Tulisan ini mengkaji proses penyampaian propaganda khususnya Jawa Tengah pada tahun 1986-198. Pendekatan yang dipergunakan adalah teori komunikasi massa pada pergelaran wayang kulit. Melalui penelitian terungkap adanya kooptasi terhadap dalang dalam melakukan penyampaian pesan-pesan pemerintah Orde Baru kepada masyarakat luas. Usaha pemerintah untuk melakukan propaganda melalui dalang begitu kentara pasca Gerakan 30 September. Akibatnya, terjadi perubahan konsep pertunjukan wayag kulit. Seringkali dalam menyisipkan pesan-pesan pemerintah, baik secara implisit maupun terang-terangan. Pesan-pesan ini disampaikan melalui janturan, ginem, gending, termasuk dalam adegan limbukan dan gara-gara. Namun pementasan wayang kulit pada Orde Baru juga mendorong kreativitas para dalang dalam menciptakan lakon baru, mengubah lakon, hingga menciptakan gending-gending bernuansa pembangunan
This research looks at the process of delivering propaganda by the dalangs (puppeteers) in Wayang Kulit performances in Central Java in 1986-1998. Using mass communication approach and theories, this research has revealed that the dalangs were co-opted by the government when they deliver the New Order Government's messages to their audience. The Government's strong efforts to cast its political propaganda through the dalangs were so obvious after the 30th September Movement. As a result, there were changes in the concepts of wayang kulit performance. The dalangs very often delivered the Government messages both implisitly or explicitly. These messages are delivered through janturan (narration), ginem (dialogue), gending (music), limbukan (interlude scene between a mother and her daughter), and gara-gara (clown scene). However, this condition hadencouraged the dalangs' creativity to compose new stories, modify stories, and compose songs which tell about national development.
