Existences of Ketoprak as Indonesian Performing Art: An Issue in Tradition and Modernization Perspective

Modernization has brought an enormous impact on the existence of traditional art in Indonesia with ketoprak performance as no exception. This study aims to discover the preserved elements of tradition and the modified elements of tradition in accordance with the demands of the times. This is a descriptive qualitative in which produces descriptive data in the form of verbal or written words of people and observable behaviors. It is concluded that ketoprak has a flexible nature to change the pattern of performance. The elements of tradition and modernization need to be combined in ketoprak performance as an effort to maintain the existence of the traditional performing arts. In the ketoprak performance, traditional preserved elements include gandrung (love), perangan (fight), and dagelan (jokes); clothing and Javanese language, as well as balungan lakon or improvised methods. Meanwhile, modern elements are included in supporting elements such as lighting, music and stage programming, as well as major elements in the form of stories. This combination shows that ketoprak art performances have the flexibility to make changes. This is what makes the existence of ketoprak performance art still remain