Freedom of Cultural Expression Key to Maintaining Diversity

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Innovation 4.0 chairman Budiman Sudjatmiko speaks on Thursday (6/12/2018) during the 2018 Indonesian Culture Congress at the Education and Culture Ministry in Jakarta. The congress, which featured a series of activities, was designed to attract youths and the general public toward gaining greater understanding of Indonesia’s rich cultural diversity.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The strengthening of the primordial identity and sectarian sentiment was one of the main issues discussed at the 2018 Indonesian Culture Congress (KKI 2018). To overcome this problem, KKI 2018 prepared a strategy by providing spaces for the diversity of cultural expressions and encouraging cultural interaction to strengthen an increasingly inclusive culture.

The strengthening of primordial identity and sectarian sentiment was one of the seven main issues of cultural advancement that had been discussed in KKI 2018 preparation since last March. In order to overcome those problems, KKI 2018 formulated a number of systematic steps.

“Without protected expression spaces, it will be difficult for culture. It will also be difficult if people do not have an understanding about other cultures as all. Spaces and interaction are very important if we want to nurture diversity,” said Culture Director General Hilmar Farid on the second day of KKI 2018, Thursday (6/12/2018), at the complex of the Education and Culture Ministry, Jakarta.

The second main issue is the loss of tradition treasure amid a wave of modernity. To respond to this, a strategic agenda was prepared to protect and develop values, expression and practices of traditional culture.

“Only through such a way will we be able to bring tradition to the modern world. However, this is not done through conservation alone […],” said Hilmar.

Technology disruption

Information technology disruption was the third major issue discussed at the congress. Industrial Revolution 4.0 is well under way, yet Indonesia has not kept up. Indonesia is still just a user of technology, not a transformer of it.

This issue was discussed in depth by a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) and general chairman of Inovator 4.0 Indonesia, Budiman Sudjatmiko, in his cultural speech titled on the second day of KKI 2018. “We are still shocked when facing ‘new issues’ that are actually old issues, or easily fall in love with old solutions to old problems that have actually expired. The problem lies in the poor tradition of reading and verifying facts,” he said.

“The quick-success products are sold to us, while we cannot understand the flow of its process. If the condition continues like this, along the Industrial Revolution 4.0 food chain, we will be the last link,” he explained.

Artist Agan Harahap, who presented his photo-editing works under “Sumir (Clearcut) Realism”, also discussed the problems faced in the new era. “With the presence of smartphones, our nation is not getting smarter, but instead becoming a know-it-all generation. Regardless of whether the news is true or false, as long as one likes certain news, they immediately swallow it whole. This is what is happening with our nation at present,” he said.

To face a tsunami of information, Agan urged the public not to be careless and to always have the urge to be at the forefront of disseminating anonymous information. "Just relax, improve literacy and carry out verification," he said.

Consumer of world culture

Cultural exchange that is unbalanced in the global order makes Indonesia a mere consumer of world culture. This phenomenon was the fourth main issue that was also discussed at KKI 2018. A number of strategic agendas have also been prepared to address this, such as optimizing the use of information and communication technology for the promotion of culture; strengthening intellectual property protection on arts, information and traditional technology; and boosting tourism based on the utilization of cultural heritage and the likes.

Two other main issues highlighted by KKI 2018 are the problems of cultural institutions and the flawed design of government policies. Therefore, KKI 2018 recommended institutional reform in the cultural field, optimal use of the cultural budget, and the harmonization of central and regional cultural policies.

In terms of policy, the government needs to establish an integrated cultural data system, provide cultural facilities and infrastructure, and improve human resources in the field of culture.

(ABK)