SEJARAH SOSIAL KOMUNITAS SENIMAN DI KEMLAYAN SURAKARTA 1930-an-1970-an

HERI PRIYATMOKO, Prof. Dr. Bambang Purwanto

2013 | Tesis | S2 Sejarah

Penelitian ini merekonstruksi proses historis terbentuknya komunitas seniman yang bermukim di kampung Kemlayan Surakarta dan kehidupan sosial mereka dalam rentang waktu 1930-1970. Pengambilan topik tersebut dilatarbelakangi oleh dua hal pokok, yaitu langkanya studi ilmiah mengenai sejarah komunitas di Kota Surakarta yang bergerak di bidang kultural pada periode kerajaan sampai republik dan keberadaan mereka yang tidak tertulis dalam panggung sejarah lokal. Permasalahan dari penelitian ini, yaitu berkembangnya komunitas seniman karawitan Kemlayan beserta proses diri menjadi seorang priyayi, dan siasat politik yang mereka lakukan pada saat hegemoni kekuasaan keraton runtuh dan cara mereka bertahan melewati perubahan zaman. Guna memperoleh jawaban atas permasalahan utama tersebut dipakai metode sejarah kritis serta penggunaan sumber primer maupun sekunder, seperti arsip, foto, wawancara mendalam, pengamatan dan telaah referensi yang relevan. Hasil yang diperoleh dari penelitian ini menunjukkan komunitas seniman Kemlayan muncul pada masa Paku Buwana IV (1788-1821). Mereka lahir dan tumbuh bukan dilandasi semangat etnisitas, nafas keagamaan maupun orientasi bisnis, melainkan bergerak di bidang kesenian karawitan tradisional Jawa. Aktivitas kebudayaan dilakukan secara konsisten membentuk karakteristik ruang yang ditinggalinya, dan menjadi elemen pembeda dengan sekian kelompok sosial di Kota Surakarta. Komunitas seniman Kemlayan masuk dalam kategori sosial priyayi karena mengabdi kepada Keraton Kasunanan. Ragam simbol kepriyayian yang dimiliki, yaitu gelar, rumah, dan busana. Kehidupan seniman-priyayi Kemlayan dinamis. Dengan keahlian menabuh gamelan, seniman-priyayi Kemlayan memperoleh lapangan pekerjaan yang baru di KOKAR, ASKI, PKJT, dan RRI Surakarta. Dampak positifnya ialah mereka mampu melewati perubahan zaman dan kedudukan sosialnya tetap tinggi di mata masyarakat. Hidup di alam modern tidak serta merta menghapus simbol kepriyayian yang melekat. Serangkaian proses sejarah ini menunjukkan terjadi kontinuitas priyayi dan keberadaan seniman-priyayi kampung Kemlayan selalu diperhitungkan dalam jagad kesenian tradisional Jawa meski zaman telah berubah

This research reconstructs formation of artists community that lived in Kampung Kemlayan Surakarta and their social life in 1930-1970. There are two points of research’s background, the rarity of the research related to history of community in Surakarta that concerns about culture in kingdom until republic period and their existence was not written in local history. The main research question is the development karawitan artists community in Kemlayan and the process of becoming priyayi, and their politic strategy when the kingdom collapsed and their survival way through the changing of the period. Answering the main research question critical history method, the use of primary and secondary sources, as like archives, photos, in-depth interview and analysis of related previous study was used. The result of the research shows that the Kemlayan’s artists community was established in Paku Buwana IV (1788-1821) period. Unlike other community that was established based on ethnicity, religion or business orientation, the establishment of this community was based on Javanese traditional arts/culture of karawitan activities. Cultural activities were done consistently in shaping characteristic of the area and it distinguished among other social communities in Surakarta. The Kemlayan’s artists community was part of priyayi in social stucture because it served to Keraton Kasunanan. Various symbol of priyayi was represented by title, house and attire. The life of Kemlayan’s artist-priyayi was dynamic. The Kemlayan’s artist-priyayi with the skill in karawitan got employed by KOKAR, ASKI, PJKT and Surakarta’s RRI. They were survived in the changing of authority and kept their social status in the society. Live in modern day was not erasing nobleness symbols that they bore. Some symbols of Keraton Kasunanan’s legacy are still used as in the kingdom era. The existence of Kemlayan’s artists community are always valued in traditional Javanese culture although time has changed.

Kata Kunci : Seniman, Kemlayan Surakarta, Pangrawit, Priyayi, Kota.