'People fear authoritarianism more than eroticism'<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesians may have become more open to eroticism as reflected
\nin Inul Daratista's ngebor or drilling dance, but they fear the
\nreemergence of authoritarianism as in dangdut music artist King
\nRhoma Irama, who condemns her style of dance, sociologists have
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Imam B. Prasodjo, a leading sociologist, said on Monday that
\nInul's style of dance was only one instance of the many erotic
\nimages allowed to be aired or published freely across the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"We are seeing a shift in moral values as everywhere we look
\nthere are erotic images and suggestions, in film, language and
\npictures, which are freely aired or published without any social
\nor legal sanctions,\" he told the Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He cited the increase in various tabloids that cater to the
\nsex industry, racy advertisements and erotic forms of dance in
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
\"But if Inul's dancing, which can be categorized as sensual,
\nis prohibited by an organization headed by Rhoma Irama, people
\nwill be against this authoritarian move rather than her dancing.\"<\/p>\n
He said those who supported Inul when Rhoma openly condemned
\nher style of dance were in actual fact against authoritarianism,
\nwhich had terrified people in the past.<\/p>\n
Under these circumstances, those who have money are the ones
\nwho can get the most benefit as they can gain a lucrative profit
\nfrom marketing Inul's performances, he said.<\/p>\n
A number of politicians, artists and women's rights activists
\nhave thrown their support behind Inul to continue performing her
\nsizzling gyrations as \"freedom of expression\".<\/p>\n
Their support came after Rhoma Irama, from the Association of
\nMalay Music Artists, condemned Inul's dance, charging that her
\nperformances encouraged sex and even incited rape.<\/p>\n
His condemnation was the latest move made by an organization
\nafter the Indonesia Council of Ulemas (MUI) and the Alliance for
\nthe Anti-Pornography Society called on Inul to stop her dancing.<\/p>\n
Imam added that people in the country should start discussing
\nhow to limit eroticism or pornography would increase if morals
\nwere not upheld.<\/p>\n
\"The creation of an antipornography law is the best solution
\nand it is relevant to this situation, so that we can fairly limit
\nthose who are allowed and not allowed to perform in public,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Imam said he did not want to imagine what the future of the
\ncountry's culture and morals would be like if Inul's dance was
\nallowed to be taught in schools and followed by other singers in
\nthe name of freedom of expression.<\/p>\n
\"If Inul's dance was performed by bikini-clad women, should we
\nallow the dance?\" he said, adding that a number of questions
\nshould be raised to determine which erotic dances are
\npornographic.<\/p>\n
Ida Ruwaida of the sociology department of the University of
\nIndonesia said that people in Indonesia, particularly in big
\ncities, had become increasingly more permissive in their sexual
\nbehavior.<\/p>\n
\"Through the media, erotic dances, cinema, sensual images and
\nstudent porn compact discs have been produced. I think our
\nsociety has not only become a sexually obsessed society, but also
\na sexually active one,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Inul is only a small part of that eroticism, she added.<\/p>\n
Therefore, she said, if people in this country want to limit
\neroticism or even pornography, they should not only censor Inul's
\ndance but also other erotic performances.<\/p>\n
But as people do not yet have this authority, state
\ninstitutions should be temporarily allowed to censor images, she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"We know that a censorship body failed to meet people's
\ndemands in the past, but the point is now we should have a body
\nthat can work effectively to censor the rampant pornography,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, Ida said, there would be a large-scale deception of
\nthe people through the mass media.<\/p>\n
She said even in developed countries, pornography was also
\ncensored, and suggestive material was shown at times when
\nchildren would not able to watch it.<\/p>\n
She said that once audiences were mature enough, the
\ncensorship body would not be necessary and people could set up
\ntheir own watchdog agencies.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/people-fear-authoritarianism-more-than-eroticism-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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