Decorated helmets turning heads among youngsters<\/p>\n
Text by Tedy Novan and photos by Hari Budiono<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Creativity is apparently identical to youth.
\nAt least this is what is shown by a group of youths in Yogyakarta
\nwho express their creativity through helmets.<\/p>\n
One afternoon, amid the hustle and bustle of Yogyakarta's
\ntraffic, a group of youths in high school gray and white
\nuniforms, formed a motorcycle convoy. There was something that
\ndistinguished them from other motorcyclists. Not only were the
\nshock absorbers of their motorcycles so low they were nearly
\ntouching the asphalt, but their helmets were covered with
\naccessories.<\/p>\n
The sticker-covered helmets also had goat's horns, faucets,
\niron pipes, wire spirals and welder's goggles attached, all
\nattracting public attention.<\/p>\n
This is what characterizes the group of youths who have been
\ncalling themselves Helemann-Heleminn for the last-one-and-a-half
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Their presence is apparent after school is over, at noon or in
\nthe late afternoon, when they usually form a convoy riding at
\nslow speed.<\/p>\n
This Helemann-Heleminn trend was started by students of Kolese
\nDe Britto Catholic high school in Yogyakarta at the end of 1995.
\nThe school is known for the creativity of its students. It all
\nstarted with the students wearing the helmets when watching
\ninter-school basketball games.<\/p>\n
\"The helmets were used to identify our group, but also to
\nprotect our heads from stones thrown by the opponents'
\nsupporters,\" said Antonius, who is in his second year at the
\nschool.<\/p>\n
This practice, according to Antonius, 20, later spread to
\nmusic performances where hard objects were also thrown. Their
\nhabit was gradually copied by students from other schools,
\nleading to a need to distinguish one group from another. For
\nidentification purposes stickers with writing or pictures came
\ninto use. The writing is humorous and sometimes obscene. Here is
\na look at some of the slogans: There is a Helemann on your chest.
\nWearing helmets makes you beautiful. It's not Helemann's mistake.
\nTo be seen but not touched (with an accompanying picture of
\nbreasts).<\/p>\n
The Rp 3,000 plastic helmets are remade into a collage of
\ngraffiti with 3 cm by 5 cm stickers stuck around other
\naccessories. A further stage of development is the design of your
\nown stickers. This is profitable because production costs are
\nonly Rp 200 and the stickers can be sold for Rp 1,000 each.<\/p>\n
The use of accessorized helmets has been imitated by students
\nfrom other schools, even outside Yogyakarta, so now it has become
\ndifficult to distinguish the various school groups. Apparently
\nthis Helemann-Heleminn trend in youth circles is no longer an
\nattempt to tell the groups apart, but has become a bond between
\nthem. Eventually, at an intergroup meeting, the name Helemann was
\ngiven to male youths wearing this type of helmet and Heleminn to
\nfemale youths.<\/p>\n
\"The name has at least given birth to a bond,\" said Antonius.
\nAccording to him students from other groups may not know each
\nother, but by wearing the Helemann-Heleminn helmets they feel a
\nbond, despite the fact that rivalry among schools often gives
\nrise to physical conflict.<\/p>\n
\"The helmets make it easier for us to know students from other
\nschools,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Helemann-Heleminn students also regulate their own daily
\nbehavior. They are fed up with accusations from older people who
\nsay that they like to create unrest, get drunk or write graffiti
\non walls in the city. They prohibit members of their group from
\nriding their vehicles at an excessive speed. Their slogan is: \"No
\nfighting, no drugs, just listening to music.\"<\/p>\n
\"Our group does not want to be a nuisance to the community. We
\nwant to correct that kind of impression. We are fed up with those
\nopinions,\" said Petrus, one of the group's supervisors.<\/p>\n
They were angry once to find their group's name on a number of
\ncity walls. They looked for the culprits and when they found them
\ncalmly explained the situation. Then, together, they wiped out
\nthe graffiti.<\/p>\n
Petrus further said that the actions of the Helemann-Heleminn
\ngroup also reflect their opposition to injustice in the
\ncommunity. Their response to the condition of the environment can
\nalso be seen on the stickers.<\/p>\n
They say they need space and facilities to express themselves,
\nbut in Yogyakarta the possibilities are getting narrower and
\nnarrower because many facilities are already taken up by people
\nwith money. The Malioboro area is no longer a cozy place for
\ngatherings, because it is full of restaurants, cafes and shopping
\ncenters. \"The face of Yogyakarta has changed so much, creating a
\ngap between groups in the community. We want to make Helemann-
\nHeleminn the symbol for, and a facility of, togetherness,\" said
\nPetrus.<\/p>\n
This is a positive collective response from a generation that
\nis considered to be psychologically in an unstable state. If were
\nto take to the streets, it would certainly be a choice fraught
\nwith hazards. Especially so because using these helmets does not
\nreally give enough protection to the head in case of accidents.<\/p>\n
\"These helmets are cheap. We do not ride with excessive speed
\nand do not encounter problems with the police,\" said Antonius.<\/p>\n
The attitude of Antonius and his group does not generally pose
\na problem for the police. \"The Helemann-Heleminn group is orderly
\nand uses helmets,\" said Sgt. Herwanto, a policeman usually on
\nduty at the Jl. Sudirman crossroads in Yogyakarta. The situation
\nwas different when the regulation making the use of helmets
\ncompulsory was originally enforced. \"Many students played hide-
\nand-seek with the police because they did not want to use
\nhelmets,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Herwanto said he never made problems for motorcyclists who
\nwear plastic helmets, provided they use a safety strap. However,
\nHerwanto added that the use of accessories on the helmet should
\nnot endanger the user. \"Just imagine, wouldn't it be dangerous to
\nput nails or steel wires on a helmet?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
As a trend in youth circles, people should use wisdom in
\ndealing with this phenomenon, that actually is not beneficial
\nfrom the aspect of motorcyclist safety. Repressive measures
\nthough, will possibly lead to opposition that is more harmful.<\/p>\n
\"I am still convinced that there will be a saturation point. I
\nhope they will realize quickly that such strange creativity is
\nnot useful,\" said Lt. Col. Sukarni Ismail, chief of the police
\ntraffic unit in Yogyakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/decorated-helmets-turning-heads-among-youngsters-1447893297",
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