133 Positive Paradigm As The Barrier of Art Creativity Interpretation Susilo Pradoko Department of Arts, Drama, Dance and Music, Faculty Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia Submitted: August 19, 2019. Revised: November 4, 2019. Accepted: December 28, 2019 Abstract In the modern era, during the end of 17 century, appears empiric paradigm in the philosophy field. This paradigm emerges due to the critic towards mythical social thought. The next step appears positivism thought by Auguste Comte in 1830, which stated that Sociology based on science analogy that can be learned in the form of empiric data with exact calculation; out of this is rated as not scientific. The education field also trails the modern thought tradition, along with Comte’s positivistic thought. This modern era eventually has been opposed by postmodern philosophers. The frailties in the modern era are criticized by the appearance of the postmodern paradigm. Positivistic thought, in reality, could not reveal study beyond human and society, because this study is strong, and can only reach the ontologic stage, in substance of the object. While this could not be revealed because its level involves human and society’s way of thinking, primordial, tradition, and historical aspects, this study focuses on the weaknesses of positivistic research. Then it will present post-positivistic-postmodern research through Hermeneutika and Foucauldian Genealogy research. Keywords: Positivism; Creativity; Interpretation; Hermeneutics; Foucauldian Genealogy How to Cite: Pradoko, S. (2019). Positive Paradigm As The Barrier of Art Creativity Interpretation. Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research And Education, 19(2), 133-140. Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education 19 (2) (2019), 133-140 Available online at http://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/index.php/harmonia DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15294/harmonia.v19i2.20667 and the specification. (Van-Peursen, 1988). Human is no more bounded by mystical power or invisible power. Thus, the posi- tivistic paradigm is the critic of scientific achievement based on supernatural power and metaphysical concepts with no empi- rical fact in theology. Poespowardojo said about positivism idea as follow: “.... positivism is a vision that natural science is the only empiric source. Spe- culative intelligence activity creates un- proved statements empirically, and this area is not scientific because it can not be proven empirically, right or wrong. So, positivism focuses on experience and free willingness. Experience is provable sensory data; if it is not, we can not say it INTRODUCTION Positivism is a study of how to get ideas based on empiric fact. Positivism paradigm appears and puts critics to the scientific tradition which relies on me- taphysics, science requisite by thought processes, Foucauldian study only. In the history of the human culture stage inline with the present ontological culture sta- ge, if we borrow the culture stage model from Van-Peursen is the Ontology Cultu- ral Stage, the human takes a space to eve- rything he used to feel as a siege. Puersen starts to arrange a theory or theory about the substance of everything (ontology) Corresponding author: E-mail: susilo_pradoko@uny.ac.id p-ISSN 2541-1683|e-ISSN 2541-2426 Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education 19 (2) (2019): 133-140134 is as a fact” (Poespowardojo, 2015). The positive paradigm appearance was rejection against the science which is a logical abstraction, ideas and affected by invisible powers, mistic. This appearance is a critic towards metaphysics and myt- hology culture stage, responding to uni- verse and power rated to have spirits or mith story for solving unanswered nature phenomena at that time (Pradoko, 2015). In a study, fact concept usually connected with reality concept. (especially in the so- cial study) and objectivity. Many peop- le think the meaning of truth is clear and completely exist in their mind. This turns most scientists believe that their knowled- ge is exactly due to the provable fact. (Su- martono, 2017). Ideas considered as scien- tific if it is provable empirically visible and concreate through human sense, then these facts supported by mathematical calculati- on will be the background of quantitative research. In a positive stage, human leaves a metaphysical way of thinking. They rest- rict themselves to positive science; it is the science-based on fact. Only in this stage law with provable through experiment can be created. (Sumartono, 2017). In this modern era, a theory is raised, that an absolutely correct science is one which based on laboratory work. It is em- pirical experience or empiricism belief. Be- lief and estimation are not scientific. Hu- man knowledge resource about the world is evidence of our sense. Empirical