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.