Between Internet Phenomenon and The Ideology

Based on
Values and Ideology behind the Pop Culture

Satria Aji
16/397136/EK/21092
Abstract
This purpose of writing is to give us a glance from what is happening and trending in our
country. Freedom is belongs to us, but things are going uncontrollable. Globalization is
whelming the whole country, and sadly we are on our way of losing our identity because from
the freedom we get, we are no longer cares a lot about our ideology anymore. Meanwhile,
ideology is made to be our identity, something that will not lose from ourselves. It is made for
us so we can stand on our feet, but the globalization is slowly taking it from us.

Introduction
Indonesian popular culture is growing so fast and become more attractive to its citizens. The
growth is primarily caused by the globalization which affecting the popular culture itself.
People are become more creative and they are given more freedom to innovate. It is
absolutely different from the popular culture on 20-30 years ago where people are not getting
their own freedom to innovate, because they are needed to pay attention to the strict rules
where sometimes doing innovation can send them to their death. Now, there are such no
worries about that. They can express whatever they want, even when it becomes so
controversial to public, it will not kill them. However, nowadays people are become more
tolerant for the controversial things that happened around them. On the other hand, ideology,
which is the foundation of the country, that also reflects on the nations dignity and cultures
that has been last for so many years, stays. It has never been changed even since the
reformation happened a couple years ago.

Since before its Independence, Indonesia is well-known as a country that is rich in culture.
From Sabang to Merauke, there are no region that has no culture in it. Those cultures are
often become the identity of the region, so it can be a foundation of a region. Some cultures
are also control the behavior of its people, and then become the way of life that is last from
generation to generation, and after that the colonization era that was happened after the
kingdom era is not just about taking the countrys natural resources only, but it was also to
erase the cultures, and that is why it is important to unite them into one, a united nation. To
unite them, is to prevent other people who wants to take their culture, and their natural
resources. To unite them is also to create a foundation that can make them equal as one
nation, and after that, Ideology of a country is born. The one and only Pancasila that become
the only identity of Indonesia. Pancasila is formed to be the summary of the rich culture of
Indonesia that can represent tons of cultures that is own by the country.

A glance from the past

Popular culture is also a big part of the cultures that plays big role in Indonesia especially on
the daily life. Indonesian pop culture or what is so-called as Indo Pop [1] is also one of the big
aspects of the Indonesias creative industry, which has given Indonesia Rp 642 trillion in
2015[2]. Fashion, music, photography, movie, and many more, are part of the popular culture.
Why popular culture is become so important? Because it affects the lifestyle of the people in
Indonesia, so indirectly it is also affecting the everyday life of the people. The growth of
popular culture in Indonesia is also influenced by the globalization. Since the reformation on
1998, Indonesian people have gained freedom to express, and they have no more worries to
do everything they want because there is no more threat that haunt them, unlike before the
reformation where Indonesian people cannot freely express what they want, especially if the
works are related to government, or anything that will give bad effect on the government.
They could be prisoned, or silently executed to their death by the law enforcer. Since then,
Indonesian pop culture is going more fast and further than it was.

The technology side

The growth of technology is also playing the part of the pop cultures growth, and it also
pushes the consumerism culture as the part of popular culture in Indonesia. For example, how
PlayStation become something that must be have by the kids in 2000s era, and if someone
does not have the PlayStation then they will have called as kuper that stands for kurang
pergaulan. Technology also creates trends especially in media. One of the effect of the
medias growth of technology is the arise of sinetron or sinema elektronik (or TV series).
Indonesian sinetron are often have some common topics in it, from a love conflict to the
heritance. Unlike Taiwanese Meteor Garden, which was famous in the 2000s era, Indonesian
TV dramas are having adultery, love affair, boredom while the Meteor Garden is famous for
its simple and funny contents.[3] Long episodes and durations are sometimes become the
focus of Indonesian TV drama. One of the longest serial was Tukang Bubur Naik Haji That
has more than 1000 episodes for its one and only season. Unfortunately, it could not beat the
7 year of 259 episodes and 7 seasons. However, there are always several issues in the
sinetrons, and mostly it relates to the content and the plot.

The growth is also changes the music cultures in Indonesia. The 2000s was the year where a
lot of famous musician emerge. Peterpan, Dewa, Ada Band, Sheila on 7 and many more.
These bands were famous for their singles and still become the favorable bands by the
people. Their songs are sometimes meaningful, easy to listen and often give positive vibes. If
the song is talking about love, it would have great meaning and even could the touch the
heart of everyone who listen to it. Just like in 1990s or 1980s where Indonesian musician are
good and famous in making music. Their lyrics is very touching, poetic and memorable by the
people who live in that era. Unfortunately, the emerge of those musicians are also become
the transitions of Indonesian music where some of the musician are influenced by the western
music. Indonesian music is lyrically having some bad transitions where it leaves its origin.
Some people are just making music to get money without doing their best to deliver good
contents. This cause some born of boring, bad-content music that has no good meaning, or
sometimes, plagiarizing of other peoples work. Musicians are often focusing of being
sensational or viral to get people attentions. However, they are not become the dominant
player in the market. There still some good musicians who doing their best to give more
experience to the market.

