Report of Digital Humanities Forms of Culture: and Bir Pletok

I. Introduction The forms of culture are the way a culture is transferred into different medium. There are three medium of the forms of culture, such as: idea, activity, and artifact. The idea system is the abstract form of culture as a result of new paradigm. It is basically a culture that lives in the mind of the people who live the culture and has purpose to guide them to act and live. Therefore, idea can neither be visualized nor touched. Next, activity is the impact of humanization from where the people live and carried out by people within community. It promotes interactions and relationships of the people. Difference from idea, an activity is a culture that can be seen, observed, and documented. Last but not least, artifact is the result of idea and activity of one particular culture that has pattern. It has physical form; hence, artifact is tangible, can be seen and visualized as well.

II. Forms of Culture Betawi is one of the tribe in that has many forms of culture, for instance kerak telor and bir pletok. Kerak telor is an omelet-look like-snacks from Betawi that has basic ingredients from sticky rice, egg, and coconut. Meanwhile, bir pletok is herbs and spices-based beverage (Getting to know ‘bir pletok,’ Betawi’s staple drink, 2017). Kerak telor and bir pletok are pair for each other because both of them are commonly being served together, a seller of kerak telor, Pak Tegar explained on Saturday, March 24th 2018. Kerak Telor a. Activity The history of kerak telor begun in the time of colonialism when was still named Batavia. At that time, the Dutch asked Betawinese to make a food similar to omelet (Chandra, 2014). Since Batavia was surrounded by coconut trees, then the new idea was created, the coconut later was included in the ingredient of the new version of omelette. Therefore, the activity of kerak telor previously was started for serving the Dutch. Nowadays the activity of kerak telor has changed and evolved. As the time goes by, kerak telor becomes a culture from Betawi. Betawinese started to serve kerak telor in the traditional celebration, such as circumcision and wedding. Furthermore, kerak telor is also served in the event such as at the anniversary of Jakarta or Jakarta Fair as one of way to preserve it.

Report of Digital Humanities Forms of Culture: Kerak Telor and Bir Pletok

b. Artifact Kerak telor is the artifact from the activity of creating new style of omelet in the colonial era. The ingredients of kerak telor are sticky rice, egg (either duck or chicken egg), coconut (), and spices (salt, pepper, ebi) Kerak telor has a unique way of cooking. It is not cooked on the usual stove, yet on the charcoal stove. At first, the sticky rice is boiled in the pan for several minutes then added with egg and spices and become a paste. After the paste is half cooked, the pan will be flipped, in which the paste then facing the burning charcoal. Pak Tegar said that the embers from charcoal helps the kerak telor to be perfectly cooked. Cooking on the usual stove with fire, on the other side, will cause the kerak telor to be burnt. c. Idea The presence activity and artifact of kerak telor, eventually developed philosophy behind the ingredients and its way of cooking. - The sticky rice from the ingredients represents the characteristics of a leader. The texture is thick and the taste leads the overall taste of the food. It means that the leader should be bold and leading the people. - The presence of egg to unite all ingredients. All knowledge must be strengthened so does idealism, in order to make it strong and not detached. - In the cooking process, the important point is about time. If the pan were too soon to flip, the paste that has not half cooked yet will be broken. The same goes for leader. if a leader were not ready yet to lead, they are better to postpone, or else, he/she will be a bad leader and destroy his/her people. On the other hand, even though the pan were flipped at the right moment, time is still the being the prior consideration to avoid the kerak telor to be burnt. It means that the duration of being a leader should be considered and confined. A long period of leading can cause an abuse of power and disadvantage the people.

Bir Pletok a. Activity Bir pletok is a traditional beverage made from spices and herbs. The activity of drinking bir pletok was coming from the era of colonial where the Dutch love to have drinking party for celebration.

