Wayang Ajen: Cultural Media Diplomated Culture

Abstract

Wayang Ajen is one of the Indonesian's contemporary puppets. More than 20 years, Wayang Ajen has traveled in many countries, such as: Greece, India, Egypt, Turkey, China, Korea, Iran, and others. Wayang Ajen show, chose “carangan” play created by the puppeteer based on the story of Mahabharata and Ramayana. This research is based on direct observation in a various occasion, including seeing the audience's response on the stage and understanding the human values of the audience. This study aims to give an overview of the creative interpretations done by a puppeteer who develops a creative economy at the same time in the contemporary Indonesian puppet shows. This study runs a qualitative methods by means the research involved. This study uses the sociological theory communication approach initiated by Nina W. Syam. Wayang Ajen as a contemporary Indonesian puppet has shown its existence proportionally in the form of contemporary and professional performing arts in the development of the creative economy. Wayang Ajen shows to the world as a diplomacy media of cross-cultural among the nations in the world.