The 4th semester students of French Language and Literature study program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada held a photo exhibition entitled “Problème du Jour: Bonjour” from May 3-17, 2024 at Luweng Soegondo, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. This exhibition is part of the project of the Introduction to French Literary Theories class with lecturers Prof. Wening Udasmoro, M.Hum, DEA, Dr. Arifah Arum Candra Hayuningsih, M.A, and guest lecturer Prof. Elizabeth Drexler from Michigan State University.

The exhibition was designed in the form of project-based and case-based to apply the theories learned in class in a real context. Through the photographs on display, the students raised various social issues and inequalities that exist in Indonesian society. The exhibition is divided into several small themes covering poverty and inequality, the paradox of life in Indonesia, as well as social and educational issues. The themes raised in this exhibition are in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) point 4 on quality education and SDGs point 10 on reducing inequality. Through their work, students are trying to express the importance of awareness and action in addressing these issues.

Universitas Gadjah Mada won the overall champion in the Sarasehan Nusantara XI Imbasadi event. Sarasehan Nusantara XI was held at the State Hindu College Mpu Kuturan Singaraja (STAH N Mpu Kuturan Singaraja) on May 17-19, 2024 offline.  The three-day event raised the theme “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika: Harmony in Diversity” and included various events, such as various competitions, lontar seminars, and the culmination of the event in the form of the awarding night and the election of Putra and Putri Imbasadi 2024.

The competitions held during Sarasehan Nusantara XI were quite diverse. There were six (6) competitions, including the National Scientific Writing Competition (LKTIN), the election of Putra and Putri Imbasadi 2024, national typography competition, poetry musicalization competition, cultural poster competition, and cultural documentary video.

The Universitas Gadjah Mada contingent represented by the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) sent eight (8) students to participate in the entire series of events. The eight students included Bima Muslih Wicaksono (class of 2022) as the head of the delegation, Haryo Untoro (class of 2022), Muhammad Siswoyo (class of 2022), Kintan Dewinta Putri (class of 2022), Ganes Larasati (class of 2023), Meifiri Arini Pitaloka (class of 2023), Muhamad Rafi Nur Fauzy (batch 2023), and Rafif Wicaksono (class of 2023).

After participating in a series of events, the delegation of Universitas Gadjah Mada brought good news by getting several nominations for champions in several competitions, namely:

• 1st place in the Cultural Poster Competition – Meifira Arini Pitaloka

The Cultural Poster Competition illustrates the diverse backgrounds of Indonesian society, namely ethnicity, religion, and race, which live in harmony.

• 1st Runner-up Putri Imbasadi 2024 – Ganes Larasati

The selection of Putra and Putri Imbasadi went through a rigorous selection, starting from filing, talent interest test, public speaking, to the grand final stage. After going through a long series of processes, Ganes Larasati paired with Reidha Prastya from Universitas Sebelas Maret Regional Literature Study Program was given the mandate as the 2nd Runner-up 1.

• 2nd place in the National Scientific Writing Competition – Haryo Untoro and Muhammad Siswoyo

The National Scientific Writing Contest that was written contained the title Representation of Jagat Harmony in Syair Drojogan Wayang Kulit Jawa Timuran Subgagrag Surabaya. This research raised the material object in the form of Drojogan poem, a suluk or sulukan that is developed by a puppeteer before the Surabaya subgagrade Timuran Javanese shadow puppet begins. The disclosure of the language style in the Drojogan poem which contains a description of the means, media, and actors of the shadow puppet performance and its preservation is the focus of this Scientific Paper.

• 3rd place in National Typography Competition – Muhamad Rafi Nur Fauzy

National Typography Competition in the form of a painting of Joglo, a Javanese traditional house, which is decorated with beautiful and precise Javanese script writing. 

• General Champion of Sarasehan Nusantara XI – Universitas Gadjah Mada

In addition to the four competitions above, Universitas Gadjah Mada was crowned the overall champion in the Sarasehan Nusantara XI Imbasadi event.

