Kategori: Opinion Column

A post-colonial subversive

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Nearly all reviews of and comments on Banu’s Semua Untuk Hindia have missed the radically subversive character of the anthology. Neither the jury of the Khatulistiwa Literary Award, nor prominent poet and cultural critic Nirwan Dewanto who writes a preface to the anthology, acknowledges these qualities in their musings. Apparently, to this reading public what exists outside the state-sanctioned propaganda is simply unimaginable or incomprehensible.

Heryanto, Ariel (2016) “A post-colonial subversive”, Inside Indonesia, 123 (Jan-Mar), http://www.insideindonesia.org/a-post-colonial-subversive

keywords: Dutch East Indies, Iksaka Banu, Inside Indonesia, post-colonial, Semua Untuk Hindia, short stories, subversive

Ben Anderson: the one and only

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Heryanto, Ariel (2015) “Ben Anderson: the one and only”, Asian Currents (ASAA, Australia), 21/12/2015, http://asaa.asn.au/ben-anderson-one/

keywords: Area Studies, Asian Currents, Ben Anderson, ethics, language, New Mandala, politics

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Ubud festival affair reflects New Order mindset

2015_11_08_ASIAN CURRENTS Ubud festival affair reflects New Order mindset-c

Vickers, Adrian and Heryanto, Ariel (2015) “Ubud festival affair reflects New Order mindset”, Asian Currents, sighted 8/11/2015, http://asaa.asn.au/ubud-festival-affair-reflects-new-order-mindset/

keywords: Asian Currents, bans, censorship, New Order, self-censorship, Ubud festival

Indonesia’s democratic masses brought victory to Jokowi

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Joko Widodo, Indonesia’s president elect, is a paradox. Better known as Jokowi, he stands out as extraordinary among politicians in Indonesia and beyond, for being so ordinary (and comfortably so) in appearance, speech and background.

Heryanto, Ariel (2014) “Indonesia’s democratic masses brought victory to Jokowi”, The Conversation, 23 July 2014.
https://theconversation.com/indonesias-democratic-masses-brought-victory-to-jokowi-29569

keywords: Conversation, democracy, Indonesia, international commentators, Joko Widodo, masses

The 1965-6 killings: facts and fictions in dangerous liaisons

2012_IIAS_61 The 1965-1966 killings-c

Heryanto, Ariel (2012) “The 1965-6 killings: facts and fictions in dangerous liaisons”, IIAS Newsletter, 61 (Autumn): 16-17, http://www.iias.nl/the-newsletter/article/1965-1966-killings-facts-and-fictions-dangerous-liaisons

keywords: 1965 killings, documentary, ethics, film, history, IIAS Newsletter, review, The Act of Killing, truth

Know Indonesia, know thyself

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“You cannot say you have mastered a new language if you have not discovered a brand new world, and your new self in it, through the experience of learning it.”

Heryanto, Ariel (2012) “Know Indonesia, know thyself”, The Interpreter (Lowy Institute), 22 May 2012, http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2012/05/22/Know-Indonesia-know-thyself.aspx

keywords: Australia, Indonesian studies, Interpreter, language, self-discovery, utilitarianism

Pop Islam in Indonesia

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The popularity of the Indonesian film Ayat-ayat Cinta (Verses of Love) is an illustration of what Pop Islam may look like. This was one of the first Indonesian films to feature a female protagonist who is nearly fully veiled. Many considered it as one of the most Islamic films. A polygamous marriage that features in the film heightened the already intense controversy on the new campaigns for polygamy.

Heryanto, Ariel (2010) “Pop Islam in Indonesia”, Asia Current, February 2010,
http://asaa.asn.au/asian-currents-html-archives/2010/asian-currents-10-02.html

keywords: Asia Current, Ayat-ayat Cinta, hybrid, intra-Asia, Pop Islam