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Media, Culture and Social Change in Asia #15
Popular Culture in Indonesia
This book examines popular culture in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, and the third largest democracy. It provides a full account of the key trends since the collapse of the authoritarian Suharto regime (1998), a time of great change in Indonesian society more generally. It explains how one of the most significant results of the deepening industrialization in Southeast Asia since the 1980s has been the expansion of consumption and new forms of media, and that Indonesia is a prime example of this development. It goes on to show that although the Asian economic crisis in 1997 had immediate and negative impacts on incumbent governments, as well as the socioeconomic life for most people in the region, at the same time popular cultures have been dramatically reinvigorated as never before. It includes analysis of important themes, including political activism and citizenship, gender, class, age and ethnicity. Throughout, it shows how the multilayered and contradictory processes of identity formation in Indonesia are inextricably linked to popular culture. This is one of the first books on Indonesia's media and popular culture in English. It is a significant addition to the literature on Asian popular culture, and will be of interest to anyone who is interested in new developments in media and popular culture in Indonesia and Asia.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2008
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March 23, 2021
To be more specific, I would give this 3.5 stars.
The pros: It focuses on the media of contemporary Indonesia. The editor Ariel Heryanto makes a valid point that studying and analyzing today’s media and what people in Indonesia are exposed to in their everyday live, can provide us with a lot of insights into where Indonesia is heading to in the future and what challenges the younger generation face. Each chapter deals with a different issue, which makes this book quite interesting. Finally, a big thumbs up to the Indonesian scholars, who wrote down their thoughts in English.
The cons: A couple of typo mistakes. I wish there was a clearer index highlighting what each chapter would talk about, or even better structured sub-titles to each essay. Each chapter feels a bit messy and stretched out into a wide variety of places. The references are uneven; some chapters include their references, while others omit them completely.
Chapter 1: Pop culture and competing identities by Ariel Heryanto
Basically, the author justifies the need for more research on contemporary Indonesia's media. Indonesia as a country has a lot of polarized point of views regarding the media; regional vs. capital, Javanist pleasure vs. Islamist piety, patriarchy vs. women’s movement, lower class vs upper class cultural tastes, the digital divide. The media today is completely different from what it was like during the New Order.
Chapter 2: Indonesian cinema: exploring cultures of masculinity, censorship and violence by Marshall Clark
Self-explanatory title of how movies in Indonesia are dominated by male character.
Chapter 3: Changing social formations in Indonesian and Thai teen movies by David Hanan
One of my favorite chapters focusing on the differences between Asian (Indonesian and Thai) and American teen movies. I had never really paid attention to this, but when I remember the American teen movies that I watched and the Indonesian and Thai ones, it all becomes clear that same-sex friendship is a more integral part in Asian teen movies.
Chapter 4: Citizenship and Indonesian ethnic Chinese in post 1998 films by Ariel Heryanto
Another interesting chapter on how the Chinese minority in Indonesia is presented in films and how Chinese-Indonesian filmmakers view Indonesia. There's a debate that they aren't 100% honest in depicting what a place like Indonesia is like for them to live in and that most Chinese characters are stereotyped in movies.
Chapter 5: Consuming Taiwanese boys culture by Rachmah Ida
Focuses on why East Asian TV dramas are increasingly popular in Indonesia instead of the ones that come out of Hollywood. Quite interesting to see that the viewers in Indonesia feel closer to Taiwanese and Korean characters because of the "Asian" values that they share, but are not really interested in the nationalist aspects. However, urban dwellers are more inclined to watch these dramas rather than rural people.
Chapter 6: Fame, fortune, Fantasi: Indonesian Idol and the new celebrity by Penelope Coutas
Another thought-provoking chapter on why Indonesian Idol has taken over the country by storm. Comparison to its American counterpart and where the differences are. It criticizes the deceiving experience that is given to the viewers, who are trapped into voting for their favorite contestants. But is it really that "democratic?" Or simply a way for them to make money? The British-American Idol concept is almost declared an "imperialist" import into Indonesia that takes over the local media.
