how local initiatives and social movements in various Southeast Asian countries can become forms of alternative development that seek to break away from colonial formats and renegotiate power relations in the global context.

This event also provided a space for participants to revisit the concept of development, which has been dominated by global perspectives and mainstream economic policies. Through this launch, the authors hope to open a broader conversation about the future of development in the region, how grassroots experiences can be a source of inspiration for a more inclusive and sustainable direction of development, and encourage researchers to participate in documenting local development practices—especially in Southeast Asia.

[Antropologi Budaya, Daiva Keefe Kalimasadha]

Yogyakarta, October 6, 2025 – The Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, continued its Entrepreneurship course in the sixth session by once again inviting Sofian Munawar, S.S., M.A., Founder of Ruang Baca Komunitas, as the guest lecturer. In this session, students were guided to design a business plan under the theme “Developing Social Entrepreneurship Based on Literature and Language”, as a practical application of the materials discussed in previous meetings.

During the lecture, Sofian Munawar emphasized the importance of understanding the literacy ecosystem within schools and communities as the foundation for developing literature- and language-based social enterprises. Students were encouraged to identify existing literacy issues—such as low reading interest, limited access to books, and weak writing culture among students. From these challenges, they learned how to conduct research, develop innovative concepts, and formulate sustainable business plans that take social and educational aspects into account.

Sofian Munawar also highlighted the significance of building cross-institutional networks involving schools, government bodies, and literacy communities. He introduced students to various literacy-based initiatives such as IKMASA Goes to School (a literacy outreach to Islamic boarding schools), collaborations with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and BAZNAS, and publishing opportunities through IKMASA Press. In this context, books are seen not merely as reading materials, but as tools of inspiration and instruments for community empowerment.

As a form of applied learning, Arabic Study Program students were assigned to create a group business plan titled “Social Entrepreneurship Design Based on Linguistic Literacy”, which included components such as background, problem identification, business opportunities, and implementation strategies. These business plans will later be presented in the following session as a tangible reflection of their ability to develop literacy-based social enterprise ideas.

Through this session, UGM Arabic Study Program students not only learned to be critical and creative academics but also changemakers capable of generating social impact through literacy innovation. This program also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by strengthening literacy movements, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by encouraging the creation of competitive social enterprises, and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) through inclusive education and language-based community empowerment.

[Sastra Arab, Muhammad Ardiansyah]