com- munity declares that the absolute fact is the one we can see through empirical sight. (Benton, 2001). The postmodern philoso- phers criticize the weakness of the modern world which has positivistic quantification background. It pops out social humanism research thinkers who trace the fact behind empirical facts seen in the society. These speculations create research models which is expected to dig deep behind the spectac- le reality, reveal it beyond and in-depth. The modern era which criticizes myt- hical era idea has passed. Now is the post- modern that criticizes the modern thought pattern. Philosophers have criticized mo- dern thought by explaining the philoso- phical base with which will be actualized into the background of society’s study and education field. Hence, the education field seems to be stupified by the glory of the modern era with the empirical philosophy concept and actualized in Auguste Comte positivism study. This study will present the chains of positivistic research in edu- cation and art. So it is expected that edu- cation society falls into its own rational instrument. The discussion part will give an example of research results that can re- veal the empirical reality and beyond so- ciety. There are plenty of studies categori- zed as a postmodern paradigm. However, the researcher will only focus on the kind of Paul Ricoeur Hermeneutika study and Foucauldian Geneology Study. METHOD Auguste Comte’s positivism theory is based on empiric philosophy and natu- ral science tradition which can solve life problems related to the natural environ- ment where human lives. The universe, mountain, and forest are no more frigh- tening for humans with mystical stories, god and goddess, also spirits. Nature is an object whilst human is the subject; this speculation underlined natural sciences and physics. Human as a subject who ma- nages and observe while nature is as an object which is being managed and obser- ved. This speculation also underlies the positivistic quantification study method. The laws of exact science and the para- digm procedures in observing humans are adopted and implemented for humans as well. This thought has a consequence that observed human turns into the object like nature thing. The way to treat and the stu- dy instrument products will be adjusted like natural science experiment procedure. Education study is still stuck to mo- dern positivism research, and it affects the students, college students. They are con- sidered as the object. It is the weakness need to concerned. In the study related to material things and technology, media is properly used in the positivistic study. The Susilo Pradoko, Positive Paradigm As The Barrier of Art Creativity Interpretation 135 student is not likely non-living thing trea- ted as an object. If it is not developed with postmodern philosophy, it turns into a ro- botic system. Children will be treated as a robot. The relationship that will occur is the researcher as the subject and children as the object. The observed student has no fair position; they will only follow the pro- vided rules from the researcher. Meanw- hile, post positivistic criticizes and tries to improve this case with philosophical para- digms that end with steps of socio-huma- nism research. Dilthey sees antithesis if the pattern of Geistewissenchaften (re: natural science method) could be implemented in under- standing mental life and human experi- ence. The dynamics of human mental life in the shape of a complex arrangement of knowledge, feeling and willingness and could not be ruled in the causality of norms and inflexible mechanistic thought using the quantitative pattern. Geistewis- senchaften (re: natural science method) un- derstands this life through formulas cate- gory from the inside (intrinsic category). Life is a human experience seen from insi- de. Life should be counted from the experi- ence of interpreting its ownself. It does not only form the theory and scientific know- ledge, but a critical history ratio also is not a real critic. We understand ourselves, not through introspection but history. Human needs different interpretation model from nature occurrence model. It is a different paradigm. (Poespoprodjo, 2004) Study with post positivistic para- digm is quite plenty nowadays: herme- neutic, phenomenology, ethnography, post positivistic structuralism, structuration, Perce semiotics, Roland Barthes semiotics, deconstructions, critical discourse analy- sis, and foucault genealogy analysis. This research will only present two reasearch methods with postpositivism paradigm. They are Hermeneutika Paul Ricoeur and Faocauldian genealogy discourse analysis. Hermeneutics is the study about in- terpretation, an interpretation process to understand the source of the problem, to understand that a researcher should be “there,” in the area of his research. Un- derstanding the field of