EDUCATION THROUGH ART IN VIRTUAL COMMUNITY: STRENGTHENING RELIGIOUS VALUES THROUGH ILLUSTRATION ARTWORKS

Abstract

Purpose: The article analyzes the illustration artworks produced by Virtual Community Hijabographic as a media to disseminate religious values. Hijabographic as one of the Muslim women's communities in Indonesia is one of the pioneer virtual communities that creates various illustration artworks aimed to perform da’wah on social media Instagram, also as a media to ingrain Islamic values. Methodology: The primary method is virtual ethnography; we use it to uncover social interactions between members of the Hijabographic community that creates a natural response and a stimulus for community members to express it in the form of illustration artworks published through social media. Result: The results showed that the illustration artworks by Hijabographic are medium to achieve educational goals, in this case, is religious education. Illustration artwork is not merely created to fulfill the purpose of art, but also as a tool to find the self-fulfillment of illustrators in performing da’wah (proselytization), transmitting Islamic values and to foster awareness of other Muslim females to become pious individuals. Applications: This research can be used by virtual communities, scholars and visual arts learners. Novelty/Originality: Building on the insight that illustration artworks by virtual community Hijabographic become a new model to perform da’wah on social media. These illustration artworks influence a member's aesthetic experience and personal's understanding of strengthening Islamic values.