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'Jaipong' dance becomes latest victim of pornography law
Abdul Khalik , The Jakarta Post , JAKARTA | Sat, 02/07/2009 8:47 AM | Headlines
The controversial pornography law has been blasted for targeting cultural heritage, after West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan used it as a legal basis to forbid Jaipong dancers from wearing "sexy" costumes and executing "provocative" dance moves.
The West Java administration's ban has prompted severe criticism from artists and legislators who blast it as a move to curb the traditional arts and culture of local people.
Erotic no more: A dancer performs Jaipong, a Sundanese folk dance, during a traditional festival in Gunung Halimun, West Java, in this 2008 file photo. (JP/J. Adiguna)
Bandung-born singer and dancer Dewi Gita said she did not see the need for the administration to delve into the matter when there were so many other problems affecting the province, including floods, poverty and expensive education.
“You see, Jaipong has nearly vanished. It is our unique heritage and we should do our best to keep it alive. But instead of supporting the internationally recognized dance, the authorities encourage its extinction,” she said.
Dewi, who traveled the world performing Jaipong in the 1990s, said that in the pre-reform era, she could travel abroad five times a year to perform, and always won huge praise from overseas audiences. But now, she said, a once-a-year international performance was considered lucky.
“Jaipong has nothing to do with pornography, it's merely a cultural expression. The dance is actually derived from the traditional ketuk tilu dance, which is a way that girls attract boys in Sundanese traditional customs. No wonder, the girl must be provocative and sexy,” she said.
Noted Sundanese artist Gugum Gumbira created Jaipong to help indigenous dance and music compete with Western popular shows, after then president Sukarno in 1961 banned rock and roll and other Western music.
Although an urban dance, Jaipong is based primarily on village forms of ketuk tilu and on pencak silat, the Indonesian martial arts.
Legislator and Padjadjaran University professor Chandra Wila said that besides suppressing cultural expression, the ban violated the porn law. “Jaipong is a form of cultural expression, and the law should protect it. Why they do they want to ban it?”
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Jusuf (not verified), Jakarta — Tue, 03/03/2009 - 12:20pm
Let us be clear mind, and may our leaders have a clear conscience. Lust is not cause by what other people wear. Lust is cause by what a man is inside of him. If a man has lust inside of him, he will be lustfull even seing a granny.If I put money on the table and cause other people to steal, am I blamed for causing other people to steal? If that's true, then nobody is right, because we all cause some other people doing something wrong! So if you have lust, blame yourself not others
Average-joko (not verified), jakarta — Tue, 03/03/2009 - 8:56am
Too many hypocrite, and many more to become.
These hypocrite wearing some identification to differ themself from common people, always come to religious gathering and stick to their groups and values, yet neglecting human-to-human relationship.
You can identify that such hypocrite dont have a good relationship with their family (especially their children). Their children are unhappy, rebellious to adulterous. Their behave is a reflection of lack of human-to-human relationship with their parents.
But lo, many more hypocrite to become, many more ridiculous news to be heard, many more rebellious child, As they used everything to support their hypocrisy, even embrace authority to support it, justify their views, ruining harmony. Who do they try to convince?
May Lord open their eyes, as religion is not merely doctrine but in-line with senses. And they quote the wrong verse and make everybody miserable, mostly their own children.
average-joko
Nairdah (not verified), Papua — Tue, 03/03/2009 - 7:31am
For those thinking Indonesians that are proud of their own cultures, the warning bells should be ringing. You are being increasingly infiltrated and controlled by a new form of religious imperialism that does not respect our non-Arab cultures. To them our many cultures and our active expression of those cultures represents a threat to their values - uniformity, compliance and submission.
It is time to 'draw the line' and say no to destruction of our many wonderful traditional cultures. Remember, silence will be interpreted as consent; unquestioned compliance is cultural suicide.