Hermeneutics is an action word which has a wide range of explanation. It can solve many aspects of the problem and explain all unclear as- pects into the clearer one (Pradoko, 2015). Deep understanding means able to reveal by producing deep descriptions toward the object of the research. For instance, a forensic painter expert in USA could draw the criminal face precisely. He draws based on the story told by the victim. What was told caught in depth by the drawer so it will produce precisely the criminal pre- cise image? Referring the expert’s picture, the police have caught 100 criminals. Paul Ricoeur Hermeneutical Ana- lysis for research text in language can be used for material art phenomenon rese- arch. The diagram for interpreting a text in many connected contexts is presented as follow: Figure 1. Polysemical Text Diagram (Source Hoed, 2011) The Ricoeur’s idea about text inter- pretation can be used in studying social phenomenon object in art material practice and literature resource about it. We change the text with social phenomenon object in art material. The context we need to con- sider is the researcher, in this case, refers to the artist. The environment is the sup- porting society that lives and lives the art material object. Society ethnic inhabit the area and geographics environment where society lives. Another text is theories con- nected with the social phenomena of cul- tural art objects being studied and the lite- rature source about it. Reader in this term Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education 19 (2) (2019): 133-140136 is the researcher himself and artist experi- ences as an object, and artists living in that area (Figure 2). Figure 2. The understanding of Hermeneutical text process by Paul Ricoeur implemented in art material object phenomenon In a text, meaning study turns into art material phenomenon, considered context for the sharp of art phenomenon analysis is practice of art in local society suitable with research area, artist, natural environment, social and culture, cultural knowledge, another material outside of research ran- ge, dialectical relation among researchers, spectators, artists, and supporting society to the material art subject. Various context problems to solve a social material art ob- ject phenomena will allow understanding and better result interpretation, and the detail on doing context to many aspects produce holistic and profound research. Research shows that invisible is re- vealing, analyzing ideas. This idea could not be seen in a glace. It needs an analy- sis, searched to find the expression and evidence-based on the experienced and observed. This research can be conducted by the archeology method with Foucauldi- an genealogy analysis system. Genealogy, as Foucault to study about history through discourse analysis and to observe not who owns power but how the authority rolled through interacti- on. (Kholifah, 2018) Foucault Genealogy is likely history draws kinds of the science field, discour- se, and objects. This history does not crea- te the meaning based on causal continuity which leads to telos. In fact, genealogy is a historical continuity disconnection (rap- ture) stated as wirkungsgeschicte (effective history) by Gadamer. History in Foucault is no historical subject. It is a historian and reminder society, disconnection, subject eradication itself happens because subjec- tivity will lead to domination (Hardiman, 2003; Kali, 2013). Genealogy, as the sear- ching of origin, genealogy of idea, genealo- gy tries to seek the depth of episteme and put the fact fundamental in each epism in every stage (Kali, 2013). Michel Foucault presents the pro- cess base to study discourse in historical through 4 stages, they are: Discontinuity arrangement in history, ideas are catego- rized which element is suitable for each arrangement. The next step is to determine the border of how this specific relation ty- pes. The process continued by describing among different arrangements and desig- ning part by part. Discontinuity study is done in 3 ways: Having prediction enables us to look for level analysis possibility and time periodization at each level; Looking for direction distortion from a constant move- ment or end of the pendulum movement. In short, discontinuity is the moment whe- re the causality cycle paralyzed; Discontin- uity personalizes a form, and specific fun- ction depends on the historical stage being conducted by the historian. The absence of total historical union into new history talks about division, bor- ders, level differences, movement, chro- nological explanation, particular forms of various rehandling forms of events, and relation type possibility. A new history from archeology idea knowledge system immerses six conse- quences: Corpora are forming from co- herence documents and homogeneity; Principal forming about element choices analysis; Defining