UNS — The student of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta just carved another achievement at the national level. She is Eryneta Nurul Hasanah from the Javanese Language Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) UNS. Eryneta succeeded in taking home the 1st winner title after defeating 173 participants from national universities in Indonesia, in the Indonesian Young Excellence Scholarship (Beasiswa Unggulan Muda Indonesia-BUMI) Essay Competition 2021 organized by BUMI Scholar on February 2021.
Eryn who currently is in her eighth semester chooses Javanese Theatrical as an effort to maintain the local culture’s existence during the pandemic. Undoubtedly, local or regional arts are eroded by rapid modernization and foreign culture.
“The current generation, mostly, prefer foreign drama, soap opera, or movies. Thus, the interest in traditional art, especially Java, starting to decrease. This condition affects the artists or Javanese theater group. Even before the pandemic, the viewers of this art are low, especially during this pandemic condition,” she explains on Saturday (13/3/2021).
Eryn initiates an Android-based application to bridge the theatrical artist performance and the public as viewers. “I create an application to connect the traditional theater viewer with the artists, the AS-DIRAJA (Application for Javanese Theatrical Art). Using the app, theatrical performance will be more effective and efficient because it can be conducted virtually and supported with an electronic ticket that can be bought through the menu available in the application. The difference with Youtube is the access if Youtube is open for everyone and creator need to get thousand of subscribers to earn money,” she added.
The application contains several menus in Javanese with the following functions homepage, drama radio (radio drama), reading, other, and pawarta (news). The application also supports the comments section, and photo sharing for the viewer to use during the performance. The e-ticket system implemented in the application creates a symbiotic mutualism between viewers and artist. The artist can improve their income, while viewers are entertained with their performance.
The first stage in this competition is the elimination stage where the top 10 participants are selected out from a total of 173 participants. The finalists must present their idea or work virtually in front of the board of the jury. Eryn is the only female finalist, which made her creating a pantun (poem) as the representation of the only female finalist.
“Ayam geprek pedas sambalnya (how spicy is a mashed chicken), dimakan waktu hujan aduh mantapnya (a great cuisine when it’s rain). Meskipun saya perempuan satu-satunya (even though I’m the only female participant), semoga saya jugalah juara satunya (I wish I’m the number one),” Eryn revealed during the interview.
When announced as the winner, she admitted that she was happy and surprised, because she does not expect to be a winner in a competition at the beginning of the year.
“I did not expect it, because the idea and presentation from the other teams are far more excellent. The most surprising fact is that I am the only female finalist while the other nine finalists are male. I am also thankful because Allah grants my poem during my presentation,” she said while expressing her gratitude.
The student who had participated in many competitions wish that her idea will not be stopped as a mere idea in this competition. She believes that if implemented, this initiative will be useful for the community especially artists.
Before concluding the interview, Eryn sends a message for all students to dare to try and make a move. “Do not wait until you are great to start something, but start something to be great. This motivation was delivered by the founder of BUMI Scholar. This means that we have to venture out of our comfort zone and take the risks to start something. Because if we are always scared, then the ending risk we must bear is greater. Do not fear of not having any idea, because an idea can come from anywhere,” she concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
