Not so NEET Japanese Youth

(Published in the July 2007 edition of SOAP magazine)

Budaya pop anak muda Jepang telah memberikan inspirasi dan impresi bagi banyak orang di seluruh dunia, dari Gwen Stefani sampai juri Academy Awards. Namun di balik hip-nya Harajuku, manga dan J-Pop, generasi muda itu menyimpan kegelisahan yang dalam, jika tidak ingin disebut destruktif.

Oleh Hera Diani

Angin bertiup kencang di kampus Keio University di Tokyo saat itu dan kami, jurnalis yang rata-rata datang dari negara dunia ketiga yang beriklim tropis mulai menggigil. Eri Miyoshi, mahasiswi S1 jurusan ekonomi di universitas tertua di Jepang yang ditunjuk sebagai chaperone itu tertawa kecil melihat keadaan kami.

"Ini sama sekali belum terasa dingin buat kami," ujar Eri, dengan bahasa Inggris logat Amerika yang lancar, sisa-sisa menjadi peserta pertukaran pelajar. Ia, seperti layaknya anak muda Jepang, sangat keren dan trendi, dengan rok mini dan sepatu bot, dan sesekali bercanda dengan kawan-kawannya yang juga tampak sangat stylish tapi juga quirky, khas anak muda Jepang.

Melihat mereka sekilas, sepertinya anak muda Jepang had it all good. Datang dari negara maju dan kaya di mana cuma ada dua kelas ekonomi, kelas atas dan kelas menengah, tidak ada kelas bawah di Jepang. Anak-anak muda Jepang pun dikenal kreatif dan punya gaya sendiri, dengan budaya pop yang menginspirasi dunia.

Namun di balik itu semua, bahkan Eri dan kawan-kawan pun menyimpan kegelisahan. Selain ketatnya persaingan dan sistem pembelajaran di universitas, setelah lulus, persaingan pun semakin tajam ditambah budaya dan beban di tempat kerja yang begitu berat, dengan jam kerja yang panjang.

"Meski kami mahasiswa universitas terkemuka, tapi belum tentu juga kami akan mudah mendapat kerja. Banyak teman kami yang tidak kunjung mendapat pekerjaan, akhirnya malah menjadi NEET," kata Eri.

Apa pula itu?
Pertama kali dilontarkan di Inggris, NEET merupakan singkatan dari 'Not currently engaged in Employment, Education and Training', alias orang-orang yang tidak sedang bersekolah, bekerja atau ikut pelatihan serta tidak menikah.

Jika tidak melakukan aktivitas-aktivitas tersebut, jadi apa yang mereka lakukan sehari-hari? Ya, nongkrong-nongkrong gitu deh. Atau diam seharian di rumah (orang tua), bahkan mengunci diri di dalam kamar.

Di Jepang, fenomena NEET ini telah memunculkan isu sosial dan ekonomi yang serius karena kurang lebih satu dari 40 orang dari kelompok umur 15 sampai 34 tahun atau sekitar 850,000 orang menurut data 2004 tergolong NEET. Diperkirakan jumlah itu akan terus bertambah menjadi 984.000 pada 2010. Belum lagi ada sekitar dua juta orang muda yang lebih suka jadi freeters alias loncat dari satu pekerjaan paruh waktu ke pekerjaan paruh waktu lainnya, ditambah sekitar 650.000 orang lainnya (data lain mematok angka 1,46 juta) yang pengangguran.

Semua masalah ini tentunya meresahkan karena bisa merusak ekonomi negara berpenduduk 128 juta itu. Anak-anak muda yang seharusnya produktif (60 persen NEET berusia 25-34 tahun) dan menyumbang pada pendapatan negara, salah satunya dengan membayar asuransi, malah ada di posisi menerima bantuan keuangan. Lebih lanjut lagi, gejala ini dikhawatirkan akan meningkatkan pemakaian narkoba, kriminalitas, dan memunculkan kelas ekonomi bawah yang tadinya tidak ada di Jepang.

