Experts propose novel way to preserve 'wayang'
Experts propose novel way to preserve 'wayang'
Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
A multimedia expert has proposed that traditional puppeteers use
advanced technology to attract the attention of younger
generations for Javanese puppet performances.
Such innovation was essential to confront the declining
popularity of Javanese puppet performances among younger
generations, especially teenagers and children, said Roy Suryo.
"It's impossible to see children watch a whole shadow play
performance nowadays, which usually last all night long. However,
if the wayang (puppet) characters are shown in cartoon or
animated form, I'm sure they'll like it," said Roy who is related
to the Sultan of Yogyakarta. The sultanate is the center of
culture for Javanese.
Roy, who attended a national puppet congress held in
Yogyakarta last week, recalled that the opportunity for new
innovation was there.
He said that it was not difficult to create shadow plays in
animated form due to the abundance of skilled human resources in
Indonesia. Indonesia has plenty of good animators and video game
creators, but most of them work for foreign animation and cartoon
companies now.
"I'm sure with goodwill from the government, many parties
would want to work together to realize this effort. If we're
serious, shadow puppet plays and wayang video games would be
available on the Internet soon," added Roy.
A puppeteer from Surabaya, East Java, Abdul Rauf, was of the
view that wayang presentations visualized through multimedia
would be an effective way to revive the wayang.
Wayang characters or stories could be presented in video
games. If realized, Indonesian children would be reintroduced to
characters such as Gatotkaca or Bima, along with the
philosophical messages they bring.
"We cannot deny that children spend a lot of time playing
video games now. So, why don't we create video games based on
wayang stories," said Rauf, who was immediately applauded by
hundreds of participants during the congress on Sept. 17.
Head of research and development of the Indonesian Wayang
Secretariat (Sena Wangi), M Sulebar Soekarman, added that it was
possible that children would accept wayang in video game format.
He said that a video game which comprised the tales of Bima Babat
Alas Wonomerto was being developed now, but unfortunately, it
would only be distributed in Japan, Sweden and Australia, but not
Indonesia.
They had yet to decide on the start of the collaboration, but
agreed that technological approaches should not alter the
substance of the wayang story, and that the dalang (puppeeter)
would have full commission on the storyline and gamelan music
composition.
The multimedia expert will be entrusted to visualize the
wayang into cartoon, video game or TV series format.
Efforts to visualize wayang was important given that the art
had to be preserved. In 2003, wayang was been recognized by the
United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization,
as part of the world's cultural heritage.