Ketoprak

What is "Ketoprak?" is it a kind of food from indonesia? (hmm.. start starving now..hehe). Well, i'm not talking about food now (maybe later...yap, i promise!)Ketoprak is a Javanese cultural performance which has existed from the past up to the present time. In one occasion, Ketoprak is presented by some acts in the play followed by the Javanese traditional songs. Since it is originated from the Javanese cultures, the story does not run far away from Javanese life or it can be called as the reflection of the Javanese real life. However, do not try to think that Ketoprak is a kind of melancholy, talk show, or something else, even in some occasion Ketoprak could be more a serious play. It is more than that kind of. Mostly, in Ketoprak performance, there are some values or norms that are passed down to the audiences through the implied intentions by performer. Ketoprak is mostly performed by using Javanese language and sometimes code-switched into Bahasa Indonesia by the performer. You might find different feelings when you are engaged with the Ketoprak Performance, since it is not a boring performance because you can find the jokes shared by the performer (luckily if you know the language). The story presented within the Ketoprak is mostly taken from the story of the Javanese myth or history of Javanese cultures. Basically, Ketoprak is originally taken from the puppet show which then well-performed by the artists in the theater. Historically, Ketoprak is only performed in the King’s private house or his kingdom called keraton as it serves as the social status. However, now the time is changing, everyone could enjoy the performance.

Unfortunately, the values of the people towards the Ketoprak itself remain changing. There are only a small number of people who still enjoy the Ketoprak. To get deeper, I once interviewed a friend of mine about Ketoprak, and he came from Kendal (Central Java), I chose him because he claims that he is familiar with Ketoprak. Firstly, I ask whether he still watches a Ketoprak performance, he said that he frequently still watches Ketoprak. It is because the story is very interesting , and there are some values and norms shared during the performance. Secondly, I ask him how he watches Ketoprak performance, and he said that when he was child, he used to watch Ketoprak performance in his village which was performed up to one month. When I asked him to mention one example of Ketoprak performance, he directly mentioned “Parikesit” as one of the example of Ketoprak he was familiar with. This story, Parikesit, tells about the figure of Gatot Kaca when he was born to the world. Unfortunately, he added, now he no longer finds the same thing about the Ketoprak. It is hardly found, many people now are familiar with Ketoprak only by television. In short, even though in the previous times Ketoprak was a well-known cultural performance, but in the present time less of people go to watch Ketoprak. Even if it is performed in a theater, most of people prefer to watch this kind of cultural performance in the television. However, the problem does not only come from counting how many people still go to watch Ketoprak, but it might also come as result of the performers who are assumed to have less quality in performing Ketoprak. Consequently, most of its audiences lose their taste of “Ketoprak”. If they, audiences, still watch Ketoprak, because the performers are well-known who might be able to give something to attract the audiences. Extremely, there are only a small number of young or new generations who still care to this kind of performance in globalization era. Even most of them might not be familiar what a Ketoprak is.

Ketoprak is a cultural performance originated from Javanese culture, and performed by people in a theater. In the past time, it was well-known and, unfortunately many people have lost their interest or “taste” of watching Ketoprak. Consequently, Ketoprak is no longer well-known as it was and less of people go to wacth Ketoprak. Since it is related to the word “culture” which is performed, what I would like to suggest is that there should be a solution to keep this cultural performance existence. If now it is no longer popular, I can hardly imagine what will happen to this kind of performance 10 years ahead. Therefore, I think the best solution is that Ketoprak should not only be performed but also socialized and get the young generation involved within the performance and they might feel and know their own culture.