Senior actor and cultural expert Deddy Mizwar views film as more than\nmere entertainment; it is a powerful instrument of cultural diplomacy\nfor building a nation\u2019s image on the international stage.<\/p>\n
He expressed this during a public discussion hosted by the Faculty of\nSocial and Political Sciences at Jayabaya University, themed \u201cState\nManagement from a Cultural Perspective\u201d.<\/p>\n
Deddy believes Indonesia possesses extraordinary cultural strength,\nyet it has not been maximised as a strategy for international diplomacy\nand national economic reinforcement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we talk about Indonesian cultural identity, it\u2019s the diversity\nitself. Every 60 kilometres, we encounter different languages, customs,\nand values of life. That\u2019s a richness no other country has,\u201d said\nDeddy.<\/p>\n
According to him, many countries have long utilised the film industry\nto disseminate culture while strengthening their national economies. He\ncited the United States through Hollywood and South Korea via dramas and\npopular music, which have successfully built cultural influence\nworldwide.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past, we wore jeans because of American cowboy films. Now\nKorea is doing the same through its dramas and music. From skincare and\nlifestyles to electronic products, they enter through popular culture,\u201d\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Deddy noted that films have a very strong penetrating power because\nthey can influence viewers\u2019 emotions and thought patterns over the long\nterm.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes dialogues from films 20 years ago are still remembered.\nBut lessons from university are forgotten right after graduation. That\nmeans films have extraordinary power,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
He assessed that Indonesia should be able to become a global cultural\nforce because it has thousands of stories, traditions, and local\ncharacters that have not been optimally explored.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will never run out of themes. Other countries are now remaking\nold films. Indonesia, on the other hand, has an endless source of\nstories,\u201d said Deddy.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of the cultural industry\nas an opportunity for inclusive economic growth. According to him, the\ncultural sector does not always require high qualifications but\nemphasises creativity and works.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cultural industry is enormous. And in it, qualifications are\nrarely questioned. What matters is the work and creativity,\u201d he\nremarked.<\/p>\n
Deddy also shared his experience when once offered by Chinese parties\nto act in a film about the Asia-Africa Conference. However, he rejected\nthe offer because he disagreed with the historical narrative constructed\nin the film.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey wanted to show how important China was in the Asia-Africa\nConference. All the shooting was done in China with unlimited budget.\nFrom there, I saw how films are used to build a nation\u2019s perception in\nthe eyes of the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He hopes the government will take cultural diplomacy through the film\nindustry and digital media more seriously as part of a grand strategy to\nmake Indonesia a world power by 2045.<\/p>\n
\u201cFilm is like magic. It can make people laugh, cry, and gradually\nadmire a nation and follow its lifestyle,\u201d said Deddy Mizwar.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Jayabaya University Foundation, Moestar\nPutra Jaya, affirmed that education and culture are two inseparable\nelements in building the nation\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
According to him, universities are not only tasked with producing\nacademically excellent graduates but also those with character, cultural\nawareness, and national responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cEducation without cultural roots will lose direction. Campuses must\nbe spaces for birthing generations that master knowledge but still\nunderstand their own national identity,\u201d said Moestar Putra Jaya.<\/p>\n
He added that Indonesia\u2019s cultural richness must be an important part\nof the education process so that the younger generation does not become\ndetached from national values amid the currents of globalisation and\ndigital technology developments.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/at-jayabaya-university-deddy-mizwar-highlights-the-power-of-culture-and-film-1778669819", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }