The years immediately following Indonesian independence were optimistic ones. The early 1950s are remembered as the “parliamentary period” of pluralism, when communists, socialists, nationalists, Islamists and the military vied for positions in the government. But debate between these parties was … [Read more...]
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The 2026 National Book Awards Longlists
September 20, 2026 by
This week, The New Yorker is announcing the longlists for the 2026 National Book Awards, including Young People’s Literature, Translated Literature, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Fiction. Fiction Five of the stories in Louise Erdrich’s collection “Python’s Kiss” were originally published in The New … [Read more...]
Enduring An Emerging Dictatorship
September 12, 2026 by
Tari Lang seemed to live in parallel universes. She was born to an English mother and an Indonesian father. Both of her parents enjoyed higher education, and they met in Prague, when the city was a magnet for leftist intellectuals pursuing their studies. Tari spent her childhood in the elite Menteng … [Read more...]
Cultural Context, Joy, and Community: Lunar Boy and the Realities of Queer Experience in the Global South
September 2, 2026 by
“Anyone who imagines a different reality is helping everyone else to see our power to act, and to make changes.” —Never Say You Can’t Survive by Charlie Jane Anders Growing up as a queer person in Indonesia meant continually starving for representation. It’s only within the past years that … [Read more...]
Dilan 1997 releases today: Netflix’s Indonesian romance returns with love, memories and political turmoil
August 29, 2026 by
Dilan 1997 is an Indonesian-language romance and drama set to stream on Netflix on 28 August 2026. The title carries a UA-13+ rating and features Niken Anjani, Ariel, Raline Shah, and Wafda Saifan Lubis in key roles. Based on a novel, the film continues a story rooted in youth, love and changing … [Read more...]
