THE TRANSFORMATION OF BALINESE GAMELAN: AUTHENTICITY AND HERITAGE POLITICS IN DIGITAL PLATFORMS

Abstract

The digital era has significantly transformed traditional arts, particularly in how cultural authenticity and heritage politics are negotiated. The Gamelan Bali application represents an important case study of this transformation, showcasing Balinese gamelan on a digital platform designed for global accessibility. This research aims to explore how the Gamelan Bali application navigates cultural authenticity and negotiates heritage politics in the context of digital platforms. This study employs content analysis of the Gamelan Bali application and user reviews available on public platforms. Patterns of cultural authenticity and usability perceptions were identified. The application simplifies certain cultural elements to suit digital usability while expanding the global reach of Balinese gamelan, reflecting a negotiation between traditional preservation and digital innovation. The Gamelan Bali application demonstrates how digital platforms mediate between cultural preservation and transformation, emphasizing the dynamic interplay of tradition and technology in a globalized context.