Yogyakarta, Monday night 19th of August 2024, the Faculty of Philosophy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), organized a shadow puppet show in the framework of the anniversary of the Faculty of Philosophy. The performance featured a special play, Gajah Mada Suci, which was performed collaboratively by UGM students who are members of the UGM Surakarta Style Javanese Arts Unit (UKJGS). One of the important roles in this performance was carried out by M. Rafi Nur Fauzy, a student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program class of 2023, chosen to perform a play that was collaboratively worked on by the academics community of Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The script for the performance of Gajah Mada Suci was written by Dr. Rudy Wiratama S.I.P., M.A., lecturer of Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program. Gajah Mada Suci tells the story of the scapegoating of Gajah Mada under the pretext of the failure of the Majapahit Kingdom expansion. The expansion also coincided with the kingdom’s internal political turmoil. To make matters worse, Gajah Mada was accused by the elites of trying to remove him from the kingdom. As a result, Gajah Mada felt desperate and afterward he visited the residence of his friend, Mpu Tantular. After a long dialog, Gajah Mada was finally enlightened, that the efforts he had made so far were not in vain. The spirit of Amukti Palapa to unite the archipelago will continue in the next era.

“The performance of the Gajah Mada Suci is a form of depiction of the Indonesian nation that has experienced an identity crisis by winning over an interest and power through any means. Gajah Mada, who was a knight, finally moksa due to the deviant behavior of the Majapahit elite. After that, the Majapahit Kingdom lost its authority and then receded until it reached its collapse,” explained Rafi in an interview (05/09/2024).

As a special play, Rafi and his fellow UKJGS students practiced hard for a maximum performance. “The performance of Gajah Mada Suci has its own challenges for us. We practiced preparing for the performance in only half a month. Plus, this is my first time to play the Gajah Mada puppet, so it must be carefully prepared.”

“With these challenges, Alhamdulillah, the show can run smoothly. It was a great experience for me,” he continued.  Rafi hopes that the Gajah Mada puppet show will be held continuously because it is the work and identity of UGM as well as containing values that need to be socialized.

The existence of the Gajah Mada puppet is a real effort to promote the history and culture of the archipelago while still applying its relevance to the times. Through culture, we are not only ‘displaying’ aesthetics, but also reaffirming the nation’s identity through noble values for a better Indonesia.

Saturday, August 31, 2024 Faculty of Cultural Sciences together with Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Seoul organized the opening of King Sejong Institute (KSI) Korean language course. The opening of the KSI class this period was held at CGV Pakuwon Yogyakarta. Attended by course participants and KSI managers, this opening went very well and was greeted with enthusiasm. The event began with opening remarks by Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., M.A., Ph.D., as the chief manager of KSI Indonesia. The next agenda was the most awaited by every participant of this period’s KSI class opening, which was watching a movie.

In collaboration with CGV Pakuwon Yogyakarta, a Korean movie titled “Revolver” was shown. This action movie with a criminal theme tells about the journey of a woman who is trapped in a prison scheme to get some money in return. Directed by Oh Seung-uk, the movie managed to impress the participants of the King Sejong Institute (KSI) Korean language course opening. Hopefully, this event will motivate the participants of the KSI course to achieve brilliant achievements in the field of Korean language and literature.

Suaraya – Suakarsa Mahadaya, the Expo activity of the UGM Faculty of Arts Student Activity Unit was successfully held with great fanfare on Friday, August 30, 2024 in the Greendland area and the Margono building of the Faculty of Arts UGM. Organized by the ministry of interest and talent LEM FIB Abra Nirmala cabinet. The event involved 20 Semi-Autonomous Bodies, Communities, and SMEs at the faculty level with the aim of orientation and introduction to new FIB students about the dynamics, achievement opportunities, soft skills sharpening, and non-academic activities that students can undergo during college. The 20 units are:

1. Sanggar Lincak
2. Kapalasastra
3. UPI-Humanika
4. Paramadya
5. Rampoe
6. KMIB
7. Teater Terjal
8. Saskine
9. Bejomulyo
10. KMK
11. PKM Corner
12. Sastra Kanuragan
13. Dian Budaya
14. PMK
15. Sastra Budaya
16. Sastra Oebah
17. Suar Asa
18. Senat Mahasiswa FIB
19. LEM FIB
20. DKIB

Held overnight, Suaraya gave a pleasant impression to FIB students by packaging the BSO Performance and Introduction in a lively Collaborative Drama. The distribution of door prizes and prizes for the “Gemilang Tujuh Belasan FIB” competition was also a series that was awaited by the students who attended and the winners of the competition held a few weeks ago. The participating food tenants became friends of the students in fulfilling their hunger and thirst throughout the event.

