THE EMBODIMENT OF ACCULTURATION IN A MULTICULTURAL CITY CASE: KUTOREJO ARAB VILLAGE, TUBAN

• Main Author: Puspitasari, Cynthia
• Format: Dissertations
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/81178
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Tuban is a multicultural city shaped by maritime trade, the spread of Islam, and colonization. Its diverse population includes Javanese, Dutch, Chinese, and Arab ethnicities, each with identities and characteristics. The Regering Reglement (1854) was a Dutch colonial policy that segregated urban space and established ethnic enclaves to reduce cultural contact. After the indigenous government took control of the city's political policies, ethnic groups could coexist. Tuban City's cultural acculturation progressed gradually. In this study, Kampung Arab Tuban was chosen to represent a multicultural settlement, with acculturation colors representing Arab-Javanese, Arab-Dutch, and Arab-Chinese cultural interactions. The interaction process is influenced by political, economic, social, cultural, and religious considerations. Cultural acculturation theories developed over time have primarily focused on marginalized immigrant groups in Western countries. This dissertation aims to contribute to our understanding of cultural acculturation as a result of colonization and spatial segregation and lay the groundwork for sustainable multicultural cities in the East. This study aims to trace cultural acculturation in Kutorejo Arab Village using physical and non-physical artifacts that can still be identified. Architecture, including private and public spaces, is a key entry point for tracing acculturation in the face of limited data. Data was analyzed using historical observations, physical aspects, everyday life, and semi-structured interviews with members of the Kutorejo Arab community and the surrounding community. Data was interpreted to understand acculturation tendencies in the Arab Village's buildings, public spaces, and landmarks. This research suggests that architecture can play a role in tracing acculturation patterns influenced by colonization and developed through collective memory attached to physical elements, cultural values, and lifestyles.