80th Indonesian Independence Day: A Critical Analysis of the Aestheticization of Politics and the Politicization of Aesthetics by Walter Benjamin

Clara Victoria Padmasari

doi:10.55927/fjas.v5i1.578

Authors

Clara Victoria Padmasari Institut Informatika Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55927/fjas.v5i1.578

Keywords:

Political Aestheticization, 80th Indonesian Independence Day Logo, Aesthetic Politicization, Walter Benjamin

Abstract

This article discusses the logo for the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia's independence as a practice of political aestheticization according to Walter Benjamin. This study interprets the logo for the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia not only as a visual identity for national celebrations, but also as an ideological tool to convey a certain image. Therefore, this practice is countered by aesthetic politicization through memes circulating in society. This study uses a qualitative approach within a critical theoretical framework, analyzing the 80th Independence Day logo and its visual identity guidelines, as well as memes that emerged as a response from the public on social media. The analysis shows that the 80th Indonesian Independence Day logo, through its guidelines, operates to provide a single meaning in the independence celebration. The public's response, which distorts the logo and turns it into a meme, becomes a form of expressing public unrest, creating new meanings for the 80th Indonesian Independence Day and challenging that single meaning.

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