Shifting The Myth in The Middle of Social Change (Mythological Studies in Kiskendo Cave and Betetor Hamlet in Kendal)

There are many myths existed in some areas in Indonesia that forbid government officers entering in certain places. This leads to the development of those areas blocked. This research explores and compares between the myth of Kiskendo cave and Betetor village in Kendal district Central Java including how does the origin of those myths, what are the effects of those myths to the surrounding community, and the shifting of its meaning in the society. This study uses phenomenology approach, and data was gathered through in-depth interviews and observation. Analysis was conducted during and after field work using descriptive analysis. Results of this study illustrate that structure of the myth story of Kiskendo cave comes from the story of pewayangan, while the myth of Betetor village is from the story of Kiai Rujak Beling Sabuk Alu who was chased by Dutch army and he enters to Betetor village. The myth of Kiskendo cave does not affect on the government officers’ attitude including police, army, and civil servant. In addition, this myth does not influence to the social change in the village. On the other hand, the myth of Betetor village influence on the government officers’ attitudes, they are afraid to enter the village. However, nowadays they are no longer afraid to enter the village; even some residents become civil servants.The title of this research is Shifting the Myth in the Middle of Social Change focused in Gua Kiskendo and Betetor Hamlet Kendal Regency, Central Java. Problems in the study were 1) How the story structure of the origins of Myth, 2) How the myth influence on the lives of the surrounding communities, and 3) Whether there was a shifting myth in Kiskendo Cave and Betetor Hamlet Kendal Regency, Central Java. This study is a qualitative research with phenomenological approach. Data obtained through in-depth interviews and observation techniques. Data analysis was carried out simultaneously with data recording field, and after returning from the field by using descriptive analysis. The process of analysis is done by grouping the data and perform analysis of the relationships between the data. The results showed that; 1) The original myth structure that happened in Kiskendo Cave not based on a story with a clear storyline. While the myth is in the Betetor Hamlet based on the story from “Kiai Rujak Beling Sabuk Alu” who chased the Dutch army and go into Betetor Hamlet, 2) The life of the community around the Kiskendo Cave not affected by the myth that developed, especially the myth that causes government officials dared not enter the village area. This is in contrast with the state of the community Betetor Hamlet who is aware of the myths that developed and the consequences of these myths, then the government apparatus (army, police, and civil servants) no one dared to enter the territory of the village. 3) The community culture of Guwa Hamlet Trayu village not change as a result of a myth Kiskendo Cave that going. Unlike the case with the state of society Betetor Hamlet Tabet village of Limbangan Subdistrict, who feel that the myth is growing and expanding, which initially only the army and police did not dare enter the region, has now developed to the civil servants