The Role of Representation, Relation, and Identity in Reinforcing Local Wisdom Values in Indonesian Television Documentaries

Abstract

The Indonesia Bagus television documentary program is a form of media that consistently showcases the diversity of Indonesian local culture, including in the episode “Bromo,” which explores the life of the Tengger tribe on the slopes of Mount Bromo (Aderia & Yosiie Marlia, 2014). The phenomenon underlying this research is the challenge of the media in presenting authentic local cultural narratives without falling into tokenism or mere symbolic representation. This study aims to analyze how local wisdom values are represented in documentary programs through representation, relationships, and identity. The research uses a qualitative approach with multimodal analysis methods, including iconographic analysis, visual mode (attribute, setting, salience), and audio mode (narration, background sound, film judgment). The results show that producers position local speakers as the center of cultural representation through language styles, visual attributes, and narrative relationships that strengthen the local identity of the Tengger people. The representation of local wisdom becomes a narrative element, fostering an emotional and educational connection with the audience. In conclusion, this documentary succeeds in showing local values as part of the national narrative, with an inclusive production approach oriented towards cultural preservation.