R.astari — Thu, 02/19/2009 - 11:37pm
Let's imagine this:
Imagine when all women in Indonesia decide to cover all their bodies, but also shave their heads bald so they will look like men. They will work out, lift weights, join martial arts, and learn how to fight. Imagine they don't wear make-up anymore, they don't wear beautiful clothes, they don't talk in soft tones but yelling loudly and screaming out curses like you men do. Imagine that they don't want any men to touch them or even get near them.
Imagine that they don't want to have anything to do with men, and the population will surely drop. It's an effective birth control, and a perfect way to create more twisted lunatics.
Oh, imagine how you men must feel if all women think you're nothing but brainless, horny pigs. HOW ABOUT THAT?!
T. Cotton, Pattaya, Thailand (not verified) — Sat, 02/14/2009 - 10:09am
Although many conservative voices have be decrying the "westernisation' of Indonesia, in fact the rich cultural heritage of the archipelago is being replaced by that of Arabia under the guise of religious morality. This is another form of cultural imperialism, but it is OK because it has religion as an excuse.
Jawa (not verified) — Sat, 02/14/2009 - 6:35am
Next on the banning line:
Java: Srimpi, Bedhaya, Gambyong, Wireng, Prawirayuda,
Bali: Kecak (whuhhh.. very pornografic la.. all the men dances with out upper cloths, showing their tits.Berutuk, Sang Hyang Dedari, Rejang dan Baris Gede,Gambuh, Topeng Pajegan, Legong, Parwa, Arja, Prembon dan Joged..
General: Dangdut,
These are porn dances right? The women shows in these dances their shoulder and wearing tight sarong / batik.
Ayu Fredianti (not verified) — Fri, 02/13/2009 - 11:54pm
To Jakob Oetama,
How could you think Jaipongan is a waste of time and OK to ban it?????
I am from West Java, Bandung and used to dance Jaipongan. I am very proud of our culture!
I agree with John Hargreave, well put it!
James MS (not verified) — Fri, 02/13/2009 - 12:27pm
Sadly, this is typical autocratic leaders all over the world.
Indonesia has a rich history and a unique, varied culture. Please be proud of it, all of it. Art, crafts, poetry, dances, history, independence heroes, everything. Don't let it get erased and replaced by a foreign one. Pride in one's culture is the hallmark of successful nations the world over.
It would be an absolute humanitarian tragedy to lose all that Indonesia has developed over its history, and allow it to become a grey, scary, depressing slave outpost of a foreign empire, supplying cheap labour, household help and foot soldiers to do all their unpleasant work for them.
You may think this is an exaggeration. It will never happen, right? If so, do nothing about it, file this letter and read it again in 5 years.
Stefanni Mosiana (not verified) — Fri, 02/13/2009 - 1:46am
Somehow I am not surprised anymore seeing how women are consistently on the blame for everything "lustful" that comes into men's thoughts. I could only laugh bitterly when the House passed the ludicrously dumb Antipornograhy Law, and now forward-thinking Indonesians should just sit back and expect things like these to happen. We are powerless. Forward-thinking apparently is not big and it's definitely not appreciated in Indonesia.
I'd say shame on you, Governor! I don't know if he reads the paper (I would be VERY surprised if he does), but someone should give him an article from this paper about how 90% plus women in Egypt are still facing harrassment despite their fully clothed and veiled attire. It is sickening to think that in this day and age, people in YOUR OFFICE would think that women are to blame for all sexual harrassment and "indecent thoughts" conducted by men.
But I guess, your hands, feet, and balls are tied to the institution that brought you there, huh? Dear Sir, I congratulate you for your inclusion in the "I Know What I Did Is Wrong But Hey, It's Popular" decision-making club. I heard they give away free lifetime supply of wax earplugs.
Blue snow (not verified) — Wed, 02/11/2009 - 6:14pm
SURELY to Jakob Oetama:
"I think jaipongan is a waste of time and surely is ok to ban it."
my humble suggestion,
How bout start to consider what others think?