Media Clippings
A compilation of every mention of Indonesian writers, written on English/foreign-language media. See also What Media Say.
A many-headed machine
Jul 17, 2015 / Inside Indonesia by Hendrik MaierOnce upon a time notions and appreciations of Indonesian literature were based on a simple idea: every literary form of writing newly published could be categorised as the work of Angkatan 45 (Generation of 45), a term that referred to the writers who were coming of age in the years of the revolution and were given the floor in cultural life over their Dutch-trained predecessors in their glorification of the newly created nation. The term Angkatan 45 came in handy for political as well as for cultural reasons. The Republic of Indonesia had declared independence in 1945, followed by four years of struggles and violence and, as is the case in every other new nation, intellectuals and the political elite in the capital felt the need to have a literature that dealt with the formation of the nation.
New aromas
Jul 17, 2015 / Inside Indonesia by Meghan DownesIn the early days of the reformasi period, Indonesia saw a boom in literature by young female authors, tackling topics that had been deemed taboo under the New Order regime. Labelled by supporters and critics alike as sastra wangi (literally ‘fragrant literature’), these narratives often contained highly explicit sex scenes and candid representations of female sexuality and desire. The ‘fragrant literature’ was widely hailed as a step towards women’s emancipation from stereotypical gender roles on the one hand, and accused of flooding the market with vulgar, sensationalist content on the other. Over a decade on, some of these novels are achieving huge success on the big screen. The work of Dewi Lestari, for example, has resulted in five popular film adaptations released between 2012 and 2014. With more in production, it seems that ‘fragrant film’ is the flavour of the moment in Indonesia. Yet in contrast to the critical furore surrounding ‘fragrant literature’ in the early 2000s, there has been barely a ripple of debate about the film versions, or the continued activities of other young female authors in the literary scene.
And words fell from stars at the Makassar International Writers Festival
Jul 02, 2015 / Personal Blog by Marc NairThe fifth edition of the Makassar International Writers Festival 2015, a four day affair of panels, workshops and performances, was held in the port city of Makassar, in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The theme for this year‘s festival was ‘Knowledge and the Universe.’
Makassar Festival Seeks to Promote Eastern Indonesian Writers
Jun 09, 2015 / Jakarta Globe by Kennial Caroline LaiaEvents like the recently-concluded Makassar International Writers Festival are needed to promote literary works from eastern Indonesia, which have long been overshadowed by their counterparts from the western parts of the country, the organizers say. ...
Is Indonesia a “Land Without Readers?”
Jun 05, 2015 / Publishing Perspectives by Dennis AbramsIndonesia has a 93% literacy rate, but only a nascent book culture and few translations, all of which are slowing preparations for the Frankfurt Book Fair, where the country will be Guest of Honor. At ...
Literature in Indonesia: A land without readers
May 29, 2015 / Qantara by Monika GriebelerIndonesia is guest of honour at this autumn's Frankfurt Book Fair. That's a remarkable situation, because readers make up only a tiny proportion of the country's 250 million people. Good stories, that's what Indonesians love. Chatting with the neighbours, fairy tales put on at puppet theatres, or the popular recitation competitions – there's always plenty of telling and acting, talking and rhyming going on. Poetry readings often attract hundreds of people, the poets performing their pieces with much pathos and gesturing. Bands set verses to music, melancholy, mystic, magical. Some stories are passed down over centuries.
BEA 2015: Books by Franzen, Hallberg Among Most Talked About
May 28, 2015 / Publishers Weekly by Claire Kirch Judith Rosen Louisa ErmelinoBEA is about the future: the books that publishers are presenting, authors are signing, and booksellers and librarians are noting for the upcoming seasons. This year, as always, we walked the aisles to ask our ...
Emerging Indonesian Writers for UWRF 2015 Selected
May 01, 2015 / UWRF NewsThe Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) curatorial board have announced the names of 16 emerging Indonesian authors following months of selection process. The authors will be sponsored to attend and speak at this year’s ...
I read books by only minority authors for a year. It showed me just how white our reading world is.
Apr 24, 2015 / Washington Post by Sunili GovinnageReading more diverse literature has the power to convey the universality of human experience and show that we really have more in common with one another than expected. One of the best books I read last year was Indonesian author Dewi Lestari’s sci-fi epic “Supernova: The Knight, the Princess and the Falling Star,” a story presented through the eyes of two Indonesian men who meet while studying in Washington. The story is brilliant, and it proves that the West does not have a monopoly on technology, philosophy and love. Lestari’s novel could be set in any country with characters from any background; her ideas about modern lives and relationships truly transcend nationality. But unfortunately, while very popular in Indonesia, “Supernova” was largely absent from Western book reviews and literary circles.
Southeast Asia’s Brightest Voices to Flock to Jakarta
Mar 10, 2015 / Jakarta Globe by Kennial Caroline LaiaThe literary festival presented by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), will again come to town next week after its successful debut last year. Themed “Question of Conscience,” the Asean Literary Festival will be ...
