“Sungkeman” During a Pandemic, What Do We Miss? An Autoethnography

Abstract

Sungkeman or silaturahmi, a tradition at sacred family events or on religious holidays in Indonesia, cannot be completely transformed into cyberculture, even if it can be mediated through various technology platforms available today. Physical contact such as handshaking, hugging, and kissing our parents' hands cannot be mediated, while other aspects can be done via voice and visual communications. Even though Sungkeman can be mediated partially, it reduces its essence due to the lack of togetherness and direct intersubjectivity. This is what creates a sense of personal loss, something we miss during the pandemic, and it cannot be mediated. One thing that is bitter and ironic is that we are alienated in cyberspace-that is always considered as connecting with people in various places through various platforms. This paper discusses these aspects using autoethnography methods and narrative-descriptive writing, as a means of reflection as well as adding to the list of criticisms and the diversity of studies on cyberspace or cyberculture in Indonesia.