As heroes go, Gatotkaca has a lot to learn
As heroes go, Gatotkaca has a lot to learn
By Laila Faisal
JAKARTA (JP): Advertisements have dwindled in all mass media.
The empty spaces are now filled with public service
announcements, many of which contain solemn moral messages.
For example, one stresses the importance of reading -- quite
ironic, actually, because book prices have skyrocketed recently
-- another champions the "Love Rupiah" campaign and yet another,
closely related theme promotes loving our own culture instead of
an "imported" one.
The latter caught my attention a few days ago as it compared
Gatotkaca, a main figure in the Javanese wayang leather puppet
tradition, to the man of steel himself, Superman.
Two sketches of the characters were placed side by side with
statistics dividing them in the center, sort of like what you
would see in the papers before a major boxing event. Their
similarities were stated -- both have the title "hero" and they
can defy gravity to soar through the sky.
The question was who was better known among Indonesian
youngsters.
Superman walks away with the distinction, according to the
announcement.
What was his special power? For one, the message said, he was
able to communicate better.
Which left me thinking that Superman would win out over
Gatotkaca on nearly every front.
If the two were up against each other in a most eligible
bachelor contest, I am sure Superman would be the overwhelming
pick of the eligible bachelorette.
Don't mean to sound anti-Gatotkaca here, but I'm just stating
the facts.
We should start by comparing the two sketches of our
superheroes in the announcement.
Gatotkaca's stern eyes glare from beneath a perpetually deep
furrow -- so deep that you might even be able to see it behind
his head if it weren't for that unnaturally tight headpiece he
wears.
As far as I can remember, I have never seen him smile; perhaps
even the hint of a grin would be considered a sign of weakness.
Along with his thick mustache, he is a dead ringer for Pak
Raden, the grouchy, incorrigible old man from a TV puppet show of
yesteryear. His overall image is that of someone aloof and smugly
confident of his superiority over all others.
He is an uncomfortable reminder for me of the Pancasila
ideology teacher I had back in elementary school, the one who
always gave me butterflies in my stomach.
Now let us shift our attention to the depiction of Superman.
His eyes are kind and caring. In fact, he looks like the kind of
guy who actually listens, a trait seldom found in males of the
human species.
His broad grin gives a soft touch to that powerful set of
jaws. It tells us that he might have a healthy sense of humor, a
decidedly important quality in men (guys, I hope you're taking
notes here).
Please understand that I am trying to be fair here. I have
limited myself to discussing the two sketches in the
announcement. If I listed the physical attributes of Christopher
Reeves or Dean Cain, Gatotkaca would slide even further on my
scale.
OK, so beauty is only skin-deep, some say, and looks are no
indication of the person inside. But nobody can deny the impact a
first impression makes. I mean, honestly, what sane woman would
choose a frown over a grin? Is it any wonder Gatotkaca soars the
skies alone while Superman has Lois Lane in his arms.
Gatotkaca may be far older than Superman, but he sure can
learn a lot from his younger counterpart. This, I have decided,
must be the real moral message behind that public service
announcement.