NEET dan Latar Belakang
Ada beberapa jenis NEET yang dikategorikan oleh para peneliti di Japan Institute for Labor Policy and Training, yaitu tipe anti sosial dan hedonistik; tipe penarik diri, yang tidak mampu membangun relasi dengan masyarakat dan sebagai gantinya menutup diri; tipe ‘paralyzed’, yang berpikir terlalu keras dalam mencari pekerjaan dan malah menghadapi jalan buntu; dan tipe cepat menyerah, yaitu yang sudah pernah bekerja namun tidak lama kemudian keluar dari pekerjaannya dan alhasil kehilangan kepercayaan diri.

Kei Kudo, salah satu pendiri Master & Pupil (MP) yang mengorganisir NEET, mengatakan bahwa banyak NEET yang sangat tertekan karena tidak kunjung mendapat pekerjaan sampai terkena penyakit kulit dan gangguan jiwa.

"Yang termasuk NEET ini ada juga perempuan-perempuan muda yang harus tinggal di rumah untuk mengurus kakek neneknya (Jepang memiliki populasi berusia sepuh yang sangat tinggi, tapi itu soal lain). Ada juga lulusan-lulusan dari luar negeri yang kesulitan berintegrasi dengan masyarakat," katanya.

Namun Kudo menolak prasangka bahwa NEET adalah sekumpulan anak-anak manja yang terbiasa hidup enak dan tidak mau susah, karena banyak di antara mereka juga bukan anak-anak orang kaya.

"Persoalan NEET bukan sekedar anak-anak manja yang tidak mau berjuang, tapi lebih dari itu. Ada persoalan psikologis yang membuat mereka menarik diri dari masyarakat dan memilih tinggal di rumah daripada mencari pekerjaan," ujarnya baru-baru ini saat kami bertemu di Tokyo.

Mariko Fujimoto, direktur riset di lembaga penelitian Hakuhodo Inc. Institute of Life and Living, berkata bahwa kemunculan NEET dilatarbelakangi salah satunya oleh masalah ekonomi. Sepuluh sampai 12 tahun terakhir ini, menurut Fujimoto, merupakan periode yang turbulen bagi ekonomi negara matahari terbit itu, meski Jepang masih termasuk negara terkaya di dunia.

Dalam periode ini, ada perusahaan-perusahaan yang mendapuk untung, tapi banyak juga yang merugi dan akibatnya banyak yang harus mem-PHK karyawan-karyawannya. Selain itu, teknologi robot juga mengambil alih sehingga proses manufaktur di Jepang tidak lagi terlalu memerlukan tenaga manusia. Banyak juga perusahaan yang lebih memilih melakukan produksinya di negara lain. Jadi, desain bisa saja dilakukan di Jepang, tapi pabrik didirikan di luar Jepang.

"Generasi muda sekarang menghadapi situasi yang berbeda dengan generasi sebelumnya yang mencicipi masa 'booming economy'. Anak-anak muda berusia 20-30 tahun sekarang ini merupakan kelompok pertama yang mengalami masa resesi panjang. Dan meski mereka mendapatkan pendidikan bermutu, banyak yang sulit mencari pekerjaan ketika lulus SMA dan universitas," kata Fujimoto saat ditemui di kantornya yang juga merupakan biro iklan besar.

Pasar tenaga kerja menjadi sangat kompetitif dan sangat tidak stabil bagi anak muda. Banyak perusahaan yang lebih memilih mempekerjakan pegawai paruh waktu agar tidak usah memberikan asuransi dan pesangon.

Di lain pihak, bukan hanya resesi yang menyebabkan sulitnya lapangan pekerjaan, tapi ada juga masalah ketidakselarasan antara dunia pendidikan dan industri.

"Ada lulusan-lulusan yang oversupply, misalnya dari jurusan teknik, sains lingkungan, kajian Asia, ekonomi dan sosiologi. Para lulusan juga tidak terlatih dan tidak dipersiapkan untuk kebutuhan industri. Hal ini menyulitkan Jepang yang ingin lebih jauh terlibat dalam ekon" kata Fujimoto.

Menteri Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Olah Raga, Sains dan Teknologi, Nariaki Nakayama mengatakan bahwa kompetisi pendidikan yang ketat juga berkontribusi dalam menghasilkan NEET ini.