Chapter 7: Consuming gossip: A Re-domestication of Indonesian women by Vissia Ita Yulianto
Another very, very interesting read, very thought-provoking and definitely my favorite! It criticizes reality TV, gossip shows and "infotainment." I was very shocked at the average hour a female university student in Yogya spends watching TV to catch up on gossip. The author goes on to say that Indonesian women were always kept at home and in the background, first by the Dutch, then by Suharto during the New Order, and now by this time-consuming, yet useless gossip TV show.
Chapter 8: Television drama: Simulation, for a new reality of Indonesia by Edwin Jurriens
Talks about a TV show called Newsdotcom. It's basically Indonesia's answer to Saturday Night Live (SNL), where parodies are made of politicians in fictional place called Republik Mimpi (which clearly is about Indonesia). All the politicians carry the same initials like the current and former politicians and there's a lively discussion on current issues and how to improve the nation. Some "true" politicians have asked for this show to be banned, but many people, including the author feel that this may be a clever way to make way for a free and open discussion about the flaws of Indonesia.
Chapter 9: Other worlds in Yogyakarta: From jatilan to electronic music by Max M. Richter
Another interesting chapter about a cultural phenomenon that I wasn't to familiar with: JATILAN. The way the author described, I understand it as a street performance with traditional singing and instruments and a huge dose of mysticism that may doze you into a trance-like state of mind! But when I checked the videos on youtube I saw that some of them were dancing with paper-horses. Still interesting to highlight that this type of performance brings together Indonesians from different classes, which is rare especially in Java, where social hierarchies are pronounced.
The pros: It focuses on the media of contemporary Indonesia. The editor Ariel Heryanto makes a valid point that studying and analyzing today’s media and what people in Indonesia are exposed to in their everyday live, can provide us with a lot of insights into where Indonesia is heading to in the future and what challenges the younger generation face. Each chapter deals with a different issue, which makes this book quite interesting. Finally, a big thumbs up to the Indonesian scholars, who wrote down their thoughts in English.
The cons: A couple of typo mistakes. I wish there was a clearer index highlighting what each chapter would talk about, or even better structured sub-titles to each essay. Each chapter feels a bit messy and stretched out into a wide variety of places. The references are uneven; some chapters include their references, while others omit them completely.
Chapter 1: Pop culture and competing identities by Ariel Heryanto
Basically, the author justifies the need for more research on contemporary Indonesia's media. Indonesia as a country has a lot of polarized point of views regarding the media; regional vs. capital, Javanist pleasure vs. Islamist piety, patriarchy vs. women’s movement, lower class vs upper class cultural tastes, the digital divide. The media today is completely different from what it was like during the New Order.
Chapter 2: Indonesian cinema: exploring cultures of masculinity, censorship and violence by Marshall Clark
Self-explanatory title of how movies in Indonesia are dominated by male character.
Chapter 3: Changing social formations in Indonesian and Thai teen movies by David Hanan
One of my favorite chapters focusing on the differences between Asian (Indonesian and Thai) and American teen movies. I had never really paid attention to this, but when I remember the American teen movies that I watched and the Indonesian and Thai ones, it all becomes clear that same-sex friendship is a more integral part in Asian teen movies.
Chapter 4: Citizenship and Indonesian ethnic Chinese in post 1998 films by Ariel Heryanto
Another interesting chapter on how the Chinese minority in Indonesia is presented in films and how Chinese-Indonesian filmmakers view Indonesia. There's a debate that they aren't 100% honest in depicting what a place like Indonesia is like for them to live in and that most Chinese characters are stereotyped in movies.
Chapter 5: Consuming Taiwanese boys culture by Rachmah Ida
Focuses on why East Asian TV dramas are increasingly popular in Indonesia instead of the ones that come out of Hollywood. Quite interesting to see that the viewers in Indonesia feel closer to Taiwanese and Korean characters because of the "Asian" values that they share, but are not really interested in the nationalist aspects. However, urban dwellers are more inclined to watch these dramas rather than rural people.
Chapter 6: Fame, fortune, Fantasi: Indonesian Idol and the new celebrity by Penelope Coutas
Another thought-provoking chapter on why Indonesian Idol has taken over the country by storm. Comparison to its American counterpart and where the differences are. It criticizes the deceiving experience that is given to the viewers, who are trapped into voting for their favorite contestants. But is it really that "democratic?" Or simply a way for them to make money? The British-American Idol concept is almost declared an "imperialist" import into Indonesia that takes over the local media.
