Classic Literature Reading Lists

May 5th, 2008, in Opinion, by Guest Writer

View the original article here.

14 Comments on “Classic Literature Reading Lists”

tomaculum Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Patung,
in case of Pramoedya, the readers outside Indonesia are already influenced of his past as a victim of the Suharto regime.
Every discussion I followed was about the story in his books which they interpret as a critic against these regime and Minke as a hero left his own class to fight against injustice and repression. Thereby they ignore assiduously his (Minke’s) personal motives.
Other interpretations about the story(-ies) will be ignored, not to mention about the quality.
Short: Pramoedy is for them a hero to be idolized.
It is good if someone, like you, calls for a discussion about the quality of his works independent (as much as possible) of his Buru past.
For me there are many more better and much better Indonesian literateurs like ST Alisyahbana, Hamzah, Chairil etc or Putu Wijaya.
PrimaryDrive Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
The biggest problem in educating Indonesians in literature is not so much that some literatures are forbiden; it is that we simply do not educate our kids and the young people to read! Mostly this is a cultural thing. Most parents do not read books, so they have little appreciation to literature. So, they dont bother to stimulate their kids to read books.

So, kids don’t read work of Chairil Anwar, Amir Hamzah, and Sutan Takdir Alisyahbana, let alone all those other writers you mentioned. We were just told summaries about them at school, and that’s it.
Patung Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Hi Tomaculum, actually this was written by “Guest Writer” – Spew (it all).
dewaratugedeanom Says:
May 6th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
What is it that makes Indonesians so afraid of communism, even to the fact that the mere uttering of the word already provokes antagonism, and given that the overwhelming majority doesn’t know anything about the economic doctrine and its implications?

Although communism has been proven to be a failed societal model, IMO the fear of Indonesians stems more from the angst of losing their paradigms and being confronted with the unknown and unfamiliar, angst which is fueled by the innumerable figures of religious authority whose power is vested in the ignorance and docility of the masses.

In the eyes of wong cilik and even on higher levels communism is synonym with godlessness, which in turn becomes assimilated with wickedness and moral decay.
PrimaryDrive Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 2:28 am
dewaratugedeanom:

What is it that makes Indonesians so afraid of communism…

Because we have been taught so. This is probably reflects Soeharto oppinion on communism; he then implemented it, or approved the implementation of, as a full scale indoctrination of the people. Seoharto himself was not an intellectual, so he had an excuse for being so naive in his oppinion. Sadly, the rest of Indonesia was stuck with him being the big boss man.
spew-it-all Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 9:49 am
So, kids don’t read work of Chairil Anwar, Amir Hamzah, and Sutan Takdir Alisyahbana, let alone all those other writers you mentioned. We were just told summaries about them at school, and that’s it.

I doubt this PrimaryDrive. The poem ‘Aku’ or ‘Karawang-Bekasi’ are sort of material that are used for teaching at school. Layar Terkembang of STA (Sutan Takdir Alisyahbana) is also included, albeit it is only an extract. Layar Terkembang was once made into a movie. Although it has different form, surely it is more than summary.
Marisa Says:
May 7th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
In my opinion, today’s Indonesians are far more likely to react negatively towards the idea of terrorism and/or capitalism, rather than communism. Commies, are like, ancient history. Those who still react negatively towards communism might be from the older generation, for the reason that they’ve been through Soekarno’s era. Ask them now and they’d still say Soeharto’s era is way better than Soekarno’s.

1950-60ies arts and literature concept in Indonesia isn’t a byproduct of communism; it isn’t purely founded on Marxism-Leninism. Thing is, the communist party (PKI) is some sort of the patron of various folklore art and literature organizations, such as LEKRA, and both sides share the same members. While the generals are playing imported vinyl records, they’re sticking with the genjer genjer. PKI did try to politicize the LEKRA body, but failed. Perhaps that’s why 1950ies artists and writers were strongly associated with communism.

Sobron Aidit is worth remembering, though he hadn’t been as famous as the other names mentioned above. Prior to his death last year in Paris (if I’m not mistaken), he was still found active in private Indonesian literature communities on the Internet, using a pseudonym, sending poetries and sonnets to be read by fellow Indonesians until his final day.

If these works haven’t contributed an ideology to the modern mass, it’s because it isn’t the sole mission–arts are not politics. However, they’ve contributed history, a remembrance of a nation’s evolution, and hopefully, neo-Pramoedyas from the younger generation.

I could be wrong though, but that’s what I’ve learned so far.
Finally Woken Says:
May 10th, 2008 at 3:17 am
I don’t think it’s something to do with Pram & communism or any ideology. I don’t know what happens now, but I remember that my literature teacher knew basically nothing, had no passion and interest to Indonesian literature world, let alone thought about influencing his students. I was lucky that my mum took (English) literature subject and my house was full of classic books, and she hung out with Indonesian and local poets and writers. I went to see Rendra read his poems and danced “ada tokek, ada tokek”, and a local poet performed a reading with sword and blood in junior high school while my friends were gossiping about Catatan Si Boy. We had lunch discussions with NH Dini and Ehma Ainun Nadjib (remember he wrote few books before he reinvented himself to be a celebrity and married a celebrity). I idolized Sutarji and Sapardi and could quote their poems. But I was an outcast. No one cared. Not my teacher, not a single schoolmate.

In general Indonesians don’t have great deal of interest in literature. Let alone if the writer had been dubbed as “Indonesian Red”.
spew-it-all Says:
May 10th, 2008 at 11:50 am
The problem may have lied on how history is taught in Indonesia. When people learning history, literatures are rarely used as sources. Pram is this respect is a typical example. His writings are more than literary works. Rather, they reflect on how the society at that time grapling with the idea of nation. In other words, how indonesians were making their own history. As for Pram, we can also say that the narration of nation is constructed through literatures.
Yeni Says:
December 17th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I think the education system in indonesia does not have passion in literature.
saut Says:
January 8th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Hey, your list is weird!

No mention of Rendra (early Rendra).
No mention of Sitor Situmorang!!!

And no mention of the younger generation either!

What is a “Classic” anyway?!
saut situmorang Says:
June 9th, 2009 at 1:28 am
Tomaculum,

Which “readers outside Indonesia” that you meant in the quote below?! Please elaborate!

“in case of Pramoedya, the readers outside Indonesia are already influenced of his past as a victim of the Suharto regime.
Every discussion I followed was about the story in his books which they interpret as a critic against these regime and Minke as a hero left his own class to fight against injustice and repression….”

Please elaborate also your assersion that “there are many more better and much better Indonesian literateurs like ST Alisyahbana, Hamzah, Chairil etc or Putu Wijaya.”

If you are unable to do it, please just shut up and stop commenting on Indonesian Literature!!! Show some respect, okay!
Astrajingga Says:
June 9th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
There’s nothing good in Angkatan ‘66 literature. Taufiq Ismail produce rubbish childhish poems.
saut situmorang Says:
June 10th, 2009 at 3:06 am
Tomaculum,

If you are really interested (“seriously interested” like it is implied in your comment, if I’m correct) in reading “Readings on Pram as Sastrawan Indonesia”, not as a Buru Island political prisoner, then do get hold of these academic periodicals: “Indonesia” (Cornell University) and “RIMA” (Australia). Lots of good materials on Pram’s literary works there.

But only if you are really interested in reading “Readings on Pram as Sastrawan Indonesia”.

Have a nice reading!