An Ethno-Pedagogical Study of the Ketoprak Wahyu Manggolo Traditional Performing Arts: A Scientific Approach to the Physics Concepts of Force and Motion

Abstract

In an era of globalization that threatens the loss of local cultural identities, this study explores Ketoprak as a traditional Javanese dramatic art in Pati and Rembang, positioning it as a form of ethno-pedagogy that conveys character education through moral narratives and improvisational performance, with an urgent need for preservation due to the degradation of its practices. The main purpose is to reveal the local wisdom embedded in Ketoprak performances by addressing questions related to the representation of Javanese moral values, the challenges of safeguarding the tradition, and its potential use as learning material. Using a qualitative ethnographic design, the research employed participatory observation in two groups (Cahyo Mudo and Wahyu Manggolo) in October 2025, semi-structured interviews with ten informants, and thematic analysis. The findings show that Ketoprak serves as a medium of social cohesion through elements such as ontowencono, humorous dialogues, and messages of karma, while facing the challenge of declining interest among younger generations, which is addressed through adaptive strategies such as modern staging and community-based revitalization. These efforts contribute to the integration of traditional arts into formal education in the form of the results of the reconstruction of scientific knowledge of ketoprak for science learning (physics concepts: force and motion).