"Dulu kita mengajarkan di sekolah bahwa kompetisi itu tidak baik. Tapi nyatanya begitu kita bekerja, kita dihadapkan pada kompetisi super ketat, dan anak-anak jadi bingung karenanya. Bukankah pendidikan saat ini menghasilkan gelombang NEET dan freeters yang besar?" ujarnya tahun lalu.

Produk pemanjaan orang tua
Meski Kudo menolak stigma NEET sebagai anak manja kaya, namun diakui banyak ahli bahwa sebagian NEET memang produk pola asuh dari orang tua yang terlalu memanjakan anak-anaknya.

Menurut Fujimoto, kebanyakan dari kelompok NEET ini datang dari keluarga dengan jumlah anak yang lebih sedikit dari generasi sebelumnya, dengan orang tua yang cukup berada dan sanggup membiayai pendidikan berkualitas.

"Para orang tua tersebut saking sayangnya pada anak-anak mereka, tidak memaksa anak-anaknya untuk langsung bekerja setelah lulus. Mereka senang-senang saja mengakomodasi anak-anaknya untuk sementara sehingga banyak anak muda yang masih tinggal bersama orang tuanya," katanya.

Para orang tua itu mendorong si anak untuk mencari 'passion' nya, dan meminta mereka untuk tidak bertahan dalam pekerjaan yang tidak mereka senangi.

Pola pengasuhan ini ternyata berbalik menyesatkan anak-anak muda itu. Alih-alih mencari passion hidupnya, mereka malah tidak tahu apa yang mereka inginkan dalam hidup mereka.

"Anak-anak muda ini juga tidak merasa ada masalah jika mereka tidak bekerja. Para orang tua mereka patut disalahkan karena tidak berhasil mengajarkan anak-anak mereka makna dari bekerja," ujar presiden Hosei University, Tadao Kiyonari, suatu waktu.
Atau dalam istilah salah seorang kawan, jurnalis Amerika yang sempat bertugas di Jepang selama lebih 20 tahun, "Young Japanese are not 'hungry' anymore."

Solusi untuk NEET
Prof. Akira Takanashi dari Shinshu University pernah mengatakan bahwa "Fenomena NEET merupakan pemberontakan anak muda terhadap tatanan masyarakat secara diam-diam. Jika dulu pada periode 1960an-1970an para mahasiswa memberontak secara sadar dan melakukan protes, karakteristik dari NEET sekarang ini adalah mereka tidak sadar telah melakukan protes (unconscious quality)."

Ia menambahkan bahwa masyarakat, termasuk sektor industri dan pendidikan, bertanggung jawab memecah fenomena ini. "Sekolah sangat kurang memberikan informasi pendidikan kerja," katanya.

Pemerintah Jepang sendiri pada 2005 sudah membentuk satu komite untuk membangun strategi dalam menolong anak muda menjadi lebih mandiri dan bisa menyelesaikan masalah-masalah mereka. Ada juga usulan untuk membangun sekolah di mana anak-anak muda bisa mendapatkan keterampilan dasar, dengan format seperti 'training camp.'
Kalangan industri juga sudah mulai memiliki perhatian terhadap masalah NEET. Kenzaburo Mogi, vice chairman dari Kikkoman Corporation, mengatakan bahwa industri juga turut bertanggung jawab karena tidak mampu menyediakan lapangan pekerjaan yang cukup.

"Industri seharusnya melakukan sesuatu bersama dengan pemerintah, misalnya dengan melakukan pelatihan," ujar Mogi, meski ia mengakui perusahaan tempat ia bernaung belum memiliki program untuk NEET.

Sementara itu, Kei Kudo dengan Master & Pupil-nya (www.sodateage.net) yang dibentuk 2001 berusaha membantu anak muda mendapatkan pekerjaan lewat pelatihan kerja serta pelayanan konseling.

Namun program di MP ini tidak gratis, karena biaya tiap peserta per bulannya sekitar 50.000 Yen per bulan atau sekitar Rp 10 juta, meski setengahnya disubsidi pemerintah. Pelatihan yang diberikan di antaranya pelatihan untuk sektor pertanian, informasi teknologi dan manufaktur.

