Writers told to keep up with world trends
Writers told to keep up with world trends
JAKARTA (JP): The anticipation of the new millennium concerns
not only the world's computer programmers but also Indonesian
poets.
Although the predicted network breakdowns will not be the
poets' main worry, the breakdown of natural cultural boarders
seems to be catching young Indonesian poets and writers in the
proverbial headlights.
"Poems and short stories by Indonesian young writers are
abundant these days, yet most of them are still lacking the
required maturity," senior poet Sutardji Calzoum Bachri said last
week.
After attending a literary discussion at the Taman Ismail
Marzuki arts center, he said it was unfortunate that young
Indonesian poets and writers were not prepared to face the
challenge of globalization.
Led by poet H. Danarto, the discussion featured poet Acep
Zamzam Noor and Harfenda, a poet who is also the literary editor
of the Republika daily. Well-known authors Motinggo Busje and
Ikranegara, along with a slew of young writers, also attended.
Discussing the future of Indonesian literature, some lightened
the atmosphere by singing after raising their ideas. Some
participants quipped that the poets and writers were showing off
their new leisure activity: spending Wednesday nights singing at
a cafe owned by models in Kebayoran, South Jakarta.
According to Soetardji, Indonesian poets should keep up with
the trends in global literature.
Dubbed by his fellow poets as "The president of modern
Indonesian poetry", Sutardji advised that local intellectuals
should read a lot of English literature, currently the referral
for world literature.
"In order to sustain Indonesian poetry, young poets should
look for a lot of references," he said, adding that it was
important that all writers to broaden their horizons.
He suggested that young writers use their sub-culture and
ethnicity to enrich and give unique characteristics to their
literary work.
In the past, he said, young writers had more chance to mingle
with common people to sharpen their awareness about changes in
society. Nowadays, he added, they were stupefied by the
government's empty slogans and censorship.
Sutardji is also concerned about the themes that young poets
were choosing, which revolved around suffering and sadness.
"Literature should be like a newspaper or TV, which presents a
clear reflection of the society. The newspaper provides a space
for condolences and humorous articles."
Sutardji is the latest recipient of the Chairil Anwar Literary
Award for his dedication to literature.
Ikranegara, a famous poet and actor, said that Indonesians
were exposed and linked to the rest of the world due to
information technology.
"As writers, we should anticipate the kind of lifestyle of the
year 2000, which will be dominated by information technology." he
said.
This, he said, would make writers turn to their cultural
roots.
"The 21st century will present chances for sub-cultures
throughout the world to emerge" he said in support of a theory by
Samuel Huntington, the author of The Clash of Civilization. (46)