The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is celebrating its 78th anniversary since its inception on Mar. 3, 1946.
Previously known as the Faculty of Literature, it has undergone numerous transformations and achieved significant milestones, establishing itself as a cornerstone in advancing humanities sciences.
Professor Setiadi, the Dean of FIB, emphasized the ongoing commitment of his faculty to foster research and publications in humanities sciences led by faculty members and students.
FIB currently oversees 15 journals, 8 of which are accredited by SINTA, and three internationally indexed. These journals include Humaniora, Poetika, Lexicon, Lembaran Sejarah, Rubikon, Lembaran Antropologi, Gadjah Mada Journal of Tourism Studies, and East Asian Review.
In a recent announcement, the dean revealed FIB’s readiness to launch a new journal centered on spice cosmopolis research. This initiative stems from the faculty’s Spice Cosmopolis research unit, and the upcoming publication aims to fortify and diversify FIB’s academic publishing endeavors.
“The forthcoming journal, focusing specifically on spices in Indonesia, is titled the International Journal of Spice Studies, and we are poised to launch it soon,” he shared during a Dean’s Report speech at the pinnacle celebration of FIB’s 78th anniversary, held on Tuesday (Mar. 5).
Setiadi highlighted that the publication of faculty articles in reputable international journals reached 100 articles in 2023, a 100 percent increase compared to the previous year, 2022, which saw 51 articles.
“Among these, the Anthropology Department boasts the highest percentage of publications in reputable international journals at 49 percent, followed by the Language and Literature Department at 30 percent,” he added.
Professor Wening Udasmoro, a distinguished professor at FIB, delved into the potential erosion of human subjectivity amidst the widespread use of technology, particularly information technology, in her scholarly address titled “The Upper Subject: Honor and Its Social Reproduction Practices in Contemporary Indonesian Society.”
“Human subjectivity faces potential fragmentation due to technology being positioned as a superior entity surpassing humans. Discussing the subject enables critical reflection, not only about others but also about ourselves,” remarked Professor Udasmoro.
“We must engage in continuous critical processes to ensure clarity in decision-making, unswayed by pragmatic influences.”
In addition to examining human subjectivity, Professor Udasmoro also scrutinized societal groups that flaunt wealth as part of the upper subject. While acknowledging the privileges inherited from familial assets, she underscored the importance of channeling the upper subject’s position toward societal contributions rather than solely focusing on personal indulgences that may detrimentally affect others.
“Owning luxury items is not inherently wrong, but flaunting them excessively in a society with prevalent disparities reveals a lack of control over narcissistic desires and contributes to the erosion of societal solidarity,” she concluded.
Author: Gusti Grehenson