Let's laugh: Tragedy and humor in pictures<\/p>\n
Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
A middle-aged man with a cigarette in his right hand grimaces as
\nhe performs his ablutions over the Code River in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Visitors seeing the photographic work of Syahlul Fahmi burst
\ninto laughter as they notice that the second-hand cloth used to
\ncover the public latrine carries the words \"home sweet home\".<\/p>\n
At first glance the picture was indeed amusing. But closer
\nobservation reveals the tragic and ironic situation of the
\nnation.<\/p>\n
With its abundant resources and 60 years as an independent
\nstate, Indonesia has even produced poverty. Ordinary people are
\nso destitute that their makeshift toilets are covered with old
\ncloth instead of bamboo walls.<\/p>\n
Fun and humor in tragedy, inviting a bitter laugh once in a
\nwhile, was the idea behind the photo exhibition organized by the
\nIndonesian Photographic Reporters Association (PFI) from Sept. 12
\nto 18 in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Fifty photographers from Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Surabaya,
\nSemarang and Surakarta joined the event to mark the 23rd
\nanniversary of the city's Bentara Budaya cultural forum.<\/p>\n
With Ayo Ngguyu (\"Let's Laugh\") as the title of the
\nexhibition, the fun it was supposed to bring about might not
\nconform to the dire realities portrayed: plane crashes,
\nearthquakes, malnourishment, students' poor exam grades, to
\nmention a few.<\/p>\n
But in fact PFI wanted to share the laughter with others as a
\ncynical response to the seemingly endless misfortunes plaguing
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
Another piece by Priyambodo from Surakarta depicted grinning
\ncouncilmen behind bars. They were imprisoned after being
\nconvicted for corruption.<\/p>\n
While their crime has brought disgrace and should have made
\nthem embarrassed, they are still all smiles. The picture tries to
\nportray a reversal of social values, with corruption being seen
\nas something normal rather than shameful.<\/p>\n
Not all of the 50 photos put on show provoked cynical
\nlaughter, though. Some were amusing to everybody. A football
\nplayer is in such high spirits that he accidentally pulls down
\nthe pants of his opponent. A football enthusiast appears nude
\namid spectators following his team's victory.<\/p>\n
Exhibition curator Sindhunata said that human instinct for
\nhumor remains in spite of violent circumstances. In the world of
\nsoccer, often considered a game of violence triggering clashes
\nbetween supporters, nuances of humor could still be found in a
\nnumber of snapshots.<\/p>\n
Mystical behavior surrounding the match was also portrayed for
\nthe amusement of more rational viewers. For instance, a soccer
\nsupporter urinates at the goal of his team's opponent during a
\ncompetition, believing that by so doing his favorite eleven will
\nscore easily.<\/p>\n
\"All such matters such as fuel price hikes, widespread
\ncorruption, malnutrition and polio are of course not meant to be
\nfunny. But laughter amid tragedy serves to express cynicism of
\nthese realities,\" added Sindhunata.<\/p>\n
Many visitors to the event were indeed laughing as they looked
\nat the pictures. Erik, a visitor, commented that the photos
\nrepresented neglected realities and had considerable weight in
\nportraying present-day life.<\/p>\n
Another visitor Anton commented that if closely examined, the
\ntragedy depicted by these pieces aroused deep concern, yet the
\nhumorous side remained.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lets-laugh-tragedy-and-humor-in-pictures-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}