International Journal of Research in Social Sciences

This paper aims to describe types of Balinese craft, and cause of commodification, especially regarding crafts that has experienced dynamics from its original as a result of order (made to order) since the process of commodification occurs. A qualitative approach relying on observation technique and in-depth interview in all three study sites, namely (Kedisan, Ubud, and Celuk) was applied in the collection of data and information. Theories relating to the commodification used to analyze the data of this paper.

Types of crafts that have become commodity today is sculpture consisting of: statue of eagle, elephant, giraffe. In addition, there are also mirror, panel, jewelry, and painting. Some aspects undergoing changes are shape, material, size, coloring, and making method.

The changes or commodification made to the craft products by Balinese artists are as a result of the order (made to order) resulted from two factors: external and internal factors. Externally, it is caused by made to order from customer which is generally in line with market tastes. Besides, there is also pattern of production and effect of tourism. As for the internal factors, the artisans in the village of Kedisan, Ubud, and Celuk use their imagination to innovate creatively in order to create new designs of statue, panel, mirror, jewelry, and painting produced by artisans in the three villages. They seem to always follow the tastes of market making their products favored by consumers so that they produce the products massively. In addition, the artisans aim to change their socio-economic life and they produce crafts as commodity that is marketable to benefit them as much as possible.