Snowball collecting data in wayang kulit Kelantan

 

Its very important to share personal experience in research with everybody who may want to do similar activity. My name is Mahmoud Dehghanharati, a PhD graduated in theater from university Malaya (UM) (2013-2018).

finding out a research title,in wayang kulit area

in the first meeting with my honorable supervisor, Prof Ghulam Sarwar Yousof he found, my disturbed mind to focus on research subject. Based on his skillful method, (Narrow & Down) during 6 mounts I decided to focus on wayang kulit Kelantan area.

Finally, in the end of first semester 2012-2013, my research title was fixed as (Pak Dogol and Wak Long in wayang kulit Kelantan) Pak Dogol is the main clown character in wayang kulit Kelantan and Wak long his companion.

Collecting data

Now the finding data process is started, first step looking for wayang kulit kelantan training center. In second semester (2012-2013) my dear classmate in research methodology course Ms Nurul who graduated from (UITM) Shah Alam invited me to going to the theater and film faculty of UITM at Punchak Alam- Shah Alam to meet most famous and skillful puppeteer (Dalang) Pak Yousof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the first amazing meeting, that Ms Nurul and Mr Kamil helped me, I met Pak yousof as a kind and hospitable master puppeteer. He has taught wayang kulit and its music in UITM, but under supervision of Ms Jomaila who is expert in Malay traditional theater as well. She also eagerly accept my requirement to join her class in whole semester. it was my first serious effort for starting collecting data in wayang kulit Kelantan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So this communication continued till 2014. let me peresnt my best regard first of all Prof Ghulam then, Pak Yousof, Ms Nurul, Ms Jomaila and Mr Kamil.

Next step on prof Ghulam advise I had a nice meeting with Pak Nasir at ASWARA (Academy of Malay traditional arts and crafts) in Kuala Lumpur, fortunately Pak Nasir able to speak in English and in the first meeting he shared not only verbal information but also connected me to  recorded wayang kulit performance store in ASWARA.

In the middle of 2013 I started to learn Bahasa Malay at ‘YMCA”  center in KL, during two semesters and basically could make communication in Bahasa Malay and arranged my research question in Bahasa Melayu, first interview with Pak Yousof was recorded in Malay Language.

In continue, Pak Nasir claimed, he has a Pak Dogol and Wak Long puppet which 500 years old. It was so strange, since based on valid source the wayang kulit Kelantan background in around 200 years ago. However,he supposed to show me that puppets. When I went to ASWARA, on behalf of Pak Nasir, his friend (unfortunately I forget his name) show me that puppets. Although Pak Nasir claim about that puppets old wasnt approved but that pair of puppets physically  were suitable for visual analysis, so it was nice meeting for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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