The Survival of the Dukuh Indigenous Community Amidst the Modern Crisis: Paradoxical Aesthetics as a Form of Cultural Resilience

Abstract

This research explores the cultural resilience of the Dukuh Indigenous Community in Garut during modern crises, focusing on the philosophical values of weweling (ancestral advice) written in Pegon script. The study investigates how paradoxical aesthetics serve as a moral compass to guide the community toward simplicity, spiritual balance, and environmental harmony against materialistic pressures. This research uses an interpretative qualitative approach with an embedded design strategy that integrates three main methods: (1) participatory field observation, (2) in-depth literature study, and (3) text analysis based on Jakob Sumardjo's paradoxical aesthetics to examine the Sundanese text "Nu sugih bakal prihatin..." within its cultural context. The results show that weweling functions as a mechanism of resilience for the Dukuh Indigenous Community, allowing them to adapt to contemporary changes without losing the essence of their ancestral values. The study identifies that the paradoxical nature of these teachings effectively counters modernity by prioritizing spiritual and environmental sustainability over material accumulation. This study offers an important contribution to understanding the strategies of indigenous communities for cultural survival in an ever-changing world. It provides alternative insights into sustainable development models centered on local wisdom rather than globalized industrial norms. By documenting these localized philosophical systems, the research highlights the enduring relevance of traditional scripts and oral traditions in maintaining social stability during modern crises.