Cakra Communico: Journal of Communication Science

The HipDut Phenomenon in the New Media Era

2026-04-27T05:16:34+00:00

The development of digital technology has changed the paradigm of human interaction and the production of cultural meaning. This study examines the phenomenon of HipDut (hip-hop dangdut) music as a new cultural product born from the new media ecosystem. The aim is to analyze how new media characteristics, such as interactivity and convergence, influence the production, distribution, and consumption of HipDut music, and how this phenomenon represents the cultural identity of the younger generation. Drawing on McLuhan's media ecology theory and Henry Jenkins' convergence culture, this study highlights the shift in the audience's role from passive consumers to active producers in a democratic digital space. The case study focuses on the song "Garam & Madu (Sakit Dadaku)" by Tenxi, Naykilla, and Jemsii, which gained popularity without going through the conventional recording industry. The analysis shows that HipDut is not just a passing trend, but rather a reflection of the collapse of boundaries between high and popular culture mediated by algorithms and collective participation. This research contributes to the still-limited study of local digital music, particularly in understanding the transformation of traditional music in the digital cultural space.

Fulfilling the Need for Affection and Digital Intimacy in the Film Her (2013)

2026-04-27T05:20:10+00:00

The growth of digital media and artificial intelligence has fundamentally transformed how individuals form emotional connections and satisfy their need for affection. Media no longer serves as a channel for information or entertainment but it has evolved into a relational space where digital intimacy can genuinely take shape. This study examines how the film Her (2013) represents the fulfilment of affective needs and digital intimacy through the lens of Uses and Gratifications theory. A qualitative approach was adopted, combining close textual analysis of the film with a review of supporting academic literature. Her was treated as a cultural text, and the analysis concentrated on its narrative structure, dialogue, and character interactions as representations of digital media used for emotional fulfilment. The findings reveal that the film portraysdigital media as a paradoxical entity. On one side, it is capable of delivering emotional gratification through responsive and empathetic presence, thereby meeting individuals' need for affection and belonging. On the other side, relying on media as the primary source of intimacy risks constructing an illusion of closeness while gradually weakening real- world social bonds. This study concludes that the fulfilment of affective needs through digital media is situational and inherently limited, and it reinforces the continued relevance of Uses and Gratifications theory in understanding the relationship between humans and digital media in the era of artificial intelligence.

From Classical Texts to Content

2026-04-27T05:24:39+00:00

Digital transformation has significantly altered the learning system and religious culture in Islamic boarding schools. This study examines the shift in the thinking and behavior of santri from a tradition of learning based on classical Islamic texts toward a culture of creating digital content in new media. To analyze this, the study employs Medium Theory, developed by Marshall McLuhan and Joshua Meyrowitz. This theory explores how digital media not only function as communication tools but also influence ways of thinking, social relationships, and the structure of knowledge authority within Islamic boarding schools. The method used in this study is qualitative, involving interviews with students as well as analysis of various digital documents and prior literature related to online religious activities. The results indicate that the presence of digital media has transformed the nature of religious authority, positioning students not merely as recipients of knowledge but also as content creators. They are now active on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. This change reflects the emergence of digital habits of thinking and behavior among students that are more participatory, visual, and flexible. Nevertheless, they continue to strive to uphold traditional values such as etiquette, politeness, and simplicity.

Narrative Manipulation and Reality Construction

2026-04-27T05:27:02+00:00

This study investigated the communication techniques employed by buzzers in shaping voter perception within new media during the 2024 Indonesian Presidential Election (Pilpres). The research was driven by the problematic rise of structured narrative manipulation, which caused information distortion and eroded rational public discourse. Using a qualitative-interpretive approach and Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method, the study synthesized findings from academic and grey literature concerning buzzer operations in Indonesia. The analysis utilized framing and priming theories, alongside the Digital Social Construction of Reality (DSCR) framework. The findings revealed that buzzers functioned as structured narrative machines, systematically applying framing to polarize candidate images and utilizing priming to divert public attention from substantive issues toward artificial gimmicks. Furthermore, the study identified a significant disruption in the traditional agenda-setting mechanism, where buzzers forced digital trends that mainstream media eventually followed. This process resulted in a biased DSCR, leading to cognitive narrowing and a "spiral of silence" among voters. The study concluded that such structured manipulation transformed voters from rational subjects into mere consumers of artificial political narratives, posing a serious threat to deliberative democracy. Enhanced digital awareness and stricter digital campaign regulations were recommended to mitigate these cognitive damages.

Dressed and Undressed: A Semiotic Analysis of Manneken Pis

2026-02-26T02:46:49+00:00

Manneken Pis, the iconic bronze fountain sculpture in Brussels, has been subjected to scholarly examination as a symbol of Belgian cultural identity, yet its distinctive sartorial dimension remained analytically underexplored. This study investigated how the systematic dressing and undressing of the monument produces meaning through material transformation and performative practice. The research employed Roland Barthes' triadic semiotic framework, examining the monument's denotative, connotative, and mythological dimensions. The analysis revealed that the oscillation between naked (original, vulnerable) and clothed (ceremonial, dignified) states generates what Lacanian theory terms a floating signifier a sign whose meaning remains perpetually unstable and renegotiated rather than fixed. The study examined the historical accumulation of over one thousand costumes and traced temporal patterns in costume donations across three centuries. Findings demonstrated that meaning emerges not from either state in isolation but from the irresolvable tension between dressed and undressed dimensions. The research contributes to understanding how contemporary urban monuments negotiate identity and cultural exchange through material practice rather than stable symbolism, with implications for monument studies, material culture scholarship, and fashion semiotics.