Indonesia is an archipelagic country located in Southeast Asia. Consisting of more than 17,000 islands with a very large population spread from Sabang to Merauke. The country’s motto, namely Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, is proof that Indonesia has various differences, including ethnicity, race, religion, customs, culture and many more which form one unity as a complete nation. Each region has its own culture which is the characteristic and identity of that region.
In the eyes of the world, Indonesia is known for its extraordinary cultural wealth. Foreign tourists who come to Indonesia not only want to see natural beauty, but they also look forward to the opportunity to see and enjoy the culture that will be displayed. Performances such as regional dances accompanied by traditional musical instruments will spoil the eyes of the audience because this is a very majestic combination and is not easily found in every country.
Not only that, tourists will also be captivated by handicrafts such as batik, wood carvings, pottery, bamboo weaving, and even shadow puppet crafts which can then become a stunning show. By presenting natural beauty combined with various unique cultures, local and foreign tourists are increasingly attracted to coming and experiencing impressive experiences in Indonesia. The large number of tourists from abroad who visit Indonesia will bring many benefits, such as in terms of economics, cultural promotion and media so that Indonesia is better known throughout the world.
The fact that Indonesia is a country rich in culture should be able to produce many artists and cultural artist/cultural figure. An artist is a term for someone who can create or innovate a work of art because they choose skill, talent and creativity. Meanwhile, cultural artist or cultural figure is a term for someone who understands and is knowledgeable about a culture because he has concern and interest in that culture. Artists and cultural artist have an important role in preserving culture so that it continues to exist forever. However, the harsh reality says otherwise.
A country with a strong cultural background cannot fully promise that there will be many artists and cultural figures. The regeneration of artists and cultural figures in Indonesia is very lacking and will trigger a cultural crisis in the future. The young generation who should be the successors of culture actually seems careless and away from the cultural sphere. Lack of interest in traditional culture is the main factor in the lack of regeneration of artists and cultural figures. The digital era where everything is sophisticated and easy in everything has had an impact in terms of culture.
This era has shifted the interest of the younger generation from traditional culture to modern culture which is leaning towards foreign culture which is becoming a trend. Basically, getting to know other cultures is not a serious problem if the process of accepting that culture is carried out correctly while remaining based on our original identity. However, the younger generation seems to be abandoning their own culture, they are no longer interested in getting to know and studying their own culture. Some of them may consider traditional culture to be something ancient and they should leave it behind. If foreign culture continues to become a trend in Indonesia, more and more traditional culture will be replaced.
In order to preserve culture in Indonesia, this culture must be passed on to the next generation. However, this tradition of cultural inheritance from generation to generation may eventually be lost due to modernization and urbanization. Today’s artists and cultural figures mostly come from old groups, in the future they will certainly need to regenerate.
If there is no longer a younger generation who has an interest in traditional culture, then there will be no more artists and cultural figures who will continue that culture. This is a cultural crisis that must be taken seriously for the continuation of the Indonesian nation. Loss of regeneration will cause the chain of traditions and cultural knowledge to be broken. Cultural wealth which is a valuable asset and was previously known internationally is in danger of being lost. Not only that, tourists will also lose their interest in coming to Indonesia.
This crisis certainly needs to be prevented from now on so that it doesn’t cause a lot of losses. Overcoming the cultural crisis caused by a lack of regeneration requires various parties to work together. The government can be more vocal about the importance of national culture and the duty of the younger generation to preserve it.
The government can also increase the number of events and media to display traditional culture so that the attention of the younger generation returns to their culture. Apart from that, schools can also contribute to overcoming this crisis by placing more emphasis on cultural lessons and special spaces for students to explore their talents. The family is no exception, the younger generation can gain knowledge of culture through the family from a young age.
Families can introduce traditional culture as a unique culture that is the identity of the Indonesian nation. The public also needs to pay more attention and appreciation to all things related to culture, such as performances, training and appreciation for artists and cultural figures from the younger generation. The younger generation must be encouraged to continue to love and preserve Indonesian culture. In this way, the regeneration of artists and cultural figures will be realized and the richness of Indonesian culture will continue to exist in the future.
By: Salsabila Dinis Oktavista
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