Differentiation of Head Shapes and Positions of Shadow Puppets Arjuna Kedhu and Kinanthi in Surakarta Style

Abstract

This research was conducted to see the differentiation of the shape and position of the head which shows the different concepts in Arjuna's self-control which are famous for its ability to control themselves. These different concepts occur over time by the creation of Arjuna wanda (specific expressions of puppets) of Kedhu, Kinanthi, and Muntap created in different centuries and eras. The method used in this research is ethnosemiotic which is a combination of ethnographic and semiotic methods by analyzing three wanda, namely wanda Kedhu, Kinanthi, and Muntap. The results obtained indicate that Kinanthi has a slighter differentiation from Kedhu, but Muntap has a wider differentiation. This differentiation is related to the size of the hair bun, the angle of the forehead, the angle of the eyes and the position of the head. This shows that there are gradations of expression from the three wanda, where the happy expression on the Kinanthi wanda mediates the pious expression of the Kedhu wanda and the wrath of the Muntap wanda.

Keywords: head, shapes, positions, expressions, differentiations

DOI: 10.7176/ADS/76-04

Publication date:September 30^th 2019