Internet is also taking a big part in Indonesian Pop Culture. Everyone in Indonesia now can get
easily connected (even though it is still quite hard in some areas) but the connectivity is just
getting better day by day. People now do not have to do any dial-up connections, because
wireless connections are everywhere, easy to get and sometimes it is free to use the wireless
connections. Internet data is much more attracting to people than the offline data. Many
people are prioritizing to have internet data instead of their own balance. They are preferred
to be called through VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) instead of doing normal call. It is also
influenced by the Korean-based social media, LINE, who promotes the free call and free
video call and it is efficient due to its low-consuming internet data.

Newborn trends that is caused by the wider use of Internet is also arise. Since the born of
Android and the iOS, Indonesian people have the new trend. Just like PlayStation that I
mentioned above, These two types of mobile operating system is becoming the standard of
Indonesian people, due to its easy access to use the social media, and also to support their
daily activity. Social media has created more trends among the people. The check-in features
are one of the successful trend where people are love to share where their locations are.
Some of them just for their entertainment need, but some of them use it as the media to
show-off to their environment. Anything that can be used as media to show can easily get
the market in Indonesia. With 66 Millions of active users [4], the social media is still on its early
growing that maybe can pass the populations of Indonesia.

2015-2016: The change.

These 2 years are so amazing, where the growth of internet is very fast, and a lot of new
trends are born, again. During these years there have been so much changing in Indonesian
people trends. One of them is the effect of social media. Nowadays, being famous can not
only be reached in the real world, but it also can be reached in the internet, and that is the
amazing facts. Some new creative young peoples of Indonesia gain a lot of attentions through
the Internet. The new trend of being youtuber (someone who use the YouTube service and
actively use their account) is arise. Even though it was triggered by other people outside the
country, but because of Indonesian peoples creativity, The trend can easily entered the
country. Reza Oktovian, Chandra Liow are only some of the examples of the famous youtuber
in Indonesia. On the other side, Karin Novilda, or known as awkarin (her username on the
Internet) steal the attention by the content, which contain her daily life on the internet. So
many Indonesian teenagers are in love with Karins lifestyle and how her love story is. Also on
this two years, peoples interest in photography is also increasing. Many Indonesians users of
Instagram influence the people by their amazing work, and there are more people who are
interested to use this social media, and try to create their own work. The trend of street
photography and landscape photography is the most interested aspect in photography that is
loved by these beginner people. The next trending culture in these 2 years is the rising of the
Vlog (Video Blog) that also creates the new world in Indonesian pop culture. Young Lex, an
Indonesian rapper that is also a part of the Internet artists that got his fame on his YouTube
channel.

A following year after these new cultures arise, everything is drastically changing. More
Indonesian people, supported by their consumerism behavior, is on a race where they want to
be as famous as the rising Internet stars. On 2016 there are more famous Internet stars.
The Vlogging cultures are everywhere, even some people are making their own vlog that also
tell their daily lifestyle, but not all of them are good in making so they cannot be as famous as
the stars. However, whatever their purposes are, making vlog is become a new habit among
Indonesian people. The internet stars influence is become wider day by day. People cannot
see them on the TV, but these internet artists can be found easily on their social media
account. Due to free access of internet, everyone can search and watch anything they want
without considering which content that fits them well. Unfortunately, some contents that are
shared by the internet artists are often not suitable for the people who is younger than them.
This phenomenon is spreading all over Indonesia, as we can see that a lot of kids that are not
supposed to watch the content and indirectly, the videos and posts that is created by those
artists are affecting the kids to do things that not supposed to do in their age. By this
influence, more Indonesian teenagers are become inspired by the contents. Use of
inappropriate language by some youtubers are now become something that is very normal
among Indonesian teenagers, and indirectly pushes them to use it more than it was.
Obviously, the old generation is at the edge of misunderstanding in handling this condition,
especially those who have their children fall into this phenomenon. The old generations are
just like on the horns of dilemma, at one side they want to prevent their children from the
phenomenon but at one side they want to support their children and do not want to harm
their growing thought. Since this phenomenon arise, there are massive changes among
Indonesian teenagers. Their youth spirit is not well allocated so sometimes they just do
everything they want without considering the risks. This phenomenon creates a new
atmosphere among teenagers, where most of them are just become the slave of the media.
Easily distracted, even just by a post in the social media. Their emotions are easily triggered,
and they are overdoing in anything. Their definition of Love is also changes. Even though it
still become taboo and sensitive topics, sex among teenagers have influenced them. Many of
the internet artists show their love story on their vlog without considering the effect, and
they are bravely show the inappropriate contents that should not be posted publicly. This
changes the mindset of Indonesian teenagers. When they are fall in love, now they are doing
more than just sending romantic messages. Even a 10-year-old boy can state his love feelings
to his friends on the social media. [3] For the teenagers, now love story can indirectly lead them
to the inappropriate sex that is just too young for them to understand the things.

