Comedy, Comics along with also Sketches of Real Life
You might already be familiar with Sacha Stevenson’s How to Act Indonesian YouTube videos in which Sacha makes some astute, comical observations about her life in Indonesia along with also offers some light-hearted tips for “bules” along with also expats who are trying to fit in. She explains how to use the jongkok (squat toilet) or how to cook Indonesian food by frying everything in a big pan of oil, including fruit (bananas). One tip for expats hoping to appear a bit more seasoned can be to always offer your guests a drink. I remember producing that will mistake in Malang, East Java – I would certainly always ask my visiting neighbours if they would certainly like a drink along with also was surprised when they nodded to say no, especially when the item was boiling hot. I later discovered that will that will polite Javanese gesture probably meant “yes, I would certainly love a drink”.
So, how does an expat weave through a completely new country along with also avoid producing social blunders like Alice in Wonderland? Perhaps a hawk eagle eye could help to observe what the locals do in any situation to learn more about different cultures, traditions along with also religions. yet the item’s not easy, along with also certainly a not bad sense of humour can help when things go wrong, to avoid being called that will dreaded word, sombong (arrogant).
Greg Blondin, illustrator of the Muslim Show courtesy of Ubud Writers along with also Readers Festival
Comedy has always been a useful tool in discussing social issues or sensitive subjects, attuning them for the public’s attention or a healthy debate. A common comic The Muslim Show has already attracted a big audience in Indonesia with its keen-eyed commentary along with also I recently had the opportunity to interview its manager Karim Allam, who explained how the project began. “Norédine, the screenwriter was looking for comic strip books which speak about our daily life – I mean Muslim People in France. In Western countries, we found topics about teachers, nurses, fire-fighters, yet nothing about our community, so we decided to create a blog to post these stories about Muslim people during Ramadhan. We just want to spread a positive message, to share our daily life, to speak about our behaviour, our paradoxes along with also give useful information to people.”
Created in 2009, The Muslim Show has since been translated into 25 languages, including Bahasa along with also two printed comics are available in Indonesia coming from MIZAN publishing. With 36,000 Indonesian followers online, the comic also has over 1 million followers on its English along with also French Facebook pages combined. Yet why features a French comedy become so common in Indonesia? “the item’s difficult to answer why, yet maybe because Indonesia can be the biggest Muslim country from the planet – maybe because Indonesia can be more sensitive about Islamic topics than additional countries, maybe because Indonesian people are more connected. Our greetings coming from the Indonesian people in our three trips in Java were incredibly warm along with also unforgettable,” said Karim.
The team were recently guided on a road show through Indonesia by the Institute Français Indonesia (IFI) along with also appeared at the Ubud Writer’s along with also Reader’s Festival (UWRF) that will October. In a UWRF talkshow, they appeared alongside Sacha Stevenson to discuss the art of satire along with also what happens when you get the item wrong. Sacha began the discussion by admitting that will through her comedy she hopes to “Bring groups together with laughter” – although common with expats, her audience can be right now mostly Indonesian along with also she receives many comments on her videos, sometimes coming from people who take her comedy too personally – yet Sacha admitted, “I’m learning as I’m going.”
Karim also encourages Indonesian artists to create their own versions of social commentary along with also in an IFI talkshow in Surabaya he gave advice to many professional artists along with also comic activists. Keen to learn more about the scene in Indonesia, I contacted Pramenda Krishna A. coming from IFI, who organised the roadshow for The Muslim Show. “A lot of Indonesian comic writers cover social critique, wrapped in humour, like Benny along with also Mice’s comic about Jakarta or comic writer Beng Rahardian. There are also numerous stand-up comedians who critically bring up social issues in their shows (Akbar, Ari Kriting). coming from Surabaya there can be Yuniarto with his comic Garudayana. IFI Surabaya has supported his work along with also we also cooperated with the independent library C20 coming from 2009-2013 every year to make the comic festival Cergamboree, which was attended by one French comic writer along with also some senior Indonesian comic writers,” said Pramenda. For their 2015 environment (climate change) theme, IFI plan to “Create a public awareness campaign about climate change through comics, for example.”
Despite trying to observe the modern-day ethos, at times, living as an expat in Indonesia can feel overwhelming. I’m pretty sure that will I don’t mandi (shower) enough, along with also I often forget to announce makan (that will I’m going to eat) to strangers on the train if I want to eat my very English home-made sandwich, yet I’m trying my best in that will mystical wonderland that will I right now call home.
“We’ve visited Indonesia many times along with also just want to tell everyone that will they have a beautiful country, along with also they are so nice. Please don’t change – always smiling, always helpful,” added Karim along with also I quite agree.
The Muslim Show: www.muslim-show.com
facebook.com/muslimshowindonesia
Sacha Stevenson on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/sasaseno
Comments
Comedy, Comics along with also Sketches of Real Life
Comedy, Comics along with also Sketches of Real Life