Children's books industry struggling<\/p>\n
By Rita A. Widiadana<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Do not be surprised if many Indonesian children
\nare more familiar with Western superheroes Batman, Superman,
\nSpiderman, Japanese space cat Doraemon, Cinderella or Mickey
\nMouse and Donald Duck than local characters like Bawang Merah and
\nBawang Putih.<\/p>\n
The reason is clear. Today's children are widely exposed to
\nforeign characters from an early age through books, films and
\nmerchandise.<\/p>\n
Local children's books are rarely found in Jakarta's
\nbookstores which display mostly translated versions of foreign
\ncomics and children's books like Ninja Turtles, Kungfu Boy,
\nSmurf, Disney's series like Mickey Mouse, or movie tie-in
\nproducts like Lion King, Pocahontas, Aladdin, Little Mermaid
\nor Toy Story. Local children's books like Sangkuriang, Lutung
\nKesarung, Si Leungsi or Malin Kundang will be found in the corner
\nof the display room.<\/p>\n
Several people, including Murti Bunanta, an avid observer of
\nchildren's books, are concerned about this.<\/p>\n
\"It is discouraging to let foreign and translated books
\ndominate the market. There are too many comics and translations,\"
\nMurti said.<\/p>\n
Murti has just obtained a doctorate in children's literature
\nfrom the University of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Translated books are good because children can absorb other
\ncountries' cultures and traditions, Murti said.<\/p>\n
\"But, children should also learn about their own culture and
\nvalues, all of which can be drawn through folk stories and other
\nnative sources,\" Murti said.<\/p>\n
Problems arise because they have no chance to get such
\ninformation, Murti said.<\/p>\n
Gone are the days when parents passed on centuries-old bed
\ntime stories to their children and local children's books are
\nscarce.<\/p>\n
\"How can we introduce our children to local cultures if we
\ndon't fill their memories with such material. People should not
\nblame children for choosing Western heroes as their idols,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The situation was not so alarming in the early l970s when the
\nproduction of domestic books flourished. Many talented writers
\nincluding Soekanto, Moch. Sobary and Djoko Lelono produced many
\ngood books for children. Government supports were also there.
\nUnder the Presidential Instruction, thousands of books were
\npublished to provide children with cheap and interesting books.<\/p>\n
In the early l980s, foreign and translated books started
\ndominating the market overshadowing domestic ones. No official
\nnumbers are available, but the production of local books has
\ngradually decreased.<\/p>\n
Difficulty<\/p>\n
The head of the children's fiction section of publisher PT
\nGramedia Pustaka Utama, Listiana Srisanti, said local books were
\nrare now.<\/p>\n
\"Publishers actually face no problem in producing local
\nchildren's books since we have a lot of sources. But how can we
\nsell them in this tight market currently dominated by translated
\nforeign books,\" Listiana said.<\/p>\n
The local market is shaped by the demands and trends of young
\nreaders, she said.<\/p>\n
Listiana agreed that the l970s was the best period for local
\nchildren's and teenagers' books.<\/p>\n
\"But the trend is changing. Fiction no longer appeals to young
\nreaders. They prefer to read comics which are visually more
\nattractive,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Gramedia encouraged local writers to submit work but only a
\nfew responded, she said.<\/p>\n
The company has also produced a series of folk tales including
\nthe Balinese story Pangeran Katak, the Prince of Frog, Si
\nLeungli, Sangkuriang, Lutung Kasarung from West Java, Cindelaras
\nand Jaka Tarub from East Java.<\/p>\n
\"Publishers must subsidize 50 percent of production and
\noverhead costs if we want to produce such books. For the time
\nbeing it is still too costly,\" Listiana said.<\/p>\n
Translated books are easier to make.<\/p>\n
She said several foreign publishers offered samples regularly.
\n\"We need about a month of negotiation before we decide to
\ntranslate one of their products,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The negotiations include payment fees, royalties and other
\nnecessary agreements.<\/p>\n
More than 50 percent of the company's children's books are
\ntranslated Disney products.<\/p>\n
\"We must admit many foreign books deal with a large variety of
\nsubject matters which can enhance children's imagination and
\nknowledge,\" she said.<\/p>\n
PT Elex Media Komputindo's children's book editor, Retno
\nKristy, said her company wanted to provide a wide range of books
\nwhich were informative but appealing to children.<\/p>\n
Elex published a series of Misteri Alam (natural mystery)
\nbooks, which describe various natural phenomenon simply and
\ninformatively. Attractive illustrations have helped children
\nunderstand the books' contents better than school text books, she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
These visual books are intended to complement school text
\nbooks.<\/p>\n
The company has also published more than 1,400 comic and
\nchildren's book titles since l990.<\/p>\n
The first comics Elex published were Candy-Candy,Akira, and
\nKotaro, etc.<\/p>\n
The company releases 27 comic and children's books every year.<\/p>\n
Retno said her company encouraged local writers to create more
\nstories.<\/p>\n
But Murti said problems would not be solved if publishers were
\nnot idealistic enough to give opportunities to local writers.<\/p>\n
\"Many writers and book illustrators received meager payment
\nfor their works. No wonder, many of them have given up writing,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Efforts to boost local children's books have been carried out
\nby both government and private sectors.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Education and Culture and local publishers
\nhave frequently held children's book contests. But the results
\nwere discouraging.<\/p>\n
Writer Arswendo Atmowiloto said solving the problem required
\nstrong political will from the government.<\/p>\n
Arswendo urged the government to exempt publishers from
\nvarious taxes and ease permits for the publication of children's
\nbooks and magazines.<\/p>\n
He said the government could subsidize local publishers which
\nproduce children's books.<\/p>\n
\"Without such strong will, our local book industry will remain
\nawful,\" Arswendo said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/childrens-books-industry-struggling-1447893297",
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