Javanese traditional puppet shows have to adapt to changes: Observer

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.