Indonesia has been greatly influenced by the global culture. Moreover, information technology and communications that are more advanced have made the society get used in the civilization and culture brought by these technologies. Based on these concerns, the Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri Cultural Center (PKKH) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) plans to hold a workshop discussion with the theme Culture, Nationalism, and Pancasila in Song, "Gending and Geguritan" (traditional songs). "It’s one of our contributions, at least to minimize the effect of foreign globalization," said one member of the executive board, Drs. Tri Kuntoro Priyambodo, M.Sc., in a Tuesday morning discussion (06/15/2010) at the Center. Also present in this discussion, among others, Dr. Ida Rochani, the Center’s Coordinator, who is also the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, and Prof. dr. Sutaryo, Sp.A. (K) Advisory member. Tri Kuntoro explained that the incoming surge of the foreign culture has caused the society’s behavior and values in social life no longer hold on to Indonesia’s values and culture. To make matter worse, the public currently prefers to follow the current global culture instead of the culture of their own ancestors. "It’s as if the value of national cultural heritage of our forefathers was bad and we just go with the flow," he added.
Starting from these concerns, UGM as university of struggle wants to play an active role as a pillar of culture, a university that creates an environment to dignify Indonesian national culture. As a concrete form of this concern, the Center will hold a workshop discussion with the theme "Culture, Nationalism, and Pancasila in Song, "Gending, and Geguritan" that will be held on Friday Pahing, June 18, 2010.
In the event, several keynote speakers are planned to attend, among others, Gatot Marsono (Mr. Bares-RRI), Margono (geguritan/macapatan artist), Ki Parjoyo (puppeteer), Mr. Slamet (kethoprak/puppet artist), Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M. Hum. (Lecturer of Nusantara Literature Department Faculty of Cultural Sciences), and Dr. Daud Aris Tanudirjo (lecturer of Archaeology). The workshop will also involve several stakeholders, such as RRI, Tamansiswa, SMEs, Department of Culture, School Arts Performance Studies Graduate Program, UGM Faculty of Social Sciences, as well as arts and cultural activists.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Yogyakarta RRI Radio Station, Nuryudi, added that he fully supports the step. Moreover, there has been an MoU recently between UGM and RRI signed by Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M. Eng., Ph.D., and Director of LPP RRI, Parni Hadi. "The MOU has been agreed and the rest is to make it happen in an activity such as this workshop," said Nuryudi.
Looking ahead, this kind of workshop is expected to be performed routinely. Nuryudi said it is possible for the event to be broadcasted live through the RRI, for example, along with the Radio Star final on 24 July.