IKAT : The Indonesian Journal of Southeast Asian Studies
Vol 3, No 2 (2020): January

New Media and Religious Conversion Out of Islam Among Celebrities in Indonesia

Budiawan Budiawan (Media and Cultural Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada)



Article Info

Publish Date
23 Mar 2020

Abstract

In Muslim-majority Indonesia religious conversion to Islam among celebrities always makes it a piece of good news. Infotainment programs of most TV channels broadcast it as their prime news. However, the opposite direction, namely the religious conversion out of Islam to other religions, is hardly possible to broadcast in conventional media such as TV, newspaper, radio, etc.  It is a very sensitive issue, which could cause a mass outcry. Yet, such a phenomenon is easily found in a new media platform, such as YouTube. This paper explores the netizens’ responses to religious conversion out of Islam to Christianity among Indonesian celebrities. By scrutinizing this phenomenon, this paper aims to show to what extent new media provides a space for the religious minorities to speak for themselves. By closely reading their comments, this paper finds that in new media being a religious minority does not matter to represent themselves. 

Copyrights © 2020






Journal Info

Abbrev

ikat

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance Other

Description

The Journal strives to provide new, rigorous and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Southeast Asia through inter-disciplinary perspectives. Its scopes includes but is not limited to economic welfare, institutional knowledge production, history, political transformations and the social ...