The Role of Clay Roof Tiles in Constructing Identity in Jatiwangi, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract (English)

Material culture plays an important role in shaping and negotiating cultural and social identity. Objects are not merely passive things. They are actively involved in forming social relations and collective meaning. In Jatiwangi, West Java, Indonesia, clay roof tiles have long been more than just building materials or economic commodities. Known as "jebor", the clay roof tile home industry in Jatiwangi has existed since the early 20th century and experienced its heyday in the 1990s with demand from large government and overseas construction projects. However, in the early 21st century, the industry began to decline due to several factors, including the lack of research and development in clay roof tile factories, increased competition from other industries, the use of alternative roofing materials, and the growing difficulty of accessing good raw materials. Despite this decline, clay roof tiles continue to hold cultural meaning for the people of Jatiwangi. They reflect local values, practices, and relationship to the land. Today, these clay roof tiles are also used in creative and cultural expressions through community art projects managed by Jatiwangi Art Factory. This research uses a qualitative and descriptive approach, combining observation, interviews, and literature review. It examines how the historical development in the clay industry has constructed the cultural and social identity of Jatiwangi’s people, and how this identity continues to redefine in response to change. In the face of modernization and large-scale industrial development in the region, local communities are turning to the clay to express both continuity and transformation. By focusing on material objects like clay roof tiles, this study illustrates how identity is built through practice, memory, and creativity. It highlights the dynamic relationship between people and objects, showing that culture is constantly negotiated through material forms.