Cultural disconnect: Indonesia grapples with the essence of culture amid rising visibility

Indonesia is witnessing a surge in attention towards culture, with government festivals, community initiatives reviving traditional arts, and increased engagement with museums and historical sites. Social media is also filled with expressions of cultural pride. However, the article questions a growing disconnect: despite culture being more visible than ever, people feel increasingly distant from its essence.

The author suggests that culture is often reduced to mere spectacle – an annual agenda, a tourist attraction, or a fleeting source of pride – rather than being integrated into daily life and thought processes. This superficial engagement leads to a feeling of alienation from the very culture being celebrated.

Drawing a distinction between tradition and culture, the author posits that tradition is merely the 'form,' while culture is the 'soul' that gives birth to these forms. True culture, originating from 'budi', the human mind or inner self, is deeply embedded in how individuals understand life, perceive others, resolve conflicts, treat nature, value knowledge, and uphold ethics.

The article argues that the root of culture lies not in tangible symbols like temples, traditional garments, or wayang kulit, but in the fundamental way people think. This way of thinking shapes values, which in turn influence attitudes, habits, and ultimately, traditions. Reversing this order, the author concludes, leads to a situation where symbols persist while their underlying values begin to fade.