Posted in: Arts

Talking Indonesia: independent publishing and the making of alternative publics

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In this week's episode, Dr Clara Siagian speaks with Syarafina Vidyadhana, co-founder and commissioning editor of Cahyati Press, an independent publishing practice based in Bali.

'Pig Feast': a test case for alternative media, Papua, and Indonesian democracy

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After being screened offline at nearly 2,000 locations across Indonesia and abroad, the documentary Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time (Pesta Babi: Kolonialisme di Zaman Kita) was officially released online on May 22. Within just 14 days of release, Pig Feast had already been viewed more than 13 million times on the YouTube channel JubiTV.

Indonesia’s National Gallery rewrites history as Prabowo’s revisionism takes hold

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The take-home for lovers of Indonesian contemporary art is clear: if we don’t defend the freedom of artistic expression, they won’t just rewrite history—they’ll script the future for us too.

‘Sound horeg’: when public noise isn’t the people’s voice

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In Indonesia’s villages and small towns, a growing phenomenon is reshaping the public soundscape. Known as sound horeg—a colloquial term for ultra-loud mobile sound systems—these setups often feature towering stacks of homemade speakers, roaring subwoofers, and music blasted well into the night. They accompany everything from weddings to street parades, religious processions and secular celebrations.

Beyond 'Jumbo' fever: animating the animation industry in Indonesia

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Over the last decade, Indonesian animation has grown significantly. According to the Indonesian Animation Industry (AINAKI), there are currently 120 animation studios in Indonesia, spread across 23 cities, mostly in Java.

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 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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