Plurality in Puppet: Exploring Visual Idiolect in the Cultural Expression of the Punakawan

Ratih Mahardika; Yasraf Amir Piliang; Irfansyah Irfansyah; Nuning Yanti Damayanti

doi:10.2991/978-94-6239-612-8_20

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Plurality in Puppet: Exploring Visual Idiolect in the Cultural Expression of the Punakawan

Authors

Ratih Mahardika¹^{, 5}^{, *}, Yasraf Amir Piliang², Irfansyah Irfansyah³, Nuning Yanti Damayanti⁴

¹Doctoral Program in Visual Art and Design, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia

²Visual Culture Literacy Research Group, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia

³Visual Communication and Multimedia Research Group, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia

⁴Aesthetics and Science of Art Research Group, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia

⁵Trilogi University, South Jakarta, Indonesia

^*Corresponding author. Email: 37022012@mahasiswa.itb.ac.id Email: ratihmahardika@trilogi.ac.id

Corresponding Author

Ratih Mahardika

Available Online 18 March 2026.

DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6239-612-8_20 How to use a DOI?
Keywords: plurality; punakawan; visual idiolect; cultural expression
Abstract: This paper examines the role of visual idiolect in shaping local variations of Punakawan characters, focusing on their function as a cultural counter-narrative to the centralized aesthetic norms of Central Javanese wayang. Moving beyond the theme of ambiguity, this study explores how visual representations of Semar and his companions reflect regional agency, embodying localized ideologies, humor, and critiques of power. Drawing on semiotic and aesthetic theory, this paper argues that these visual variations function as acts of cultural resistance, asserting alternative values and identities within the national narrative. Through a comparative visual analysis of Punakawan representations across Java and Bali, the study reveals how visual idiolect becomes a medium of cultural negotiation, continuity, and transformation.
Open Access: Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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Volume Title: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference and Exhibition of Innovation in Media and Visual Design (IMDES 2025)
Series: Atlantis Highlights in Social Sciences, Education and Humanities
Publication Date: 18 March 2026
ISBN: 978-94-6239-612-8
ISSN: 2667-128X
DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6239-612-8_20 How to use a DOI?
Open Access: Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

ris enw bib

TY  - CONF
AU  - Ratih Mahardika
AU  - Yasraf Amir Piliang
AU  - Irfansyah Irfansyah
AU  - Nuning Yanti Damayanti
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/03/18
TI  - Plurality in Puppet: Exploring Visual Idiolect in the Cultural Expression of the Punakawan
BT  - Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference and Exhibition of Innovation in Media and Visual Design (IMDES 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 249
EP  - 261
SN  - 2667-128X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-612-8_20
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-612-8_20
ID  - Mahardika2026
ER  -

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