THE LONTAR FOUNDATION
We are an independent, not-for-profit organization based in Jakarta, Indonesia,
promoting Indonesian literature and culture through the translation of its literary works
Against the Grain
By Suwarsih Djojopuspito
Translated by George A. Fowler
The Mystical Path of Badrul Mustafa
By Heru Joni Putra
Translated by George A. Fowler
The Lontar Anthology of Indonesian Drama
Vol. 1 Plays for the Popular Stage (1890-1960)
UPCOMING EVENT
The play Aduh, whose translation (by Cobina Gillitt, under the title “Ought”) is included in New Directions, volume 3 of The Lontar Anthology of Indonesian Drama, will be performed at Taman Ismail Marzuki, the Jakarta Arts Center, on February 20 and 21.
Written in 1973 and first performed in 1974, a little more than 50 years ago, this play marked a turning point—a “new direction”—in Indonesian dramatic art, moving away as it did from realistic drama to a theater of the absurd. The play revolves around issues of death and tension between the individual and society and is sometimes compared to Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.
The play, to be performed by members of Teater Mandiri, one of the oldest theatrical companies in Indonesia, will be preceded, the day before, by a day-long acting workshop.
For more information about tickets and the workshop, contact Oyya at 08517 1535 076.
BOOK OF THE MONTH
The upcoming revival of the play Aduh by Putu Wijaya at Taman Ismail Marzuki, the Jakarta Arts Center, serves as a reminder of the important role the performing arts, especially theater, have played in Indonesian history.
Beginning in the mid-1960s, Indonesian theatre implicated itself in national politics as both a critique of prevailing social conditions and an ironic (and mostly unwilling) participant in a wider national construction of Indonesian cultural identity. The plays included in New Directions, volume 3 of The Lontar Anthology of Indonesian Drama, show the dynamic range of new directions taken in playwriting during the political period known as The New Order under the leadership of President Soeharto.
Containing 14 plays, including Moths (Kapai-kapai) by Arifin C. Noer, The Last Woman (Perempuan Terakhir) by Wisran Hadi, on up to Marsinah Accuses (Marsinah Menggugat) by Ratna Sarumpaet, these “new directions” in Indonesian drama provide a fascinating window into a society in transition caught between the legacy of tradition, the challenge of repression and censorship, and a strong desire for democratization.
“The Smiling Semar from America” (Semar Mesem dari Amerika) is a documentary film devoted to the life of Gregory John Churchill (1947-2022) and his love of Indonesian puppets. During his decades in Indonesia he collected more than 8,000 puppets from around Indonesia and other parts of the world.
The film was produced by the Lontar Foundation under the supervision of John H. McGlynn and directed by Eva Tobing.
Novel Against the Grain karya Suwarsih Djojopuspito bukan hanya berbicara tentang dunia pergerakan, tetapi juga kehidupan rumah tangga kaum pergerakan, tarik-menarik antara dunia privat dan publik di masa yang penuh gejolak. Novel ini boleh disebut sebagai novel feminis pertama dalam sastra Indonesia.
Mari bergabung dalam peluncuran dan diskusi “Perempuan dan Pergerakan”.
Jumat, 23 Agustus 2024
19.00 WIB
Komunitas Utan Kayu
Jalan Utan Kayu Raya 68H,
Matraman, Jakarta Timur
Pembicara:
Dewi Widyastuti
Isyana Artharini
Moderator:
Dhianita Kusuma Pertiwi
Registrasi:
bit.ly/Against_The_Grain
Acara ini terbuka untuk umum, tempat terbatas, gratis dengan pendaftaran.
Terselenggara atas kerja sama Yayasan Lontar dan Komunitas Utan Kayu.
Didukung oleh Dana Indonesiana – Kemendikbudristek – LPDP
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