Revealing the Symbolism of Ebeg Banyumas Performing Arts Practices in Social Media

This study aims to uncover the meanings embedded in the practice of Ebeg Banyumas performing arts on social media, which potentially gives rise to new forms of practice, including modes of presentation, popularization, and the meanings produced. Previous studies have shown that an anthropological approach can reveal contested interpretations within creative processes. Building on this, the present study explores gender stigma negotiations, the impact of globalization on traditional arts, and the symbolic meaning within digital transitions. The research was conducted through digital ethnography on Facebook and YouTube, utilizing informant interviews, content excerpts, and scholarly literature. The findings indicate that social media facilitates a redefinition process, transforming Ebeg Banyumas from a sacred ritual into an aesthetic object, thereby enabling it to reach broader audiences. Ultimately, this transformation gives rise to new roles: preserving tradition, promoting nationalist discourse through local identity, and creating new economic spaces. Social media emerges as a dynamic space for performance art, rich with transitions and adaptations, generating new identities, roles, statuses, and forms for Ebeg Banyumas.