Sejauh ini, menurut Kudo, sudah ada sekitar 10.000 – 15.000 orang yang sudah mendapatkan pelatihan dan bekerja di kantor pemerintahan atau swasta.

"Organisasi kami masih terbatas dalam menjangkau NEET dan menyediakan aktivitas dan kesempatan untuk mereka. Kami percaya dan merekomendasikan bahwa membangun jaringan dengan komunitas akan membantu para NEET," ujar Kudo.

Yang penting menurut Prof. Takanashi adalah masyarakat tidak memandang sebelah mata pada para NEET ini.

"Tidak ada gunanya menyalahkan NEET dan memberitahu mereka supaya berhenti bersikap seperti anak kecil. Yang paling penting adalah supaya masyarakat berubah dan lebih dekat dengan anak-anak muda ini."

Labels: culture

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Privacy comes with price at Da Vinci penthouses

Sunday, July 16, 2006
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Every so often, there seems to be a need for wealthy Indonesians to build bulky, colonial-style houses with gigantic pillars and over-the-top ornamentation that may not necessarily blend with its surroundings (rundown buses, stinky rivers and regular floods during the rainy season).

Bulky, colonial-style houses need matching furniture. Enter Da Vinci.
The Singapore-based company is the creator of furniture which makes you think your time machine is working and it is the Roman period all over again.

The Da Vinci Tower in the heart of the business district on Jl. Sudirman says it all. It has more ornamentation than Borobudur Temple and at night, it gives a new meaning to the Greek Tragedy.

The tower has 12 floors for showrooms, each occupying about 400 square meters taking a different theme (Greek, classical, colonial, baroque, etc.)

Cynics say the furniture is for people for whom the phrase "money can't buy taste" exists, or else, nouveau riche.

A restaurateur even mused over who would buy this furniture which she thought was too heavy.

"Who would buy that? I mean, it's not that it's cheap," she said. Indeed, a chandelier after being discounted still costs nearly Rp 200 million (around US$22,000).

However, Da Vinci has enjoyed good sales all this time. Aside from the tower in Sudirman, Da Vinci also has a showroom in Jl. Panglima Polim, South Jakarta and another one in Surabaya, East Java.

"Demand is still high. More and more people are opening businesses at home, and they need classical and glamorous furniture to express power," said Da Vinci's general manager Erwin Hawawinata.

Business is good, so it is time to expand. Seeing the thriving apartment market, Da Vinci decided to add floors to its tower to build penthouses.

"The apartment market is still good. We are offering a combination of good location, privacy, quality and elegance," Erwin said.

The project, which began three years ago, has been completed and the penthouses were launched last week. The Da Vinci Penthouses occupy the 14th to 32nd floors of the tower with only 28 units.

There are three types of units: The Penthouse, Deluxe Penthouse and Grand Penthouse, ranging from 340 square meters to 382 square meters, and each unit has a name like Naples, Firenze and Giovanni.

And yes, the penthouse has adopted classic European design in every detail, starting from the elevator that is all marbles with floral motifs and engraved mirrors.

The unit has a private elevator lobby, foyer, living room, breakfast area, pantry, kitchen, dining room, and four bedrooms each with an attached bathroom. The interiors are about gold and marble, 3.2 to four-meter high ceilings, floral motifs, statues, fountains, four-poster beds, and all that.

Facilities include private access, fingerprint scan, videophone, two shifts of 30 security personnel, as well as tennis court, "The Bath of Apollo" swimming pool, private spa and gym.

Surprisingly, Da Vinci has also built a contemporary and more urban unit called Puccini. It has a trendy, minimalist look, which is a 180 degree departure from the usual Da Vinci style.

According to Erwin, 30 percent of the penthouses have been reserved. The price? Rp 10 billion and above.

Labels: culture, urban

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Sex sells, but does 'Playboy' have the bare essentials?

Saturday, January 21, 2006
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The prepublication hype and ensuing furor about the debut of a local version of Playboy overshadowed the big question: Is there really a market for another men's magazine here?