the analysis level of re- levance element; Typical characteristics analysis method, complexity factors based on analyzed differences; Group limitation and sub group from analyzed elements; Relations certainty possible to put charac- ter to a group (Foucault, 1976). Susilo Pradoko, Positive Paradigm As The Barrier of Art Creativity Interpretation 137 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Auguste Comte brings positive idea based on empirical observation through laboratory model is a piece of real evi- dence visible, observable, touchable, and countable. This is what he calls a positive idea for constructing social hegemony. The science is known as social physics or socio- logy. An unprovable idea empirically is considered unscientific. The characteristics of science are as follows: (1) Empirical cal- culation in science is accepted. (2) Science considered as the highest knowledge with the condition that is passing the modern empirical paradigm. (3) A Scientific met- hod with empirical study implemented in human social life as firm sociology. (4) So- cial scientific ideas can be implemented to control the individual and society. Social problems and conflict can be defined and solved one by one with expert skill similar science experts involved in solving engi- neering technology. This social scientific project is known as social engineering. Empirical positivistic research is not appropriate for research which aims to uncover human thinking and let alone artistic creativity. Besides having a visible physical appearance, humans also have in- visible thoughts processed in the brain sys- tem which has data and networks in a pri- mordial way. Humans have been complete since they were born until adulthood; it is bound by the cultural contextual where humans exist. Empirical research is only able to see the basic surface without being able to uncover beyond existing thoughts in humans. Like we examine a wedding ring, empiricists will only be able to phy- sically examine the ring. According to the positivistic thinking of the paradigm pro- posed by Benton and Graib, the things to be examined will be about: What is the dia- meter, radius of the wedding ring circle? What color is the ring? How many grams does the ring weigh? What chemicals are the rings mixing? How many carats of gold content does it contain? What is the current price of the wedding ring? The weaknesses of calculative positi- vistic research are that they cannot penet- rate historical aspects. Physical research at the time of the study being viewed. When it is in contact with humans, physical ma- terial will no longer be answered by positi- vistic research methods. For example is the wedding ring, when it is connected with human thought, it will be more complex and very relative. Girl A was married with a 5-gram ring weighing 24-carat gold at the price of buying 3.5 million. After get- ting married for four months the ring was wanted by someone for 7 million but was not given. On the other hand, girl B, when married, had 3.5 million-ring from her bri- degroom. After getting married for four months, the wedding ring reminded her for nothing but sadness, so it was worth- less to her, the ring became a sign of suf- fering for her. This is the example of social sciences must have their methods. The point of all that is positivistic science needs to be refined with other types of research for the children of this nation, especially in the world of art education. Humans are not robots; positivistic research starts from research in the natu- ral sciences which are inanimate objects, objects that are considered unable to com- municate with humans. Positivistic rese- arch is research that has a philosophical paradigm of objectivities, nature as ob- jects freely treated by humans. This logic is not appropriate for students, especially students in the arts. Humans are not ina- nimate objects, so humans must be seen as fellow-subjects. Positivistic research that dominates the research methods, media, and student-teacher interaction needs to be reconsidered, or at least developed, to explore inter-subject research, not sub- ject and object research. During the rese- arch, which glorifying the paradigm of the subject and object, students will be formed as robots. This kind of research never, in-depth, studies the construction of children’s thinking, what construction is needed for children and what is actually their creativity and independence. Rese- arches that objectify students will cause a lack of excavation in students’ reasoning Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education 19 (2) (2019): 133-140138 and student creativity. One example in ex- perimental research, students didn’t have their bargaining position as they were tre- ated like objects. Humans exist in this world, ontolo- gically and ontically. Ontological means the nature of being seen by the