Peran Generasi Muda Dalam Pelestarian Budaya Lokal Di Tengah Arus Modernisasi

Abstract

Massive modernization has presented a dilemma for the preservation of local culture in Indonesia. On one hand, technological advancement opens new opportunities for cultural dissemination; on the other, globalization threatens the continuity of traditional values that form the nation's identity. This study aims to analyze the role of young generations in preserving local culture amid the currents of modernization, focusing on adaptive strategies they develop and factors that encourage or hinder their involvement. Using a qualitative research approach with a phenomenological method, data were collected through in-depth interviews with 30 informants from among youth, artists, cultural practitioners, and policy stakeholders in West Nusa Tenggara. The results reveal three main roles of young people: as inheritors, innovators, and promoters of culture. Adaptive strategies developed include digitization of cultural heritage, revitalization of traditional arts through contemporary mediums, and technology- based cultural community building. This study emphasizes the importance of reconstructing cultural narratives relevant to young generations without sacrificing the authenticity of traditional values.