A SEMIOTIC STUDY OF KI ENTHUS SUSMONO’S CREATIVE MANAGEMENT IN WAYANG KULIT/LEATHER PUPPET AND WAYANG RAI - WONG/HUMAN FACE PUPPET

Abstract

The aims of the research are: 1. to show that the leather and human face puppet can be the media
to promise the good attitude, behavior and personality of human being and 2. to describe that
Leather puppet is one of the most decorative art which is adiluhung/precious and valuable
(treasured) and edipeni/beautiful and interesting (dainty). 3. Wayang or puppet has very good
language, full and deep meaning of philosophy, lots of advice and suggestion for the society
about good and holy behavior, attitude and personality. Ki Enthus Susmono is among the
innovative puppeteers whose leather puppet has already accepted by the modern society and the
presence of the human face puppet has become very interesting phenomenon because of the
public’ attention and enthusiasm. This study discusses the human face puppet as the creativity of
Ki Enthus Susmono from semiotic perspective. The discussion thus aims to discover the values,
functions, and indigenous elements of the human face puppet. The method used is qualitative
research and the data gathering techniques used by observation, in-depth interview and
documentation. Then, through critical paradigm, the human face puppet is investigated by
Pierce’s semiotic theory. The research result showed that the human face puppet by Ki Enthus
Susmono has lots of signs, symbols, and meanings. It also has a richer and more complex signs,
meanings, and functions compared with the traditional leather puppet.