Perubahan Makna Pertunjukan Jaran Kepang pada Masyarakat Jawa di Kelurahan Tanjung Sari, Medan

Abstract

Based on a preliminary survey, the researcher noticed that the traditional performance jaran kepang was a very famous show among Jawa community in Tanjung Sari, Medan. At present, it was presumed that the meaning of the performance has been changed. This study was aimed at disclosing the change of meaning of the jaran kepang performance among Jawa community in Tanjung Sari Medan. A qualitative approach as suggested by Spradley was utilized to accomplish the the objective of the study. The key informants began with the actors and were expanded to audiences and persons who organized the performance by using the snowball technique. The data were collected through observation, interviews and the field notes. To improve the data validity such as credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability, the researcher used triangulation method. The findings of the study indicate that the religious elements in jaran kepang performance, the actors, and the performance equipments have been changed in their meaning. In the meantime, the purpose of the performance becomes the traditional art performance and shows the Jawa community identity. Several factors influence the change, among others, the improvement of community education, specially in religion, and the culture of the sorrounding community. The improvement of their knowledge in Islamic religion was also contributed to the change of jaran kepang performance. There is also a tendency that people use the modern music instead of inviting the jaran kepang. Therefore, the youth generation does not laki anymore with the performance using the aliens.