ENG
INA
Doctoral Promotion at the Faculty of Humanities Udayana University Explores the Dynamics of Gender Identity in Contemporary Photography in Bali
The 288th Doctor of the Faculty of Humanities of Universitas Udayana and the 307th Doctor of the Cultural Studies department of the faculty was announced on July 24, 2026. Dr. Cokorda Istri Puspawati Nindhia, S.E., S.Sn., M.Sn. was granted the doctoral degree through an open examination held in Soekarno Room, Poerbatjaraka Building with a dissertation titled Manipulasi Identitas Gender dalam Dunia Fotografi Kontemporer di Bali (Gender Identity Manipulation in Contemporary Photography in Bali).
Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Suarka, M.Hum. led the open examination, while Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Darma Putra, M.Litt acted as the promoter, accompanied by Prof. Dr. Anak Agung Ngurah Anom Kumbara, M.A. as copromoter I and Prof. Dr. Dra. Luh Putu Puspawati, M.Hum. as copromoter II. The examiner and assessor team included Dr. Ida Bagus Gde Pujaastawa, M.A., Dr. I Gusti Agung Ayu Mas Triadnyani, S.S., M.Hum., Dr. I Wayan Nuriarta, S.Pd., M.Sn., Dr. I Made Marajaya, SSP., M.Si..
Promovenda defined gender identity manipulation not with the true meaning of manipulation. Rather, it referred to something that changes gender codes within society. This is intentionally done in contemporary photography for artistic purposes and commercial commodities. In photography, gender has undergone a shift from a static display for the lens to something that the lens could rearrange.
Gender Identity manipulation in photography extends beyond the technical process. It also includes symbolic manipulation, which refers to how gender is displayed and interpreted. Promovenda has divided this manipulation in three aspects, starting from the construction of facial identity, focusing on how the biological face can be shaped into a new visual image through masquerade. The second aspect is the construction of pose identity. This aspect emphasizes on feminine gestures displayed by the male body. The construction of fashion is the last aspect where the male body is donned in women's clothing. Promovenda in her dissertation revealed that the three aspects may be interpreted as an understanding that gender identity is something that can be constructed and represented differently from the common understanding.
In photographic works, gender identity manipulation is considered to attract public eyes. It also offers economical value, which then becomes one of the factors of the manipulation practice. Another factor is heteronormative hegemony. In this factor, the boundaries of gender representation are questioned through representation that break the normative relationship between biological body and gender identity. Another factor in gender identity manipulation in contemporary photography in Bali is cultural resistance.
Although regarded to have commercial value and may be a resistance, this practice has an impact on the marginalisation of women's existential space, which was caused by the replacement of women's role in photography by men. Another point made by Promovenda in her dissertation is that visual reproduction continually contributed to bring out myths of the ideal body and beauty standard, making the standard to be increasingly artificial. For these contradictions, Promovenda deemed the gender identity manipulation in contemporary photography in Bali to be ambivalent.
Promovenda revealed two findings in her dissertation. The first finding is regarding how gender identity manipulation in Bali does not appear on its own, rather, it is an intermedial, performative continuation of performance art tradition in Bali. The next finding suggested the reason gender identity manipulation appears in Bali is because of a habitus of cultural openness. Bali has been interacting with foreign cultures, the growth of creative industry, as well as tourism development, and thus fostering acceptance of diversity as an art form.
Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Darma Putra, M.Litt as the Promoter stated that the topic of gender identity manipulation had never been discussed in a dissertation within the department of Cultural Studies of Universitas Udayana. Regarding the success of the promovenda in completing her studies, he expressed his joy and congratulations. In closing the examination in Friday (24/7), Promovenda conveyed her thanks to families, the promoter team, the head of the examination, the examiner and assessor team, as well as fellow audiences.
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY