List of art works that were banned<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The arts not only have links to aesthetic
\nvalues. An art work can stir up social and political controversy.
\nA large number of art works have been condemned, banned, and
\ncensored for numerous reasons. The following list includes only a
\nsmall number of the art works which were banned during the last
\n25 years.<\/p>\n
* Langit Makin Mendung, a short story by Ki Panjikusmin (a pen
\nname) published in Sastra literary magazine in l968. This
\nliterary piece was banned for insulting God. The publication of
\nthis short story angered Moslem ulemas nationwide. The magazine's
\neditor-in-chief HB Jassin, who was responsible for the magazine's
\ncontent, was imprisoned for one year. Up to the present, Jassin
\nrefuses to reveal the real name of the writer.<\/p>\n
Bumi Manusia, Rumah Kaca, Anak Semua Bangsa, Jejak Langkah and
\nSang Pemula, all written by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, have been
\nbanned by the government because they contain Marxist-Leninist
\nideology.<\/p>\n
In addition to banning \"dangerous\" literary works, the
\ngovernment also sacked several literary activities,such as poetry
\nreadings by W.S. Rendra, Emha Ainun Nadjib, and other outspoken<\/p>\n
* Mastodon dan Burung Kondor (l971) performance by outspoken
\nplaywright W.S. Rendra was prohibited because the content of the
\nplay to be performed was not in line with its original script.
\nRendra's other play Perjuangan Suku Naga, (The Struggle of the
\nDragon tribe), was also forbidden.<\/p>\n
* Dancer Sardono W. Kusumo was threatened by the public and
\nthe authorities for not wanting to stop his performance Samgita
\nin Surakarta . Sardono's other piece Cak dari Cina was also
\nbanned for presenting a nude dancer.<\/p>\n
*Lho a play by Putu Wijaya and his group Teater Mandiri (l975)
\nwas condemned by former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin for
\nexploiting obscenity. The play was staged at Taman Ismail
\nMarzuki.<\/p>\n
* The performance of Inspektur Jendral (l981) played by Teater
\nGajah Mada was halted because the play was full of harsh
\ncriticism of the governmental system and its officials.<\/p>\n
* Teater Koma's production Sampek Engtay (l989) was
\nsuccessfully performed in Jakarta, but was banned in Medan, North
\nSumatra. Raja Inal Siregar, the province's governor of that
\nperiod, claimed that the content of the play exploited Chinese
\nculture which was not in line with the nation's State policy
\nGuidelines. Two other performances by the group,Suksesi
\n(Succession) (l990), and Opera Kecoa (The Cockroach Opera) were
\nalso banned for their satirical contents.<\/p>\n
* Tight censorship also hit the country's film industry. Among
\nthe banned films were Saija dan Adinda (l977), which was
\nprohibited for unclear reasons, Wasdri, directed by Yasso
\nWinarto, was prohibited for criticizing the bureaucracy, and
\nRomusha (l974) was halted for exploiting violence. And Nusa
\nPenida was banned for violating Balinese tradition, while
\nPembalasan Ratu Laut Selatan (The Vengeance of the Queen of the
\nSouthern Ocean, was called obscene.<\/p>\n
* Fine art exhibitions were also smashed by various bannings.
\nThe biennial art exhibition in the late l970s was closed because
\nit presented some art works, including an installation piece by
\nHardi, which were considered subversive. In l977, the Yogyakarta
\nauthorities banned a fine art exhibition full of social
\ncriticism.<\/p>\n
Banning and tight censorship were also applied by the state-
\nowned television station TVRI between the 1960s and the late
\nl980s before private television stations were established.<\/p>\n
TVRI station set up a large number of strict regulations
\nconcerning the performing arts. Artists performing for the
\nstation were required to have short hair. Any form of western
\nculture, including rock 'n' roll music, was not allowed on the
\nstation's programs. The government would take severe actions
\nagainst artists who performed such musical genre. Koes Bersaudara
\n(now Koes Plus) was among the victims. They were sent to jail for
\npresenting western music.<\/p>\n
In the following years, the station also extended its
\nprohibition to dangdut music, which the authorities said was
\ninfluenced by Indian culture. The station banned a prominent
\ndangdut singer Rhoma Irama from performing in its programs. Many
\npeople were of the opinion that the banning was not solely caused
\nby the kind of music he played. The main reason, they believed,
\nwas because Rhoma was one of the outspoken campaigners of the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
Now, with the rapidly growing media industry and the airing of
\nbroadcasts by several private and foreign television networks in
\nthe country, is it still relevant to apply such censorship
\nregulations? (raw)<\/p>",
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