A matter of culture
A matter of culture
It is perhaps not so very surprising that among the subjects
that were discussed during the three-day Fifth Cultural Congress,
which closed in Bukittingi, West Sumatra, this week, the need for
this nation to have a cultural center worthy of its size,
diversity and standing featured so prominently on the agenda.
The same can be said of the need to have a ministry of
culture, separate from other government ministries and
institutions, so that the state can give serious attention to
issues of culture.
To date, speakers complained, cultural affairs had always been
the responsibility of directorates or directorates-general within
other ministries, rather than a separate ministry, something that
made it next to impossible for the officials in charge to truly
devote themselves to the advancement of the arts and culture.
All this emphasis on "culture" in the narrower sense of the
word is entirely understandable. After all, mention the word
"culture," and what comes to mind? For many, if not most,
Indonesians it is art, even kitsch, and entertainment.
Not, of course, that there is anything wrong with adopting
such a narrow view. Most certainly, a greater appreciation among
Indonesians of art and "culture" -- including kitsch and
entertainment -- is likely to be helpful in softening some of the
more bruising aspects of present-day life in this overpopulated
country.
As for the need for a cultural center, this newspaper has long
pleaded for just such a facility -- one worthy of the biggest and
most diverse nation in this region. It is certainly true that in
terms of artistic talent, Indonesian artists and performers,
whether they be contemporary or traditional, are on a par with
others in the region and in the world.
Nevertheless, one might wonder why, given current conditions,
the placing of greater emphasis on the wider aspects of culture
has not been apparent in the media reports on the outcome of the
Bukittinggi Congress. Webster's dictionary, which is one of the
standard reference works in the English language, lists among its
several definitions of culture "the concepts, habits, skills,
arts, instruments, institutions, etc., of a given people at given
periods; civilizations."
After all, the speakers at the Congress, such as social
observer Ignas Kleden, activist Emmy Hafild and historian Anhar
Gonggong, did point to the link that, in their view, exists
between traditional leadership and values, and present-day social
ills such as abuse of power and corruption.
Ignas, in his address, suggested that in order to end the
tendency towards violence and anarchy that he said prevailed in
Indonesian society at present, this nation badly needed leaders
whom the people could look up to. These leaders, he said, could
act as role models whom society could trust, thereby giving them
the opportunity to accelerate the establishment of a just and
prosperous society -- the national ideal as enshrined in the
Constitution.
A no less pointed piece of criticism that is nevertheless hard
to refute was delivered by Emmy Hafild. Indonesian society, in
this activist's view, tended to denigrate government officials
who did not possess symbols of luxury such as fancy houses,
expensive cars or large tracts of land. "I look around me and
find that the values we live by do not look favorably on those
who live free from corruption. My experience tells me that far
from stopping corruption, these values nurture it," she told the
conference.
What, then, can we conclude from the just ended Fifth Cultural
Congress in Bukittinggi? Undoubtedly, the suggestions that have
been made do deserve the government's attention, although many
may find the urgency of much of what has been proposed debatable.
On the other hand, greater relevance could have been gained by
the Congress had it placed more emphasis on the more value-
related social aspects of culture.