VISUALIZING PREHISTORIC COLLECTIONS: Cultural Representation at Sri Baduga Museum

doi:10.36782/jcs.v15i1.2650

VISUALIZING PREHISTORIC COLLECTIONS: Cultural Representation at Sri Baduga Museum

Kenrick Constantino Tison, Idola Perdini Putri

Abstract

Sri Baduga Museum preserves around 7,000 artifacts representing West Java’s cultural heritage, yet the current visualization of its prehistoric to Hindu–Buddhist collections on the first floor has not fully supported visitors' understanding. The 49% decline in visitor numbers from 2023 to 2024 further highlights the urgency of evaluating the effectiveness of visual communication in conveying cultural meanings. Addressing the limited scholarly attention to local cultural visualization—particularly Sundanese heritage—this study examines how the museum’s visual elements represent West Javanese culture and identifies obstacles that hinder visitors’ interpretive processes. Employing a qualitative approach using observation, interviews, and questionnaires with 35 respondents, this research explores visitors' perceptions and experiences. The findings show that 62% of visitors find the visual presentation appealing; however, issues such as small text, dense infographics, and an inadequate layout reduce readability and constrain meaning-making. Through Peirce’s semiotics, Stuart Hall’s representation theory, and the Shannon–Weaver communication model, the study reveals that suboptimal visual design generates communicative “noise” that disrupts cultural interpretation. The study contributes to the field by foregrounding Sundanese cultural visualization within a regional museum context, a topic rarely discussed in Indonesian museology literature. These insights underscore the need for more interactive, contextual, and modern visual strategies to enhance visitor understanding, engagement, and the overall effectiveness of cultural representation.

To cite this article (7^th APA style):

Tison, K. C., & Putri, I. P. (2025). Visualizing Prehistoric Collections: Cultural Representation at Sri Baduga Museum. Journal Communication Spectrum: Capturing New Perspectives in Communication, 15(1), 69-78. https://doi.org/10.36782/jcs.v15i1.2650

Keywords

Visual Communication; Museum Studies; West Javanese Culture; Cultural Representation; Visitor Engagement

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