SASTRA LISAN DALAM ERA DIGITAL

Oral literature in the digital age

Abstract

Oral literature is one of the cultural heritages passed down through generations, serving as both a medium of education, entertainment, and a reinforcement of collective identity. However, modernization, urbanization, and digitalization have posed new challenges to its continuity by transforming society’s modes of communication. This article aims to examine the transformation of oral literature in the digital sphere and to identify the opportunities that digitalization offers as a means of preservation. The study employs a qualitative method with a descriptive-analytical approach through observation, literature review, and narrative analysis. The findings indicate that oral literature is no longer confined to the stages of primary and secondary orality, but has entered a new phase where digital platforms function as tools of documentation and distribution. Platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram have created new opportunities for revitalizing oral traditions, including contemporary forms such as stand-up comedy, which enrich Indonesia’s oral literary heritage. Despite challenges such as audience exclusivity, sensitive content, and risks of commercialization, digitalization provides significant opportunities to preserve and develop oral literature so that it remains relevant in the era of globalization.