List of art works that were banned

List of art works that were banned

JAKARTA (JP): The arts not only have links to aesthetic
values. An art work can stir up social and political controversy.
A large number of art works have been condemned, banned, and
censored for numerous reasons. The following list includes only a
small number of the art works which were banned during the last
25 years.

* Langit Makin Mendung, a short story by Ki Panjikusmin (a pen
name) published in Sastra literary magazine in l968. This
literary piece was banned for insulting God. The publication of
this short story angered Moslem ulemas nationwide. The magazine's
editor-in-chief HB Jassin, who was responsible for the magazine's
content, was imprisoned for one year. Up to the present, Jassin
refuses to reveal the real name of the writer.

Bumi Manusia, Rumah Kaca, Anak Semua Bangsa, Jejak Langkah and
Sang Pemula, all written by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, have been
banned by the government because they contain Marxist-Leninist
ideology.

In addition to banning "dangerous" literary works, the
government also sacked several literary activities,such as poetry
readings by W.S. Rendra, Emha Ainun Nadjib, and other outspoken

* Mastodon dan Burung Kondor (l971) performance by outspoken
playwright W.S. Rendra was prohibited because the content of the
play to be performed was not in line with its original script.
Rendra's other play Perjuangan Suku Naga, (The Struggle of the
Dragon tribe), was also forbidden.

* Dancer Sardono W. Kusumo was threatened by the public and
the authorities for not wanting to stop his performance Samgita
in Surakarta . Sardono's other piece Cak dari Cina was also
banned for presenting a nude dancer.

*Lho a play by Putu Wijaya and his group Teater Mandiri (l975)
was condemned by former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin for
exploiting obscenity. The play was staged at Taman Ismail
Marzuki.

* The performance of Inspektur Jendral (l981) played by Teater
Gajah Mada was halted because the play was full of harsh
criticism of the governmental system and its officials.

* Teater Koma's production Sampek Engtay (l989) was
successfully performed in Jakarta, but was banned in Medan, North
Sumatra. Raja Inal Siregar, the province's governor of that
period, claimed that the content of the play exploited Chinese
culture which was not in line with the nation's State policy
Guidelines. Two other performances by the group,Suksesi
(Succession) (l990), and Opera Kecoa (The Cockroach Opera) were
also banned for their satirical contents.

* Tight censorship also hit the country's film industry. Among
the banned films were Saija dan Adinda (l977), which was
prohibited for unclear reasons, Wasdri, directed by Yasso
Winarto, was prohibited for criticizing the bureaucracy, and
Romusha (l974) was halted for exploiting violence. And Nusa
Penida was banned for violating Balinese tradition, while
Pembalasan Ratu Laut Selatan (The Vengeance of the Queen of the
Southern Ocean, was called obscene.

* Fine art exhibitions were also smashed by various bannings.
The biennial art exhibition in the late l970s was closed because
it presented some art works, including an installation piece by
Hardi, which were considered subversive. In l977, the Yogyakarta
authorities banned a fine art exhibition full of social
criticism.

Banning and tight censorship were also applied by the state-
owned television station TVRI between the 1960s and the late
l980s before private television stations were established.

TVRI station set up a large number of strict regulations
concerning the performing arts. Artists performing for the
station were required to have short hair. Any form of western
culture, including rock 'n' roll music, was not allowed on the
station's programs. The government would take severe actions
against artists who performed such musical genre. Koes Bersaudara
(now Koes Plus) was among the victims. They were sent to jail for
presenting western music.

In the following years, the station also extended its
prohibition to dangdut music, which the authorities said was
influenced by Indian culture. The station banned a prominent
dangdut singer Rhoma Irama from performing in its programs. Many
people were of the opinion that the banning was not solely caused
by the kind of music he played. The main reason, they believed,
was because Rhoma was one of the outspoken campaigners of the
United Development Party (PPP).

Now, with the rapidly growing media industry and the airing of
broadcasts by several private and foreign television networks in
the country, is it still relevant to apply such censorship
regulations? (raw)