Globalization and Cultural Dialog
The collapse of WTC in New York could be seen by every people in the world. Children in remote area of Indonesia could see the kissing of Madona and Britney Spears. That is globalization. Globalization is not only an issue but also a reality that cannot be ignored by every body. Like virus, globalization spread easily and speedily trough every part of the world. It is difficult to answer when actually globalization was started. In reality, globalization has influenced – sometimes has changed – culture and also tradition in society. Some societies do not take granted the globalization, but they tray to negotiate with globalization.
Basically, globalization is not a recent phenomenon. It has happened since Western people went to Asia and Africa. Western people have brought several parts of their culture to non-Western through military forces in the past, but now information technology has played a main role in this part. As if there is no border between West and non- West; everything is similar. Today people both in the East and in the West experience the same thing. Mc. Donald, Coca Cola can be enjoyed in the East and also in West at the same time. Moreover, mass media such as television, radio, news paper, and internet have supported globalization to be main actor in society.
As global phenomenon, globalization has not only given advantages to global development but also has brought negative effects especially to cultural heritage. We believe that every country has an own tradition or culture that is inherited from their ancestor.
Today there is an interesting phenomenon in Indonesia. That is related to the music. This country has about five hundred tribes and each has own culture including music. Traditional music has an important role in every tribe. It is not only used as entertainment but also used as ritual part in traditional ceremony. In some ethnics traditional music is adhered to mystical belief that is played to worship on God. In addition to become traditional art, traditional music becomes special part for tribe members.
The Javanese, one of tribes in Indonesia, has a traditional music is called Karawitan. Karawitan music is arranged by special Javanese music instruments such as gong, gambang, and kendang. Also, this music has pakem; it is a certain melody or music arrangement that couldn’t be changed. This music is usually performed by old people. Only a few young people like the music. In the end of 1990s, karawitan music was almost disappearing. It was difficult to find the cassette and CD in music shop.
Some Javanese musicians were trying to keep Karawitan up by combining with pop music. Pop music was popular for young people since 1960s. Pop music has become an identity of young people. Moreover when Western pop music dominated the music market in Indonesia through radio and television, it has almost displaced the original music such as karawitan. On the other hand karawitan is regarded as ethnical identity of Javanese people. That means the existence of karawitan should be defended. Therefore, Javanese musicians have created a new music arrangement combining between karawitan and pop music that is named Campursari.
Combining between traditional music and pop music is not easy. There is a strong discussion among Javanese musicians. Pro- Campursari argues combination between pop and karawitan is needed to perpetuate the traditional music. By combining music, pro- Campursari believes that traditional music like karawitan will able to be loved by every people. On the other side, anti-Campursari sees destroying tradition has occurred in Campursari music. Karawitan, according to anti-Campursari, has special value in the society. This music is put on the high position as a part of original Javanese culture. People do not be allowed to reduce or add something from the music. Furthermore, anti-Campursari argues if Karawitan music is changed, the music will lose a spiritual value that every Javanese people believe in it. In fact, nowadays Campursari music has become a popular music in Java. Every people even children like the music and also every radio and television station has a special program for Campursari.
In this case, we can see there is a dialogical process between original culture and global culture. One of the effect of globalization is we cannot stop the increasing mobility of good, services, technology, capital and also culture throughout the world. Sometimes we are forced to accept the globalization as a part of our life. Globalization has created an interdependence community not only in the market world but also in the global culture community. As an object of market, music with all its equipments are produced and sold with purpose to get economic benefits. For this reason, music producer forces the people in order to use the music as a part of their life.
Campursari music is an effort to transform the global culture into local culture. Campursari music has translated the global music into local context by taking in part.
When one takes a closer look at the meanings and uses given the specific imported goods within specific ‘local context’ or ‘realities’, one often finds that the goods has been transformed, at least in part, in accordance with the values of the receiving culture (Howes,1996).
We cannot look at the globalization as black or white. Globalization is a necessity that we cannot avoid it. It is an effect of global development and global trade. Goods, services, capital, technology, and culture increase their mobility around in the world. People in all of parts on the world can enjoy the same entertainment and food or drink at the same time. We accept the reality that global development in the West especially in the technology has brought some advantages for the people in the East. Information technology such as television, radio, internet etcetera has made a balance between The West and the East. But we cannot deny that globalization has negative effects culturally to the people in the East.
Cultural values such as hospitality, gotong royong (support each other), respectful, and other original cultures that is lauded in the East has been changed by globalization. Some original cultures such as original religion in the East have disappeared. Therefore, the cultural dialog is a better way to absorb globalization effect. Taking a positive part of globalization and still keep the original values from the local contex.
This artcle was written in 2004
