An empathetic look at a young Lampung artist torn between viral fame and heritage
I'm Davin Henry Susanto, a student from SMA Pradita Dirgantara, and this article is the final result of my reflection and analysis of the short film titled "Kaset Pita" as required for my Civics assignment.
The short film Kaset Pita opens a window into a common struggle for today's youth: chasing internet virality while losing sight of deeper values. We see a teenager constantly bombarded by flashy online temptations like "Pinjaman Online" (online loan) apps, sensational news headlines about a "youth identity crisis," and frantic clicks on his laptop. These things are promising quick fame but leaving him empty. Such scenes mirror real-life complaints that technology often distracts Indonesian teens from meaningful activities. As one Kompasiana columnist observes, in the digital era many young people "more often use technology for games or entertainment... rather than increasing their literacy." In other words, screen-based thrill can easily drown out the patient work of learning and creating. Kaset Pita uses these images to show how algorithm-driven clickbait and prank culture lure Damar away from himself. He initially neglects the old cassette recorder and Lampung serdam flute (symbols of his cultural roots) in favor of viral video stunts.
As the film suggests, this flood of online noise creates a crisis of identity. Damar scrolls through videos and reads sensationalized media, but finds no real purpose. This resonates with official concerns in Indonesia: the National Education System Law (UU Sisdiknas) insists education should cultivate students' "spiritual strength... personality, intelligence, noble character, and skills needed by society and the nation." Yet Kaset Pita dramatizes how those lofty goals slip from view when youth are lured by superficial trends. The film's opening montage (earning millions of clicks) is contrasted by a quiet shot of Damar reading a book alone in a park, hinting that he craves something more substantial than online applause.
Rediscovering Heritage Through Music and Family
At the heart of Kaset Pita is how Damar finally finds himself again through his Lampung heritage. A pivotal scene shows him holding the serdam, the traditional bamboo flute his late father once played. As sunset bathes him by a riverbank, he livestreams his flute performance, blending tradition with technology. The result is astonishing: his follower count soars into the hundreds of thousands. But more importantly, Damar's face lights up not from likes but from genuine passion. This shift echoes Indonesia's own educational vision: students should become "creative, intelligent, accomplished, and well-characterized through appreciation and mastery of the nation's arts and culture." In the film, Damar's mastery of the serdam (and his authentic smile) suggests he is fulfilling that vision, finding creativity rooted in national heritage rather than chasing empty fame.
