DINAMIKA KEBUDAYAAN DI ERA DIGITAL POLITIK REPRESENTASI DRESTA DAN SAMPRADAYA DALAM MEDIASCAPE SPIRITUALITAS BALI

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the dynamics of culture in the digital era by examining the politics of representation between dresta Bali, as a symbol of local tradition, and sampradaya, as a stream of transnational Hindu spirituality, within Bali’s spiritual mediascape. Digital transformation has created a new arena of meaning-making, where traditional authority and cultural values are no longer confined to sacred physical spaces but are also contested within fluid and interactive digital platforms. Adopting a cultural studies approach, the research integrates Hall’s theory of representation, Foucault’s concept of power-knowledge, Laclau and Mouffe’s notion of hegemonic articulation, and Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital. Critical discourse analysis was applied to digital content on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. The findings reveal that digital space is not neutral; it functions as a symbolic arena where traditional leaders, religious authorities, transnational sampradaya movements, and spiritual content creators articulate competing narratives and representational power. Dresta Bali no longer appears as a singular, stable discourse but is continuously reproduced, negotiated, and challenged by emerging narratives infused with global aesthetics and alternative forms of spiritual legitimacy. This study contributes to contemporary cultural studies by demonstrating that digital contestation not only reshapes spiritual authority in Bali but also reflects global cultural dynamics marked by identity negotiation, symbolic power, and algorithmic logic.