Transformation of baliseering into ajeg bali: Comodification of bali in exotic tourism industry

This study aims to: (1) understand the commodity of the tourism industry on Baliseering and Ajeg Bali Program; (2) analyze the transformation that occurred in the commodification of Bali. The current research refered to Historical Method with the following steps: heuristics (data collection), source criticism (validity of data sources), interpretation (interpereting data into facts), and historiography (in a critical perspective). The results showed that there is a relationship between The Baliseering Program and Ajeg Bali Movement, namely there is a transformation of the zeitgeist to comercialize the exotic Balinese culture. The exotic culture of Bali was preserved as a cultural tourism commodity by the Dutch government, while in the post-colonial times Bali was totally comfified, not only its exotic culture but also land, customs, and religious system. The ideological conflicts among the Balinese people are continuously used as the background of this commodification of Bali. Continuous capitalism (mimicry) occupied a special position in these two movements. The discourse Baliseering and Ajeg Bali are seen as counterproductive discourse taking the account of zeitgeist and cultuurgebudenheit (the spirit of the times and the cultural ties of the times). However, as the investors and authorities have an interest on it, the tourism industry can be implemented and justified.