The research was conducted by Valka Mahendra Nurzain, Nisa Lathifah, Shinta Hartini Putri, and Nugraha Sugiarta from Universitas Informatika dan Bisnis Indonesia and was published in the International Journal of Advanced Social Sciences and Education (IJASSE) Vol. 4 No. 2 in 2026. The study highlights how performing arts can serve as an effective tool for environmental communication, particularly in raising awareness about coal-based energy dependence and its social and ecological consequences.
The researchers explain that climate awareness campaigns in Indonesia have been growing rapidly. One example is the “Fun Walk Generasi Iklim” campaign, which encouraged young people to become active agents of change in addressing climate issues. However, artistic approaches such as cabaret performances offer something different—they create emotional engagement and social reflection in ways that formal campaigns often cannot.
During the “Suara Marabahaya” festival with the theme Climate Change – Climate Action, several cabaret groups in Bandung presented performances about environmental problems such as waste, deforestation, and the energy crisis. Among them, Fourtastic Cabaret stood out with Kemelut Nafash Tirani, a performance that tells the story of a village dependent on coal-based energy and the environmental destruction and social conflict that follow. The performance also introduces biomass as an alternative and more sustainable energy source.
According to the study, the strength of the performance lies in its symbolic communication. The message is not delivered only through spoken dialogue, but also through facial expressions, body movements, costumes, sound effects, and stage properties such as giant smokestacks and artificial smoke visuals.
Lyrics such as “Selamatkan Nafas Kami” (Save Our Breath) serve as verbal symbols representing people’s suffering caused by industrial pollution. Meanwhile, coughing sounds and industrial audio effects symbolize respiratory problems and invisible air pollution. Politicians dressed in formal suits are portrayed as “well-dressed rats,” symbolizing corrupt officials who exploit natural resources for personal gain.
One of the strongest symbols in the performance is the character of Ibu Pertiwi, portrayed as a pregnant woman. She represents Indonesia as a nation carrying its future generations while being threatened by environmental destruction. Her gestures of pain and suffocation intensify the message that climate change is not only an environmental issue, but also a direct threat to human life and the future of society.
The researchers used a qualitative approach based on George Herbert Mead’s theory of symbolic interactionism. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with the director, coach, and performers of Fourtastic Cabaret, along with non-participatory observation of the performance itself. The Miles and Huberman analysis model was used to understand how meaning is created through social interaction.
The findings show that meaning does not come from symbols alone, but from the interaction between the director and the performers. The actors do not simply play characters—they internalize the environmental messages they represent.
For example, the actor playing the President understood the role as a reflection of political responsibility for environmental destruction. Meanwhile, the actress portraying “the people” expressed emotional and physical suffering to make the audience feel the real human impact of pollution and energy injustice. This process makes climate communication more relatable than formal presentations based only on scientific data.
Nugraha Sugiarta and his team conclude that cabaret is no longer just a form of entertainment. It has become a space for environmental education, moral reflection, and social transformation. The performance bridges art, ethics, and activism in a way that encourages audiences to think critically and reflect on their own relationship with environmental issues.
“Meaning is formed through interaction between the director and performers, making cabaret a medium for environmental education, reflection, and encouraging behavioral change,” the authors wrote in the abstract.
This finding has important implications for education and public communication. Educational institutions can use performing arts as a more engaging strategy for environmental education, especially for younger generations. At the same time, art communities can take a stronger role in raising awareness of urgent social and ecological issues.
The researchers also recommend that performing arts practitioners use symbolic communication more strategically when addressing complex social problems. Through this approach, abstract topics such as climate change become more accessible, emotional, and memorable for wider audiences.
However, the study acknowledges several limitations. It focused only on one performing arts group, Fourtastic Cabaret, which limits broader generalization. Future studies are recommended to involve more performing arts communities and to analyze how audiences interpret symbolic environmental messages.
Author Profile
Valka Mahendra Nurzain is a researcher in the Communication Science Study Program at Universitas Informatika dan Bisnis Indonesia, focusing on symbolic communication and performing arts.
Nisa Lathifah is an academic in communication studies with a strong interest in creative media and social communication.
Shinta Hartini Putri actively studies cultural communication and social representation in performing arts.
Nugraha Sugiarta, the corresponding author, is a lecturer in the Communication Science Study Program at Universitas Informatika dan Bisnis Indonesia, specializing in public communication, cultural media, and symbolic interaction.
Research Source
Nurzain, V. M., Lathifah, N., Putri, S. H., & Sugiarta, N. (2026). Symbolic Interaction in Conveying Climate Crisis Messages through Bandung Cabaret “Kemelut Nafash Tirani”. International Journal of Advanced Social Sciences and Education (IJASSE), Vol. 4, No. 2, 123–132.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijasse.v4i2.392
Official Journal Website: https://dmimultitechpublisher.my.id/index.php/ijasse
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