Yogyakarta, 02 August 2026 – Four days ahead of INCULS regular program odd semester academic year 26/27 starts, students from 12 countries gathered in one of FIB’s auditorium, S.709. Attending the official opening ceremony of INCULS regular program which was held at Gedung Soegondo, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).

The opening ceremony doubles as the International Student Orientation (ISO) that marks the beginning of our Bahasa Indonesia untuk Penutur Asing (BIPA) friends at exploring the Indonesian Language and its rich culture. For the next five months, Yogyakarta will be their home, and INCULS will be their friend for the time being. At INCULS, not only do the students learn Indonesian language, but also will be learning the culture of Indonesia.With many chances to experience the culture such as, interacting with the Jogja locals, study tours, and many more fun activities outside the class.

In this ceremony, essential information regarding studies and the little things like how people in Jogja are, among other things, were socialized to BIPA students of INCULS. Small things like how the food and drinks are; the locals; the norms in Indonesia; and many more. So the students were given crucial information about the place they will live in for the semester that will be of definite help in the long run. As well as giving them insights about the culture in Indonesia, especially Jogja.

INCULS hopes the Regular Program will continue to become a place for our BIPA friends to bloom and to become a bridge connecting Indonesia and other parts of the world.Through this program, not just the language, but also the culture will become a great asset for them in the future. Good luck, best wishes on your studies everyone. 

Penulis: Dydo Athaya Rafif (INCULS) 

On September 3, 2026, Prof. Tania Li from the National University of Singapore shared her insights on the writing process during a public lecture hosted by the Department of Anthropology, UGM, titled “Figuring Out Master Narrative in Writing Project” at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM. The 120-minute session invited participants to reflect on their writing methods while evaluating common obstacles that arise during the writing process. The session opened with an interactive exercise where participants were asked to share their ongoing writing projects with the person sitting next to them. Any confusion experienced during this exercise served as an early indicator that the intended narrative had not yet been clearly formulated.

Prof. Tania explained that a successful writing project is always built upon a clear master narrative or key message, though discovering this message is often a challenge in itself. A strong narrative typically holds a puzzle at its core, captivating readers with the promise of uncovering something unexpected or unresolved. In this context, theory plays a vital role in identifying this puzzle and connecting the work to broader literature without losing focus on the specific research context. Furthermore, effective storytelling brings arguments to life and keeps readers engaged. Ultimately, understanding and visualizing the target audience is a key final step in crafting a coherent and compelling narrative.

Author: Daiva Keefe Kalimasadha

The international workshop “Commodity, Plantation, and Colonialism in Indonesia: Current Research in Social, Economic, and Architectural History” will be held on July 23–24, 2026, at Pavillon 333, the Architecture Museum of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany. This workshop is part of the exhibition series “Nge-Téh / Tea Time: Architectures of the Colonial Commodity Chain from Indonesia to Germany, 19th Century,” which runs from July 23–26, 2026. The workshop brings together scholars from various disciplines engaged in the study of commodity history, plantations, and colonialism. This event aims to foster dialogue encompassing architectural, social, economic, and cultural history from a historical perspective, spanning the early modern to the contemporary periods that shaped the tea commodity chain from Indonesia to Europe. Through an interdisciplinary lens, the workshop explores how colonial plantation systems not only shaped the physical landscape but also created social, economic, and cultural relationships whose influence is still felt today.

This workshop was held in conjunction with a visit by Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi, known as the “Historical Anthropologist.” He was invited to serve as the keynote speaker and spoke about plantations in Indonesia from 1870 to 2020. His contributions to the advancement of knowledge serve as a fine example for students. Through research rooted in the experiences of local communities, knowledge of Indonesia’s colonial history can be enriched and introduced to an international audience as part of efforts to foster a more inclusive understanding of global history.

In addition to the discussion sessions, a “Nge-Téh / Tea Time” exhibition was also held. The exhibition explored the history of tea as a colonial commodity, from the plantations in West Java, through the processing and distribution via Batavia and Hamburg, to its consumption by the public in Germany. A variety of historical archives, photographs, tea trade artifacts, ceramic artworks, and documentary films were displayed to illustrate Indonesia’s connection to global trade networks. The exhibition also underscored that although Indonesia was never a German colony, the tea trade linked the two regions within the global colonial economic system.

This workshop serves as an important forum for strengthening international collaboration in the fields of colonial history, anthropology, architecture, and Southeast Asian studies. The discussions that emerged not only shed light on the colonial past but also encouraged critical reflection on sustainability, historical justice, and the importance of incorporating local communities’ perspectives in understanding the history of global commodities.

Author: Dewi Widyastuti

Picture: Prof. Pujo Semedi

SLEMAN — The Malam Inisiasi for new students of the Master’s in Literature Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), offered more than an introduction to academic life. It became a space where students came together, got to know one another, and expressed themselves through a diverse range of artistic performances.