Chapter 7: Consuming gossip: A Re-domestication of Indonesian women by Vissia Ita Yulianto
Another very, very interesting read, very thought-provoking and definitely my favorite! It criticizes reality TV, gossip shows and "infotainment." I was very shocked at the average hour a female university student in Yogya spends watching TV to catch up on gossip. The author goes on to say that Indonesian women were always kept at home and in the background, first by the Dutch, then by Suharto during the New Order, and now by this time-consuming, yet useless gossip TV show.
Chapter 8: Television drama: Simulation, for a new reality of Indonesia by Edwin Jurriens
Talks about a TV show called Newsdotcom. It's basically Indonesia's answer to Saturday Night Live (SNL), where parodies are made of politicians in fictional place called Republik Mimpi (which clearly is about Indonesia). All the politicians carry the same initials like the current and former politicians and there's a lively discussion on current issues and how to improve the nation. Some "true" politicians have asked for this show to be banned, but many people, including the author feel that this may be a clever way to make way for a free and open discussion about the flaws of Indonesia.
Chapter 9: Other worlds in Yogyakarta: From jatilan to electronic music by Max M. Richter
Another interesting chapter about a cultural phenomenon that I wasn't to familiar with: JATILAN. The way the author described, I understand it as a street performance with traditional singing and instruments and a huge dose of mysticism that may doze you into a trance-like state of mind! But when I checked the videos on youtube I saw that some of them were dancing with paper-horses. Still interesting to highlight that this type of performance brings together Indonesians from different classes, which is rare especially in Java, where social hierarchies are pronounced.
June 4, 2019
The only reason I read this book is to understand one simple fact in Indonesian popular culture: "nyinyir" aka talking bad things about people aka gossiping. Whether you accessing it through Lambeturah, comments section in Detik or Youtube, this phenomenon is a massive Indonesian popular culture that applicable for both women, men, even children or elder. Nyinyir backdated into traditional chit chat with vegetable seller (tukang sayur), to TV-based infotainment, to the latest messaging WhatsApp form. Nyinyir transferred in the office, in school alumni.
Did I get the answer from this book? well yes. The answer is in Chapter 7 saying that a Gossip is a form of women domestication. I never know and never realized this before. To me so far, Chapter 7 is the best and most complicated chapter that explain popular culture in Indonesia. At least 10 years after this book written gossip is clearly the winner against the movie and even the TV industry.
However, there is no definitive answer to this. Why people like celebrity gossip can be tributed to many things (1) there are no alternative quality programs (2) women as not smart (3) women as more sympathetic. But again there is no definitive answer. So I found the argument of gossip as a form of women domestication is very interesting and original.
This book, in general, is a great book. However, it also has a weakness. This book is published in June 2008, unfortunately, missed two important movies which are: Ayat-ayat Cinta (AAC) and Laskar Pelangi (LP) both in 2008. AAC represents the rise of Islam as popular culture, and LP represents the youth/education/motivational themes in cinema. This is quite the opposite of Chapter 6 Indonesian Idol. Moreover, this book also missed the rise of social media, which change the role of the television such as in reality show.
Did I get the answer from this book? well yes. The answer is in Chapter 7 saying that a Gossip is a form of women domestication. I never know and never realized this before. To me so far, Chapter 7 is the best and most complicated chapter that explain popular culture in Indonesia. At least 10 years after this book written gossip is clearly the winner against the movie and even the TV industry.
However, there is no definitive answer to this. Why people like celebrity gossip can be tributed to many things (1) there are no alternative quality programs (2) women as not smart (3) women as more sympathetic. But again there is no definitive answer. So I found the argument of gossip as a form of women domestication is very interesting and original.
This book, in general, is a great book. However, it also has a weakness. This book is published in June 2008, unfortunately, missed two important movies which are: Ayat-ayat Cinta (AAC) and Laskar Pelangi (LP) both in 2008. AAC represents the rise of Islam as popular culture, and LP represents the youth/education/motivational themes in cinema. This is quite the opposite of Chapter 6 Indonesian Idol. Moreover, this book also missed the rise of social media, which change the role of the television such as in reality show.
May 7, 2014
sayangnya pas buku udah dicetak, kasus yang dibahas sudah lewat banget....
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews