Purwokerto, 3 September 2025 – Laboratorium Pertunjukan dan Seni Fakultas Ilmu Budaya (FIB) Universitas Jenderal Soedirman successfully held a Hybrid Seminar entitled “Wayang Cumplung (coconut shell puppet) Art as a Means of Character Education in the Digital Era” on Wednesday, 3 September 2025. The event, which took place in Aula Bambang Lelono FIB Unsoed, started at 09.00 WIB and was attended by hundreds of participants both in person and online.
The event featured speakers Mas Titut Edi Purwanto and Eni Nur Aeni, S.S., M.A., with moderator Lynda Susana Fatmawaty. Both presented the important role of wayang cumplung art as a unique performance form from Banyumas that has educational value and relevance to the development of character education in today’s digital era.
The Dean of FIB Unsoed, Prof. Dr. Ely Trash Rahayu, S.S., M.Hum., in her remarks stated that FIB always pays special attention to local arts and culture. According to her, this kind of activity is not just a study forum, but also a concrete step to preserve traditional arts through practice and workshops. “As an academic institution, FIB Unsoed does not only stop at the theoretical level, but also plays an active role in maintaining cultural sustainability through real activities involving students and the community,” she said.
In the first presentation, Eni Nur Aeni, S.S., M.A., emphasized that wayang cumplung contains many social criticisms that are able to open public awareness to ongoing phenomena. According to her, the messages contained in each wayang cumplung play are relevant to be used as reflection and character learning, both for the younger generation and the general public.
Meanwhile, Mas Titut Edi Purwanto as the second speaker explained that the world of wayang cumplung depicts the reality of life inhabited by “cumplung” characters—people who seem to know a lot of things, but are actually empty. “Wayang cumplung is a mirror for us, that superficial cleverness without wisdom actually breeds emptiness,” explained Titut. On this occasion, he also performed a wayang cumplung show which was part of the 7th Series of Pawiyatan, so that participants could witness firsthand the artistic and philosophical values of the art.
The enthusiasm of the participants was evident from the high level of interaction during the discussion session. The participants, including academics, students, artists, and the general public, asked questions that showed great interest in the preservation of wayang cumplung as a traditional art that remains highly relevant.
This pawiyatan activity itself is an ongoing program of Laboratorium Pertunjukan dan Seni FIB Unsoed, which invites the wider community to participate in knowing, understanding, and preserving local performing arts. “We open up the widest possible space so that people, not only in Banyumas but throughout Indonesia, can learn and take value from the art of wayang cumplung,” said the moderator, Lynda Susana Fatmawaty.
The Head of Laboratorium Pertunjukan dan Seni, Exwan Andriyan Verrysaputro, S.Pd., M.Pd., in his closing remarks expressed appreciation for the implementation of this activity. He emphasized the importance of continuity in every art preservation effort. “Hopefully, art and performance preservation and development activities at FIB can continue to be held consistently. That way, we can keep the art and culture of Banyumas alive amidst the current of globalization,” he explained.
In addition to presenting critical thinking and artistic performances, this event also served as a space for dialogue between tradition and modernity. Through the hybrid format, the seminar was able to reach a wider audience, while demonstrating that traditional arts can adapt to technological developments.
With the holding of this seminar, Laboratorium Pertunjukan dan Seni FIB Unsoed further strengthens its role as a forum for cultural preservation as well as a center for art-based educational innovation. Wayang cumplung, with all its philosophical messages and moral values, has proven to be capable of becoming a contextual character education medium in the digital era.