PANAKAWAN'S DISCOURSE OF POWER IN JAVANESE SHADOW PUPPET DURING THE NEW ORDER REGIME: FROM TRADITIONAL PERSPECTIVE TO NEW HISTORICISM

Abstract

Wayang kulit (shadow puppet) has not only been an entertainment; it is a medium to disseminate Javanese values to the public. Therefore, wayang kulit has been a site of power game. Those who could control it have their best opportunity to pass their values to the public. Throughout its history, those in power since the colonial time until the New Order regime had successfully 'used' this medium to 'educate' the public. The New Order regime, for one thing, had used this medium well. Wayang kulit promoted Suharto as an equal of Semar, a wise, god-like character. It also promoted Golkar as the most powerful political party in the New Order Era. Feudalism in wayang kulit was also used to reinforce a feudalistic regime of New Order.