physical body. Ontic is being seen from the primor- dial historical aspects that are inherently contextually integrated with the axiologi- cal traditions experienced in their cultural environment. Ontologically, the human body is often examined using positivistic empirical research methods. While the pri- mordial ontic reach of human thought, in the context of cultural values, will be un- reachable only by quantitative-empirical research. Many things of human thought with its cultural complexity do not neces- sarily appear in research expressions. Hu- man thoughts and culture must be explo- red with research methods that do reveal the realm of human ontic. An alternative to answering the problem is by conduc- ting studies that can reveal beyond begins with the signs that are expressed. Two examples of revealing beyond research are Paul Ricoeur›s hermeneutics research and archeological discourse analysis of thought studies with genealogy by Michel Foucault. Research revealing the empirical facts behind the text as an example in this paper is the research by Sulastri with her supervisor, A.M.Susilo Pradoko, entit- led: “ Review of Berita Kepada Kawan by Ebiet G.Ade’s Work from a Hermeneutic Perspective.” To summarize, the purpo- se of research in number 3 was to reveal the denotative meaning contained in the song Berita Kepada Kawan. In number 4, it reveals the connotative meaning contained in the song Berita Kepada Kawan. The results of the research of the denotative meaning of the song are about someone who tells the story of his lonely journey to a disastrous place. The result of connotative meaning is someone who sympathizes and empathizes with a natu- ral disaster that befell his homeland. The person helped the victims of the disaster in various ways, but unfortunately, no one cared, so the person was annoyed. In the end, the person sees the disaster as an indi- cator of self-introspection and helps him to keep on remembering his creator (Sulastri, 2016). The process of searching for conno- tative meaning is carried out with various aspects, as has been described in the chart Paul Ricoeur used to study the text and then adopted by revealing the art pheno- menon/art material. Research of song meaning that doesn’t implicitly appear in its poetry is also conducted by Ayu Rachma Purnama Sari, a thesis with A. M. Susilo Pradoko as the supervisor. The title of the research is: “Educative Values and Implementation of the Senjang Petuoh Lame Song at Sanggar Senjang Budayo Sekayu, Musi Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra Province”. After conducting the research by using herme- neutic analysis of Paul Ricoeur, revealing the denotative and connotative meaning of the text as well as doing ethnography in his society, the results of the study showed that the song of the lunar gaps is closely re- lated to the culture of the people. The song has meaning: manners, hard work, respon- sibility, friendliness, divinity, discipline, and prohibition of drugs (Purnamasari, 2018). The meaning of the song values has also been implemented in concrete actions at Sanggar Senjang Budayo Sekayu, Musi Banyuasin Regency in which the study of implementation was strengthened through ethnographic observation. In the applied example of this pa- per, the object of study will be a material culture in the form of the Ramayana Re- lief at Prambanan Temple from 856 AD to the 1996 or IX century to XX century. The following research reveals the archaeolo- gical meaning of epistemology of thought regarding the influence of Hindu power, the influence of Islamic power, the influen- ce of colonial power and the influence of independence in responding to material culture in the form of Relief Ramayana Prambanan Temple. After conducting this Foucauldian-genealogy-based research, we get archeology of thought that differs Susilo Pradoko, Positive Paradigm As The Barrier of Art Creativity Interpretation 139 between the periods of power. Fundamental ideas in every period affect the point of view material culture art object in the form of different Ramayana engravings, occurrence of ideas system episteme which can be tracked in depth in every gap. Ideas archeology invention gap in its fragmentation enriches the encyclo- pedia and use for different fundamental ideas. In analogical terms, although this study put archeology in Ramayana En- graving as an example, but this archeolo- gy Foucault model can also be applied for other art like theatre study, dance, music, even for tangible and intangible cultural study. The study of cultural meaning prob- lem of tangible and intangible is not di- rectly visible in physics empirical form. Meaning is in the form of denotative and connotative. Connotative meaning needs more detail assisted by paradigms or sharp analysis knife to reveal the meaning behind the shown cultural phenomenon. This study is not enough with empirical positivistic. The