Literary magazine making a comeback<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Media Kerja Budaya a quarterly magazine that
\nfirst appeared in 1994 was relaunched last week as a bimonthly,
\nreaffirming its commitment to popularizing literature among the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
Unlike other literary magazines like Horison and Kalam, Media
\nKerja Budaya does not solely focus on literature but also runs
\narticles on current affairs.<\/p>\n
In its latest edition, the magazine describes how the New
\nOrder government under Soeharto, who fell from grace last year
\nafter 32 years in power, greatly distorted the nation's history
\nin its favor.<\/p>\n
In its editorial, Media Kerja Budaya warns that history could
\nhave a horrible impact on future generations if history books are
\nnot revised to record the true facts.<\/p>\n
New Order leaders often considered people who helped make
\nhistory as \"traitors\", disregarding their contribution, simply
\nbecause they were critical of the regime's policies, the
\neditorial says.<\/p>\n
In its special column, the magazine -- which was first
\npublished in September 1994 -- details how the New Order regime
\nmanipulated history in the six-volume Indonesian National
\nHistory, considered as the new order's masterpiece.<\/p>\n
In other articles, the 40-page magazine further explores the
\n\"integration\" of East Timor into Indonesia and continuing
\npolitical tension in Irian Jaya. It also discusses the beginning
\nof the New Order administration, the now defunct Indonesian
\nCommunist Party (PKI) and the banning of some books under the
\nrepressive New Order.<\/p>\n
A journalist of the magazine, Hilmar Farid, said that
\nMedia Kerja Budaya was first set up by a group of young people
\nwho had patriotic ideas: to contribute something useful to the
\ncountry. They started with discussions before deciding to set up
\nthe magazine to express themselves and to let other people know
\nof their ideas.<\/p>\n
The magazine's mission, he said, was to help promote culture
\nand stimulate ideas.<\/p>\n
\"Commercial media often forget this (the need to promote
\nculture and stimulate ideas). That's what we're trying to make up
\nfor,\" he said before relaunching the magazine at the National
\nLibrary in Salemba, Central Jakarta, on Thursday evening.<\/p>\n
The latest edition also features music, arts, a film review,
\npoetry, a short story, a book review, a profile and an essay. All
\narticles are written in easy to understand prose.<\/p>\n
Media Kerja Budaya has lots of illustrations that add color to
\nits contents.<\/p>\n
Hilmar said that profit was not the main target of the
\nmagazine, which sells for Rp 7,500 per copy. He refused to reveal
\nthe circulation.<\/p>\n
\"We don't mind if people photocopy our magazine (because the
\nprize is steep) ... the most important thing is that it can be
\nread by as many people as possible,\" Hilmar said.<\/p>\n
The relaunching attracted lots of people and featured cultural
\nspeeches by noted women's rights activist Karlina Leksono Supeli,
\nwho talked about culture and humanity, and internationally
\nacclaimed writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer, who talked about the
\nimportance of history.<\/p>\n
Karlina lamented cases of violence that have taken many lives.
\nAlthough the New Order regime has fallen and the Habibie
\ngovernment has pledged to uphold the supremacy of the law, there
\nis no guarantee that acts of violence will stop, she said.<\/p>\n
\"Over the past year, we have lived in a country where acts of
\nbrutality have been uncovered one by one. But nothing is really
\nsurprising,\" Karlina said.<\/p>\n
The 74-year-old Pramoedya, who was released from prison in
\n1979 after spending 14 years of his life in jail without trial,
\nappeared relaxed and frequently told jokes about his personal
\nexperiences and criticized the government.<\/p>\n
He told youngsters not to turn a blind eye to the present
\nrealities where oppression still persisted.<\/p>\n
He also used the occasion to express his opinion about the
\nidea to turn Indonesia into a federal state. \"I oppose a federal
\nstate, greater autonomy is better... A federation would open up
\nmore chances for foreign interference,\" said Pramoedya, who just
\nreceived an honorary doctorate from the University of Michigan.<\/p>\n
Pramoedya was jailed because of his alleged PKI literary wing.
\nHe spent 10 years in a prison camp on Buru island in the southern
\npart of Maluku, from where he wrote his four novels: This Earth
\nof Mankind, Child of All Nations, Footsteps and House of Glass.
\n(ste)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/literary-magazine-making-a-comeback-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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