CUPAK GERANTANG TRADITIONAL THEATER: INTERPRETATION OF TEXT MEANING AS EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN CHARACTER

The Cupak Gerantang Theater is a traditional art that is starting to be threatened with extinction (crisis-existence). This happens because the younger generation (Lombok) were more likely to be interested in and enjoy modern spectacles which are considered more interesting and entertaining. Whereas the traditional art of Cupak Gerentang does not only talk about entertainment, but there is a content of meaning about the value of local wisdom of the Sasak people which can be used as guidance or learning. This research is a descriptive qualitative type of library method. The purpose of this study is to describe the meaning of the local wisdom values of the Sasak people in the Cupak Gerantang drama script and how the traditional Cupak Gerentang theater supports efforts to strengthen character education. Analysis of the data using the semiotic theory of Aston and Savona. Aston and Savona's theory is used to interpret the meaning of the local wisdom values of the Sasak people in the text, that values are then relevant to character education. The data in this study are the dialogues of the characters in the script, the characters, and the storyline of the Cupak Gerantang script. The data sources of this research are the complete script and video of the Cupak Gerantang performance obtained from the documentation study. The results of the study found that there were meanings about the value of local wisdom of the Sasak people in the text, including moral teachings, independence, religiosity, mutual cooperation, love for the homeland, and personal integrity.