The changes in Indonesias pop culture is quite significant. Nowadays, more viral
phenomenon is occurred in the country. Sometimes, whether people realize it or not, one key
to get famous in Indonesia is to be viral and sensational. One way to get viral and
sensational itself is so easy. Anything that contains nudity, or anything that is become taboo
or controversial can easily attract people. Even though they hate it, they will see it. The artists
are do not care how many dislikes they will get, as long that it can lift up their name in the
market, is okay. On the other side, musicians are now no longer doing their best to make good
content. Indonesian music is now also changes a lot. There still some good musicians who
done it in the good way, while some of them are not. Even in some new phenomenon we can
see that someone that has no good capability in singing, force themselves to create a music.
Two major mistakes here they force themselves, and they done it bad. The result? It
becomes viral, again. So many people dislike the work, but that is how it works.

The Ideology
Indonesia is on its way to lose the identity. This phenomenon is a good reflection that
indirectly says Indonesia is getting further from its identity because in some cases, it is
clearly stated that Indonesian pop culture are much influenced by the western and sometimes
the eastern, and obviously not reflecting the true identity of the country. So many people who
plays the role in the pop culture does not include the identity exceptif they make a work
that is related to the spirit (sometimes something that is related to sport) or something that is
made for the commemoration of the Independence Day. Sadly, the ideology does not take its
part on the pop culture. Indonesian people know what their ideology is, but no longer care
about applying it on their daily life. Indonesian people are now just focused on developing
their country on their own, sometimes does not compliant with their ideology. This will not
give short-term effect, but if this goes for a long time, there will be a time that the ideology is
just and ideology. It is just a written text on a paper, people will know it just as a thought
made by the hero. The government, however, needs to do some steps to give the ideology a
role to become the true identity, just like it was. Not to be stricter than it was, but adequately
to be applied by the people, and to be the standard for everyone.

The phenomenon is not relevant to our ideology and it is just reflecting the western without
giving it our own characteristics, or simply we can say that some of the celebgramthe name
for the Internet artists, are quite plagiarizing the westerns people works that is unfortunately,
does not fit with the ideology. It is clearly disrespect some of our cultures and it is also harmful
to our cultures and the harmony in the environment. We need to accept the globalization but
it does not mean that we have to accept everything they givewe have our identity that has
been in our blood even since we were not born into this world.

Conclusion
Globalization are spreading ever since before we born. We cannot stop it, and we cannot hide
from it. We just need to get rid of it and control it to not get controlled by it. Pop culture will
always be influenced by the globalization, but it does not mean to let go of our identity. We
can see now that things are going uncontrollably overwhelming the country. We need our
ideology because somehow the present things that we know now is just cannot fits us well. It
is not made for us. We need to keep our ideology stands as our identity. All we need to do now
is to learn more about the ideology, the true face of our country, not only focusing our mind
on the things we want, because this country is built to all of us, not for individuals.

Reference:
[1]
"Indo Pop." Wikipedia. Accessed December 09, 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo_pop.
[2]
Tempo.Co. "Industri Kreatif Sumbang Rp 642 Triliun Dari Total PDB RI | Bisnis | Tempo.co."
Tempo News. March 2, 2016. Accessed December 09, 2016.
https://m.tempo.co/read/news/2016/03/02/090750007/industri-kreatif-sumbang-rp-642-triliun-
dari-total-pdb-ri.
[3]
@merdekadotcom. "'Pintarnya' Anak SD, Kecil-kecil Sudah Jago Pacaran." Merdeka.com.
Accessed December 09, 2016. https://www.merdeka.com/peristiwa/pintarnya-anak-sd-kecil-
kecil-sudah-jago-pacaran.html.
[4]
Loras, Sophie. "Social Media in Indonesia: Big Numbers with Plenty of Room to Grow." ClickZ
- Social Media in Indonesia Big Numbers with Plenty of Room to Grow Comments. February 22,
2016. Accessed December 09, 2016. https://www.clickz.com/social-media-in-indonesia-big-
numbers-with-plenty-of-room-to-grow/94062/