The success of Suaraya cannot be separated from the support of the Dean, Lecturers and Staff of FIB, LEM FIB Management, General Committee, and BSO FIB UGM Community, as well as 8 Sponsors, namely;

1. Awor Coffe
2. Morse Board Game and Cafe
3. Sari Wangi Parfum
4. Imperial Digital Printing
5. Sari Roti
6. Yamie Panda
7. Sidodadi Soundsystem
8. Aka4 Lighting

Opening the new academic year, on August 14, 2024 the UGM Anthropology Department, The Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies, and the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies held an Anthropology of Religion Seminar entitled “Islam, Ambiguity, and (In)Tolerance: Perspectives from Southeast Asia” which was held at the Auditorium of Soegondo building, Faculty of Arts UGM. On this occasion, Professor Ismail Fajrie Alatas and Dr. Martin Slama as speakers presented their work-in-progress.

The seminar was opened by Professor Ismail Fajrie Alatas by reviewing the thoughts of previous scholars such as Ernest Gellner who reemphasized the distinctiveness of anthropological studies of religion in understanding Islam as a system of social institutions and that orthodoxy contains power relations that manifest certain opinions. Meanwhile, his colleague, Dr. Martin Slama in this presentation highlighted more about the views of Southeast Asian communities regarding the concept of tolerance and intolerance in Islam towards the concept of ambiguity, drawing on the thoughts of Shahab Ahmed and Thomas Bauer, both arguing that Islam’s inability to respond to ambiguity is now an implication of modernity so that Islam becomes more intolerant and seems rigid like an ideology.

Enriching the discourse of religious studies and anthropology of religion in a more specific research locus is very important for the development of contemporary studies and insights for the wider community, as Dr. Sita Hidayah in her commentary mentioned that this research provides broader insights because it shifts the focus of Islamic studies towards Southeast Asia. Through various seminars, workshops, and discussions like this, the Anthropology Department is committed to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals including SDGs 4 quality education and SDGs 17 partnerships to achieve common goals.

Author: Novilatul Ananda Ramadhani

Photo: Puspita Nindya Sari

Editor: Admin of FIB Public Relations

Wednesday morning, July 31, 2024, became a historic moment for the 2024 batch of students of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Universitas Gadjah Mada. As part of the campus introduction process, they were welcomed to the Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024 event, which was held for two days from July 31 to August 1, 2024. The event was designed to introduce new students to academic life at FIB UGM, where Mahadaya will study for the next four years.

The opening of Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024 was enlivened by the strains of gamelan performed by Gamasutra (Gamelan Sastra Nusantara), an art unit that serves as a forum for students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. Gamasutra played an important role in welcoming the mahadaya, presenting a solemn atmosphere and the nobility of Indonesian culture.

In addition to welcoming the mahadaya, Gamasutra also accompanied the presence of the Chairman of the Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024, the President of the Student Executive Board (LEM) 2024, the Dean of FIB UGM and staff, as well as the Heads of Study Programs from various departments. The peak moment of Gamasutra’s performance was when it enlivened the procession of gunungan removal, marking the official opening of Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024. Some of the songs performed by Gamasutra in the event include Gending Gati Padhasih, Gangsaran, and Ayak Vertikal which are the works of Ki Dr. Drs. Sukisno, M.Sn.

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM, as the frontline in cultural studies, shows its commitment in preserving Indonesia’s cultural heritage by providing ample space for the development of arts and cultural interests among students. This effort is in line with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the 4th point on improving the quality of education and the 17th point on partnerships to achieve goals.

Gamasutra’s performance in Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024 is not only an entertainment event, but also a very important means of cultural introduction and preservation. Mahadaya class of 2024 also got a deep first impression of campus life that is rich in cultural values and traditions, which Mahadaya will continue to encounter and develop during its dynamics at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM

Author : Haryo Untoro