UNS – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta held a cultural study webinar on Friday (19/4/2024). This event was realized through collaboration between the Cultural Studies Doctoral Program (S-3) of FIB UNS and the Cultural Studies Doctoral Program (S-3) of Udayana University (Unud), as well as the Indonesian Cultural Studies Association (AKBI). Culture, which can be a solution to various societal challenges, was the catalyst for this event.

The Cultural Narrative Series 2 webinar took place online via Zoom Cloud Meeting. Asep Yudha Wirajaya, S.S., M.A. from FIB UNS and Ir. Anak Agung Gede Agung Dalem, S.T., M.T. from FIB Unud were present as speakers in this seminar. Through his opening remarks, the Dean of FIB UNS, Prof. Dr. Warto, M.Hum., stated that cultural studies have many perspectives. This diversity can be utilized as a solution to solve problems within society.

This event addressed the theme “The Power of Cultural Studies in Interpreting Manuscripts and Waste Emergency”. The first speaker, Asep Yudha, in his presentation titled “Interconnected Manuscripts in Cultural Studies,” touched upon the function of texts in religious manuscripts.

“The manuscripts written by Nusantara scholars have various functions. They range from critical functions to the empowerment of social, cultural, economic, and political conditions,” Asep explained.

Asep also added that religious manuscripts contain teachings on environmental cleanliness. There are advice poems that contain teachings on environmental care and cleanliness.

“Specifically, religious manuscripts are not very explicit about dealing with waste. However, in religious manuscripts, there are also advice poems containing teachings on environmental cleanliness. Serat Centini also contains teachings on preserving the environment,” he added.

The second speaker, Ir. Anak Agung Dalem, stated in his presentation titled “Trapped by Waste Emergency: What Can Cultural Studies Do?” that the regulations and mechanisms for handling waste that have been implemented have not been able to solve the waste problem in Indonesia. In fact, this problem appears to be increasingly complex and difficult.

The Head of the Cultural Studies S-3 Program at FIB UNS, Dra. Sri Kusumo Habsari, M.Hum., Ph.D., concluded the Culture Narrative Series 2 with gratitude for the collaboration between the S-3 Cultural Studies Programs at FIB UNS, the S-3 Cultural Studies Program at FIB Unud, and AKBI. She also hoped that through activities like this, cultural studies could gradually rise to provide a new breakthrough in solving social problems and enriching research.

“From this activity, we can understand that manuscripts are rich research objects that can be studied more deeply with various theories, and we can see waste not only in terms of disposal methods but also from a social perspective,” Sri Kusumo Habsari, Ph.D. concluded.

Humas UNS