Reflections on Social Dimensions, Symbolic Politics, and Educational Values: A Case of Javanese Poetry

Investigations on kidungan, a form of traditional Javanese poetry, have been gaining momentum. However, there is a lack of comprehensive reports exploring the value of Javanese cultural wisdom in relation to social dimensions, symbolic politics, and educational values as reflected in kidungan. This study aims to address this gap by delving into the social dimension, symbolic politics, and educational value embedded in traditional Javanese poetry, specifically in kidungan ludruk. The research data for this study is sourced from ludruk performances broadcasted by Radi Republik Indonesia (RRI) East Java and expert interviews. The data collected were then analyzed using qualitative descriptive techniques, employing an ethnolinguistic research approach. The findings of this study revealed that ludruk kidungan serves as a social representation of traditional society, encompassing various aspects of social dimensions, symbolic politics, and educational values. An important implication of this study is that kidungan has the potential to contribute to the development of sustainable knowledge, particularly in the fields of culture, politics, and education.