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)