Globalization, Information and Communication Technology, and the Existence of Culture and Its Inheritors: A Case Study on Javanese Karawitan

Abstract

: Globalization eliminates time and space boundaries within local culture scope into global one. The effect of westernization definitely becomes one of globalization components. The development of information and communication technology accelerates globalization process. Karawitan , a traditional art originating from Java, has also experienced westernization process. Globalization in information and communication technology, besides its positive impact, also has negative impact on the existence of karawitan and on Indonesian people as the heirs of this culture. The lack of control over karawitan works uploaded on the internet and the ease of access to these works will certainly threaten karawitan music existence. Moreover, the data information of karawitan circulated on the internet is dominated by foreign sources. Thus, as a cultural heritage, karawitan should be preserved through good policies and documentation which are completely and validly arranged. In addition, the use of internet technology as a medium to present musical information in cultural globalization era is one of many ways to do to maintain the existence of Indonesian people as karawitan inheritors.