Held under the theme “Antara Kata dan Kita: Sebuah Cerita yang Ditulis Bersama,” the event took place on August 28–29, 2026, at Pondok A. Salam, Kalimasada, Sleman, and brought together new students of the Master’s in Literature Program for the 2026/2027 Academic Year.

The evening opened with remarks from Head of the Master’s in Literature Program Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, S.S., M.Hum., followed by a session on UGM’s philosophy and institutional values delivered by Prof. Drs. M. Mukhtasar Syamsuddin, M.Hum., Ph.D. of Arts.

Students were also introduced to several academic initiatives within the program, including Academic Student Networking (ASN) and International Dissemination.

The artistic performances became one of the evening’s highlights. Rather than relying on elaborate staging or formal performance facilities, the students created an intimate and spontaneous setting where they could share their talents, ideas, and personal experiences.

Alya performed Nadin Amizah’s “Bertaut,” while Deni presented a musical interpretation of his own poetry. Chaca took the audience through a personal story in an English-language storytelling performance.

Adit, Nurdin, Riki, and Veto presented a theatrical piece addressing a range of social issues, including environmental and political concerns, accompanied by poetic verses. Fajri followed with a poetry reading, while Eloi brought the performances to a close with a dance.

The range of performances underscored the many ways literature and art can be expressed—not only through writing, but also through voice, music, movement, the body, and personal experience. For the students, the simple stage became a space to introduce themselves while sharing their perspectives and creativity.

Reflecting on the event, Aprinus Salam described the students’ performances through the idea of “radical art” and “zero-rupiah art.”

For Aprinus, radical art is art that is free from political and economic agendas. It is created simply as an act of artistic expression and as an affirmation of friendship and community.

One of its defining characteristics, he argues, is the absence of monetary exchange. The artists perform without payment, while the audience attends without paying. Art, in this sense, is not created for profit or accumulation, but for the sake of expression itself.

Art can also become a way of strengthening solidarity within a community. It allows people to express friendship, affection, and a sense of belonging, while at the same time revealing something of their individual character.

“The courage to free oneself from that is itself a form of radicalizing life,” Aprinus wrote.

He further noted that art is often confined to designated spaces governed by administrative requirements and formal structures. When this happens, art—which can originally function as a form of resistance—can instead become commercial entertainment and a commodity.

Against this tendency, Aprinus sees zero-rupiah radical art as a form of authentic resistance. Poetry, prose, and literature can emerge without being shaped by commercial interests, external agendas, or institutional co-optation. What remains is the experience of art itself: admiration, wonder, and emotional resonance.

That spirit, he said, was evident in the performances presented by the new Master’s in Literature students during the Malam Inisiasi on August 28.

Aprinus acknowledged that putting on a performance requires preparation and practice. Yet technical skills alone cannot produce everything that makes an artistic performance meaningful.

“What cannot be trained is the ability to bring forth spirit, personal character, and profound feeling,” he wrote.

His reflection captures what made the evening distinctive. In the midst of an event welcoming students into their new academic community, art became a space for students to reveal their personalities, share their experiences, express their ideas, and build solidarity.

Malam Inisiasi thus became more than a welcoming event. Through performances created and presented by the students themselves, the evening turned into a shared stage where words, voices, bodies, and ideas came together—becoming, in its own way, a story written together.

Author: Khotibul Umam

Yogyakarta — Representing the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), PKM-PM Litera-Wayang team has secured funding for the 2026 Student Creativity Program. The grant was officially announced by the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs (Belmawa) on May 23, 2026.

The project, titled “PKM-PM Litera-Wayang: Peningkatan Kreativitas Siswa Pedalangan Melalui Transformasi Literasi Manuskrip Kuno Pakem Grĕntĕng di SMK Negeri 1 Kasihan”, focuses on boosting creative skills among vocational students through media adaptation. It aims to revitalize Pakĕm Grĕntĕng, an ancient puppetry (pedalangan) manuscript native to Kulon Progo that is rich in local wisdom but currently facing extinction.

To achieve these goals, the Litera-Wayang team launched a series of structured activities for puppetry arts majors at SMKN 1 Kasihan. Program phases include workshops on ancient manuscript adaptation, script-dissection discussions, leather puppet crafting training, and a culminating student-led shadow puppet performance. To ensure effectiveness, quality assurance is maintained through regular evaluations and progress tracking to monitor student skill development.

Beyond field activities, the team developed a comprehensive guidebook to ensure project sustainability. This module enables the school to independently continue transmitting knowledge of Pakem Grenteng and can be integrated into the school’s curriculum as complementary learning material.

Securing this grant marks a strategic milestone for UGM students to deliver a tangible impact to the community. By leveraging manuscript literacy transformation, this initiative boosts youth creativity while preserving local cultural heritage to keep it relevant in the modern era.

Author: Tim PKM-PM Litera-Wayang