These achievements are inseparable from the spirit of the students of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, in promoting, appreciating, preserving, and enlivening the various cultures that live in Indonesia in a bond of harmony. With the implementation of Sarasehan Nusantara XI and the title obtained, it is hoped that it can spark the enthusiasm of students to continue to maintain and promote existing cultural heritage and can strengthen relations between students of regional literature study programs throughout Indonesia.

Our gratitude goes to all parties who participated in supporting and organizing this event. We also ask for support and blessings so that the Temu Budaya Nusantara XXX activities held at Universitas Gadjah Mada can run successfully.

Indonesia is diverse, Imbasadi unites

Author: Haryo Untoro

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

On Wednesday, (05/22/2024), the 7th floor Soegondo Auditorium was full of gratitude and happiness. The smiles of the graduates who have successfully completed their studies and achieved satisfactory results. The submission of graduation documents in the form of diplomas and academic transcripts is something to look forward to because it marks the legitimacy of graduating students and officially holds a degree according to the study program they each take.

In the event that was full of wisdom, four students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, entertained the graduates and the audience with Angguk Dance. They are Novalia Hidayatus Solihah, Nanda Fitri Riyantika, Wening Hidayati, and Audrey Gizella. The Angguk dance performed by the four female students succeeded in bringing smiles and admiration from the graduates and guests. “Alhamdulillah, the Angguk Dance performance went well. Although there are shortcomings, we feel satisfied and proud to be able to entertain the audience at the Mangayubagya event for graduates of FIB UGM,” explained Wening Hidayati in an interview (05/24/2024).

Quoting from disbud.kulonprogokab.go.id (2020, August 5), Angguk Dance is a traditional art originating from Kulon Progo Regency. It is believed that this art emerged around 1900, right when the Dutch soldiers and officers occupied the area of Purworejo Regency. The soldiers’ dancing and singing became the forerunner of the Angguk Dance that emerged in Kokap Sub-district, an area directly adjacent to Purworejo. Initially, Angguk was danced by men. In 1991, it was first danced by women in Pripih Hamlet, Hargomulyo, Kokap.

The Angguk Dance performance in the Mangayubagya event for graduates of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, was successfully run with great fanfare. This performance is also a concrete manifestation of the students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program in nguri-uri ‘preserving’ and ngurip-urip’reviving and enlivening’ the culture of the archipelago, especially Javanese culture. The preservation of national identity can be carried out with synergy from various parties so that it can have a broad impact on society and the nation.

References:

Disbud.kulonprogokab,go,id. (2020, August 05). Tari Angguk Kesenian Tradisional Kulon Progo. Accessed on May 24, 2024, from https://disbud.kulonprogokab.go.id/detil/356/tari-angguk-kesenian-tradisional-kulon-progo

Author: Haryo Untoro

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 5: Gender Equality | SDGs 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, the Department of Anthropology invited Eric C. Thompson, a lecturer from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the National University of Singapore (NUS), to discuss his latest book titled The Story of Southeast Asia (2024). The book discussion event, attended by the academic community within the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), provided fresh perspectives for the participants on the historical materialism approach in contemporary anthropological studies. On this occasion, Thompson provided a general overview of the book’s content and arguments about several sections he found particularly interesting when discussing the Southeast Asian region.

The book The Story of Southeast Asia uses historical and anthropological perspectives to examine the diversity of traditions and cultures within contemporary Southeast Asian communities, highlighting a long process. Cultural contacts between communities, established since the era of Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms, the introduction of Islam through trade, and the influence of European colonial occupation have uniquely shaped the identity and cultural practices and traditions in Southeast Asia. Through his presentation, Thompson demonstrated how these processes illustrate Southeast Asian people’s agency and the formation of social and economic networks marked by trade. The creation of these networks is considered the beginning of the formation of cultural and social identities in Southeast Asia. After the book’s content presentation by the author, Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi, acting as the moderator, guided the Q&A session, which received enthusiastic responses from the attendees. Some questions prompted the author and discussion participants to reflect on how the process of identity formation requires sensitivity and critical thinking towards data, documents, and artifacts to provide historical and anthropological interpretations.