Report of Digital Humanities Forms of Culture: Kerak Telor and Bir Pletok

As the time goes by, the activity of drinking bir pletok is still exist. Similar as the way Europeans celebrate an important event by drinking, Betawinese celebration such as wedding, circumcision, and funeral also serve bir pletok as beverage. Moreover, bir pletok is also consumed as a companion for eating kerak telor. JJ Rizal, a historian from UI mentioned that bir pletok is the best companion for kerak telor, as written in Jawapos.com. b. Idea The idea of creating bir pletok was inspired by the Dutch’s drinking culture. Betawinese, who majority were Islam were antipathy toward that culture. They actually wanted to drink but wine and beer contain alcohol. Therefore, Betawinese tried imitating the concept of Dutch’s beer and made their own non-alcohol bir, named bir pletok. The color of bir pletok is the same with the beer of the Dutch which are brownish red. They named it bir pletok, to make it sounded similar with the beer that the colonial had. The word pletok was taken from the sound of the bottle cap. It is made from a wooden plug and will make a sound of ‘plop’ or ‘pletok’ when being revoked. Further, the after effect of bir pletok is the same with alcohol beer. Even though it does not make people drunk, but bir pletok can warm the body of people who consume it, just like wine or beer. c. Artifact Bir pletok is the artifact that is caused by the activity of drinking and the idea of creating non-alcohol beer by Betawinese. The ingredients are water, spices and herbs (, , , lemongrass, lemon leaves, sappan wood, ), and sugar. The making process of bir pletok is pouring the water on the pot and then put all ingredients inside. Boil for about 30 mins in low heat. After boiled, take the pot, and filter the ‘water’ to separate the waste of ingredients with the water. Let it cool.

III. Conclusion In conclusion, there are three forms of culture, which are: idea activity and artifact. Betawi has kerak telor and bir pletok as two of its cultural heritage. The artifact is the kerak telor itself. The idea of kerak telor is the philosophy of the ingredients and way of making. The activity is changed from the previous which is a serving for the Dutch up to today it is used as the food in celebration event.

Report of Digital Humanities Forms of Culture: Kerak Telor and Bir Pletok

Moreover, the artifact of bir pletok is the bir pletok. The idea is imitating the drinking habit from colonial era, and the activity is the drinking party for celebrating event. Nowadays, the activity of drinking bir pletok is evolved, since it is also served in the Betawinese celebration event and used as companion beverage of kerak telor.

IV. Appendices

Job Description

Karunia Dwi Novita (2015410009) – Essay writer Ramadhan Anhas (2015410013) – Video Editor Wahyu Mahendra (2015410010) – Presentation maker and representative of group

Report of Digital Humanities Forms of Culture: Kerak Telor and Bir Pletok

References:

Afrisia, R. S. (2015). Sejarah Bir Pletok Betawi, Tiruan Anggur Barat Tanpa Alkohol. Retrieved from : https://www.cnnindonesia.com/gaya- hidup/20150622154243-262-61620/sejarah-bir-pletok-betawi-tiruan-anggur- barat-tanpa-alkohol Birra, F. A. (2017). Ketika Sejarawan Bicara Soal Kerak Telor dan Bir Pletok, Orisinal!. Retrieved from: https://www.jawapos.com/read/2017/07/08/142923/ketika-sejarawan-bicara- soal-kerak-telor-dan-bir-pletok-orisinal Chandra, F. S. (2014). Kupasan Unik Budaya Kerak Telor - Betawi. Retrieved from: https://www.kompasiana.com/www.fransiscasc-kompasiana.com/kupasan- unik-budaya-kerak-telor-betawi_54f76977a33311c4528b45a8 Kumparan. (2017). Mencari Kerak Telor di Festival Palang Pintu. Retrieved from: https://kumparan.com/@kumparannews/mencari-kerak-telor-di-festival- palang-pintu Samosir, H. A. (2015). Belajar Makna Kepemimpinan dari Sepiring Kerak Telor. Retrieved from: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/gaya- hidup/20150622100119-262-61466/belajar-makna-kepemimpinan-dari- sepiring-kerak-telor The Jakarta Post. (2017). Getting to know 'bir pletok,' Betawi's staple drink. Retrieved from: http://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2017/07/11/getting-to- know-bir-pletok-betawis-staple-drink.html