hypothesis empiric quan- tification is not adequate to reveal beyond behind the society art phenomenon. Study towards humans equalized with instru- mental regulation towards natural things is no more adequate in the context of completely humanizing. Development of education research and intersubjective paradigm humanity among researchers need to be developed to create an undivided human, not a robo- tic one. Study to dig children’s creativity, children’s way of thinking, teacher’s way of thinking to react to science and all en- vironment aspects should be improved by the improvement of the post positivistic paradigm research method; it is postmo- dern. The study of constructivist research in children, ways of thinking, critical thin- king processes, critical literacy research, until deconstruction research ends in ap- preciation of the “other.” This can be ob- served and respected as a friend or subject so that the position is the same. In Java- nese, he said nguwongke uwong, means to humanize humans. CONCLUSION Auguste Comte positivism ideas are based on empiric philosophy, and natu- Table 1. Science Archelogy 856-1988 Ideas of Archeology of Prambanan Temple Relief Hinduism Era: (856-1478) In the era of Hindu- ism, devotion, and worship to God, a tribute to God and the good deed in this world will lead humans into moksa, the beautiful union with the Highest God in heaven. This is the epic of Rama- yana which teaches ethical values for the followers and religious value to- wards God, human, environment, and country. Islam Era: (1478-1817) In the era of Islam, the story of Rama is a king son called Betara Guru. Rama is a human heir of Prophet Adam, be- cause of that we don’t need to wor- ship him because the only worth worshiped is Allah. Colonial Era: (1817-1945) (In the colonial era, the beginning until the end of 19 century, it is a de- velopment era for scientific rationality idea using physi- cal rationality and natural science. At present, Rama- yana engraving stone is not only become the empiri- cal research object but also used as a memorandum, gift, a diplomatic tool with other coun- tries. Independence Era: (1945-1988) Since the 1960s realized by the government for improving tourism income and the exchange of this country, Prambanan en- gravings were opened as Rama- yana Ballet Dancer’s performance. According to Undang-Undang Negara Republik Indonesia No. 5 about Cultural Heritage said that it is for the sake of tourism, Rama- yana was transferred into painting on stone by the engraver, it is also sold as house wall decoration, and a framed painting as a souvenir. Characters on Ramayana Epic story are used as names and business institutions. Furthermore, it is also used as the virtuous value in the society. Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education 19 (2) (2019): 133-140140 ral science works for solving life problem related to the natural environment where human lives. The universe, mountain, and forest are no more scary for humans with the mystical story of god and goddess or spirits. Nature is an object while a human is a subject, this idea is the background of natural science and physics. Humans, as the subject manages and studies while nature is the managed object and studied. This idea becomes the base on quantifi- cation positivistic research method. The law of exact science-nature and paradigm procedure in studying humans is adopted and applied for humans. This assumption affects the observed human placed as the object equal with natural things, the treat- ment and the research instrument adjusts to natural science experiment procedure. Postpositivistc research for revealing human’s meaning of life, cultural mea- ning, art meaning, or revealing beyond empirical things has been conducted in philosophy field, history of art, social, hu- manism, cultural study. Meanwhile, the education field seems to be stupified by the glory of the modern era; the positivis- tic study is still normative and focused on education study. Constructivist research studies in children, ways of thinking, cri- tical thinking processes, critical literacy research, and deconstruction research end with an appreciation of “the other.” This can be observed and respected as a friend or subject, so that the position is the same. In Javanese, he said nguwongke uwong, me- ans to humanize humans. Postpositivis- tics Research can be a “tool’ in revealing meaning beyond art phenomenon that has been explained in this paper with Paul Ri- coeur Hermeneutica and Foucauldian dis- course archeology ideas analysis. Happy developing study to form fully Indonesian human from Ontology aspect and Ontics. REFERENCES Benton, T. (2001). Philosophy of Social Sci- ence NewYork. London: Palgrave. Foucault, M. (1976). Arkeologi Pengetahuan. Terjemahan Inyiak Ridwan Muzir. Yo- gyakarta: IRCiSoD. 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