Poetry in Indonesia
Malkan Junaidi
The poetry world feels like the idea’s an over-inflated balloon about to burst after the number of scandals of which have emerged – award-winning poets Christian Ward in addition to also David R. Morgan recently apologized for plagiarizing poems. little publishers such as Salt have stopped publishing poetry because of poor sales in addition to also some critics have even attacked modern poetry, calling the idea bad in addition to also obscure.
Yet poetry jams are surging in popularity in addition to also the recent increase in online poetry magazines has made things easier for artists to reach out to a reader’s heart with their voice. So what’s truly going on? is usually poetry only being bought in addition to also read by poets? in addition to also are things any different in Indonesia? of which’s what I wanted to find out. I first met poet Malkan Junaidi in 2012 at a talk in addition to also debate with Youth Poet Laureate Hagar Peeters through The Netherlands, in addition to also South African poet in addition to also actress Mbali Bloom in Malang, during the What is usually Poetry? International festival in Indonesia. At the festival, poets through across the entire world in addition to also Indonesia read their poems in addition to also encouraged students to reconnect with poetry.
As an expat with an interest in poetry, I was keen to ask Malkan Junaidi about the scene in Indonesia. Malkan, born in addition to also bred within the paddy-farming village of Blitar in East Java, was not always a poet in addition to also stopped writing after the death of his father. “I wanted to live a simpler life, which involved more muscles than brains – I inherited through my father a profession as a farmer. My symbolic divorce with poetry involved burning all the poems I’d ever written. yet being a poet seems to have been my destiny. In 2005 I wrote again.” After 15 years of writing, his collection of 99 poems, called Lidah Bulan (Tongue of the Moon) was recently published.
The Indonesian publishing scene has also benefitted through the Internet in addition to also many writers are turning to independent publishers or self-publishing, yet Malkan has fair concerns. “Due to the easiness of publishing a book through independent publishers (money is usually key), a lot of friends do image-raising politics by quoting testimonials in addition to also endorsements of books they published.”
So, I wondered, with so many books flooding the market, where was the best place to start reading some not bad Indonesian poetry?
“I think Indonesia with its young modern literary history has produced a lot of poets whose works are worth reading,” Malkan explains. “I will mention a few names, not because I like them, yet because in general (in addition to also I agree) they had a significant effect on their own in addition to also next generation.” Here are eight of Malkan’s recommendations.
Chairil Anwar
1. Chairil Anwar is usually number one on the list. Although born in 1922, his legendary name still continues to be talked about. Breaking away through tradition, “He refused to write pantun, gurindam, seloka in addition to also different literary forms through his ancestors in addition to also replaced the idea with different forms – crossbreeding with Western influences such as W. H Auden.”
2. Goenawan Mohamad, founder in addition to also Editor of Tempo magazine, “is usually a central axis figure within the Jakarta literature movement.”
3. W. S. Rendra’s “Poetry is usually more well-known than Goenawan Mohamad’s, in addition to also he was also a very charismatic figure.” He even founded a brand-new type of performance art theatre –Bengkel Teater – which was managed by his third wife Ken Zuraida, after his death.
4. Sutardji Calzoum Bachri, “Ambitiously wanted to free poetry through conventional devices in addition to also return the idea to its mantra form.” As a result, some of his poems adopt an imagist style.
5. Afrizal Malna, “An Indonesian postmodernist, who juxtaposed non-connected objects together, is usually a highly influential figure within the last 20 years.” His poetry translates well into English, perhaps because of its reliance on images in addition to also objects rather than different poetic devices, which are harder to translate. Malna actively attends workshops in addition to also poetry readings – he recently read at Salihara in Jakarta.
6. Dorothea Rosa Herliany, born in 1963, is usually one of very few Indonesian female poets. She has produced over 20 prose in addition to also poem works in addition to also recently contributed at the What is usually Poetry? Festival.
7. Toeti Heraty, born in 1933, was a feminist thinker in addition to also leading Indonesian poet.
8. Finally, Joko Pinurbo, who “Explores the side of which is usually not touched by many of his predecessors – the comical side. His poetry is usually simple, intriguing, as well as contemplative.”
WS Rendra’s “Perkemahan Kaum Urakan” – Photo by Ruedi Hoffman, 1971
WS Rendra’s “Perkemahan Kaum Urakan” – Photo by Ruedi Hoffman, 1971
Poetry talks are a not bad way to find out more about contemporary poetry in addition to also poet Widhyanto Muttaqien has hosted various poetry in addition to also blues music events – his coffee in addition to also bookshop, Kedai Sinau, will be opening next month in Bintaro, Jakarta, where he hopes to host again. Poetry camps are also frequently held across Java – Rumah Seni Eloprogo, owned by artist Sony Santosa, recently hosted an event where writer in addition to also poet Ervin Ruhlelana in addition to also performance poet Buyung Mentari performed under the light of the full moon, on a stage erected close to the river. Yet Malkan explains of which poetry gatherings like these are not brand-new – “W.S. Rendra made Perkemahan Kaum Urakan (camp of the non-conformists) in Parangtritis, Jogjakarta, within the 1970s. Urakan means to perform actions of which might violate the law or social norms of which apply. We can call the idea anti-system. Rendra in youth (he confessed) had a rebellious soul – proven by the many bans in addition to also detentions sentenced to him. He was arrested, not for disturbing public order which has a variety of urakan actions, yet because he was considered a threat to the stability of the government.”
Yet Malkan has concerns about the modern-day preoccupation with productivity rather than creativity in addition to also Indonesian poets are often encouraged to write in Bahasa rather than their mother tongue, (for example Javanese), which may impact on the way they refine their voice. So, how can we get people interested in poetry again? Gary Snyder once said of which the poet was like a shaman, acting as a medium for the earth in addition to also as Malkan says, “The most effective way to stay on the right track is usually to be true to your heart, in addition to also writing poetry in my opinion is usually part of an effort to always hear in addition to also obey the words of the heart.”
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Poetry in Indonesia
Poetry in Indonesia