Javanese traditional puppet shows have to adapt to changes: Observer

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

The popularity of traditional Javanese puppet shows has been dwindling over the past two decades due to television, and unless something was done this ancient form of entertainment would soon become extinct, cultural observers have warned.

"Puppeteers will have to adapt to changing times if they want to survive," said Imam Sutardjo, a lecturer at Surakarta's Sebelas Maret University (UNS), during a congress of puppeteers in Yogyakarta on Friday. The five-day national congress ended on Sunday.

In order to restore the popularity of the art form, puppeteers would have to update their shows, said Imam. Instead of holding the show in the traditional way stretching through the entire night, the puppeteers would have to shorten their performances to a couple of hours in order to avoid people becoming bored, said Imam, an lecturer in art and literature.

In order to attract a wider audience, the language of the shows would have to be changed from Old Javanese to Bahasa Indonesia, English or contemporary Javanese, said Imam.

Puppeteers would also need to be much more creative in entertaining their audiences, including introducing more attractive lighting. Some puppeteers had already introduced innovations to attract greater audiences, such as inviting public figures to attend and participate. Figures that had done this included Abdurrahman Wahid, a former Indonesian, and Amien Rais, a former chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

But, such innovations had only been introduced by a few puppeteers, while many others continued to stick with the old ways, arguing that these type of innovations were incompatible with tradition.

"Despite this argument, changes are inevitable. Without innovation, the puppet shows will soon become extinct amid the soaring popularity of television, movies and DVDs," said Imam.

A Japanese puppet show enthusiast, R Matsumoto, echoed Imam's comments. In order to help preserve the art form, Matsumoto urged puppeteers to adapt to the changes taking place in society and local cultures.