The Religious and Cross-cultural Studies Program (Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies/CRCS) of the Graduate School at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) once again held a Wednesday Forum event. This time, the forum discussed the depiction of disability and religion in popular films in Indonesia. The forum, which took place on Wednesday (March 12th) in Room 307, 3rd Floor, Graduate School Building, UGM, featured Budi Irawanto, a lecturer at the Department of Communication Studies, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, UGM, who also serves as the Chief of the Doctoral Program in Performance Art and Visual Art Studies.
During the event, Budi Irawanto stated that films play a significant role as a reflection of society. Films not only function as entertainment but also have the power to shape and reinforce ideologies, including religious values. “Disability can be explained from various perspectives and disciplines. The reason I chose this topic is to explain the relationship between disability and religion, particularly in Indonesia, where religion has a strong influence in defining what is good and bad,” explained Budi Irawanto.
Furthermore, Budi Irawanto analyzed the film Hafalan Shalat Delisa (2011), which depicts the life of a young girl with a disability. The analysis of this film, Budi Irawanto explored how issues of disability and religion intersect within the narrative of Indonesian cinema. He explained that the representation of disability in films can offer a new perspective on inclusivity and how religion in the film also shapes society’s view of the lives of individuals with disabilities.
In Hafalan Shalat Delisa, Budi Irawanto explained that the complex relationship between disability and religion results in diverse perspectives among scholars and various practices in Muslim communities. The adoption of a medical model has led to an understanding of disability as a personal tragedy, which tends to overlook the barriers faced by people with disabilities. Additionally, characters with disabilities in films are often portrayed as moral examples for their peers or society members who do not experience disabilities. However, their pain and struggles are often concealed in the film’s representation.
Budi Irawanto concluded that there are several issues related to the representation of disability and religion in films that are inseparable from the dominant religious perspectives on disability. This Wednesday Forum is expected to open new insights and enrich the understanding of how popular media influences society’s perceptions of important issues such as disability and religion.
Author: Asti Rahmaningrum