Posted in: Arts

The return of the protest song: Punk aesthetics in an age of a resurgent authoritarianism

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Even in an era of intensifying authoritarianism, independent music communities continue to carve out spaces of resistance, proving that music can be more than just a medium of protest —  it can be a force for real political action.

The revival of hip-dut: The dangdut genre that makes Gen-Z hips move 

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While hip-dut is not an entirely new genre (it is part of a long history of dangdut), the song’s release is, without doubt, a landmark moment in Indonesia’s music scene.

Talking Indonesia: art, activism and a cancelled show

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In this week's episode, Dr. Jemma Purdey chats with Dr Wulan Dirgantoro, a lecturer in art history and curatorship at the School of Culture and Communication, the University of Melbourne, about the cancelled art exhibition by Yos Suprapto and what it means for freedom of expression, art and activism in Indonesia.

Talking Indonesia: vinyl revival in Indonesia

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In this week's episode, Tito Ambyo chats with Taufiq Rahman to discuss the fall and rise of vinyl records in Indonesia, why "Badai Pasti Berlalu" is one of Indonesia's finest pop productions and how the artistry of Rhoma Irama extends beyond dangdut music.

Indonesia’s vinyl frontier

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Vinyl records have never been the primary format by which Indonesian consumers get enjoyment from musical recordings. Even when wax was the format of choice in the global music industry, vinyl records in Indonesia were, at best, a curiosity item among Indonesia’s affluent class.

Talking Indonesia: gamelan music

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In November 2023, a unique event occured. Eight gamelan groups came together to perform at a small church in Northcote, a suburb in North Melbourne. In this episode of Talking Indonesia, Tito Ambyo chats with the people who organised this gathering: John Cheong-Holdaway, an Australian gamelan musician; Eka Poedijono, daughter of the late Pak Poedijono; and Jocelyn Tribe, a biracial artist who connected with her Indonesian ancestry later in life.
https://www.antaranews.com/berita/782688/rhoma-irama-siap-meriahkan-perayaan-tahun-baru-di-monas

How will Indonesia’s dangdut stars shape the 2024 election?

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Since the 1970s, Indonesian politicians have used dangdut music as a tool to attract a crowd. Dangdut politics in 2024 is shaping up as a generational contest. The so-called King of Dangdut, Rhoma Irama, will be there again. But a wave of social media savvy dangdut stars will also make their mark.
Canva

Why horror films are dominating the Indonesian box office

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2022 was a banner year at the Indonesian box office. While home-grown horror has been a hit with audiences, adapting other genres for the Indonesian market has proven difficult.

Talking Indonesia: literature in translation

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What does the future look like for Indonesian literature in translation? In Talking Indonesia this week, Dr Jemma Purdey chats to award-winning translator of Indonesian fiction Tiffany Tsao.

Indonesia at Melbourne is supported by:

Melbourne Law School Asia Institute Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society Indonesia Forum Faculty of Arts Indonesia Democracy Hallmark Research Initiative

Indonesia at Melbourne

Room 726, Level 7, 185 Pelham St,
The University of Melbourne
Parkville 3010 VIC Australia

Phone: +61 3 83448581

Email:  indo-at-melb@unimelb.edu.au

Date created: 1 July 2015

Editor: Ary Hermawan

Editorial board: 
Professor Tim Lindsey
Dr Tim Mann
Aron Corbett

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which our campuses are situated.

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