Despite laws against pornography and House discussions scheduled next week, magazines featuring scantily clad models in suggestive poses are readily available at local newsstands.

And those with more hard-core tastes can make some knowing inquiries among the magazine and book vendors in Senen, Central Jakarta.

The advent of the free speech era since the end of the Soeharto regime in 1998 opened the way for girlie magazines, offering everything from girl-next-door cheesecake to no-excuses smut.

Aside from local publications like Matra and Popular, which have been around for years, local franchises of FHM, and most recently, U.S.-based Maxim, are also vying for a share of readership.

Now, the biggest brand of all, Playboy, is coming to town.

Ponti Carolus, director of PT Velvet Silver Media which holds the license from the U.S.-based magazine, says there is great potential here, even if the local version will be toned down and without the famous nude pictorials.

"We had a lot of considerations before deciding to publish this magazine," he told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The upscale girlie magazines are not cheap; both FHM and Matra sell for Rp 28,500 (about US$3) an issue.

FHM managing editor Richard Sam Bera said his publication enjoyed good sales since making its debut in 2003, with monthly circulation from 60,000 to 75,000 copies nationwide.

"Interestingly, 25 percent of our readers are women, which is in line with our aim to get women and men closer," said the national swimming champion.

A woman said she enjoyed reading FHM because the advice on sexual topics was franker than in women's magazines.

Media analyst Veven S.P. Wardhana doubt, however, the demand for the magazines is particularly high, despite the adage that sex -- in all its forms -- sells.

"That's the nature of this country. If something sells, another will quickly follow. I did a little survey at several newsstands, and the vendors said that such magazines and tabloids don't sell that well. You can check the advertisements in the publications, there are only few of them."

Popular's managing editor Buyung Pramunsyie said the magazine, established in 1988, took years to gain a solid business footing. Today, the 158-page publication has a monthly readership of about 60,000.

"Indonesians simply don't read. And today there is a lot of competition, not just from publications, but also the Internet as well as cheap pirated porn."
It was not enough to offer racy pinups, he said.

"Our main selling points are the swimsuit pinups and sex tips, but we have other things that people love. Surveys show that people do read our film and music reviews, as well as our automotive page."

For magazine reader Yasha Chatab, the models in girlie magazines look too "cheap".
"The models in local upscale fashion or women's magazines are several notches higher. The models in women's magazine always look better and more desirable," he said.

Labels: culture, media

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White, red, yellow, purple, whatever band you fancy

Saturday, July 02, 2005
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Everybody is wearing one, or more, these days. John Kerry opts for yellow, Bono and Nelson Mandela wear white, David Beckham picks blue while Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho wear black and white ones.
Rubber wristbands are the latest way to show your allegiance to a cause, from raising cancer awareness to poverty eradication.
Friday marked the first global white band day drive launched by the Global Call to Action Against Poverty initiated by Mandela and Bono.
The first person to introduce a wristband that stood for a cause was probably American cyclist and six-time winner of the Tour de France Lance Armstrong.
Recovered from testicular cancer, Armstrong then launched the Wear Yellow campaign to raise awareness about cancer. So far, 40 million yellow bands have been sold in the campaign.
In Indonesia, where people have always been quick to copy the latest global trends, colorful wristbands are worn by celebrities, activists, economists and Cabinet ministers.
Yudhistira Juwono of the Tunas Cendekia Foundation for poor children, who first initiated the wear-a-band movement here, said that over 39,000 red bands have been sold since the campaign began in February.
With Solidaritas Kebersamaan (Togetherness Solidarity) written on it, the band aims to raise funds for the children of tsunami-stricken Aceh and victims of the Nias quake.
The donations have been used in part to buy vans for mobile libraries and to buy school equipment for children in the disaster areas.
"More and more people, including Indonesians living abroad, are buying the bands, which is great. We are calling for more people to wear them to spread awareness," Yudhistira said, adding that the band can be purchased through the website www.tunascendekia.org for Rp 10,000 (about $1) each.
Tri, 31, from the East Java city of Malang, said he bought a band after he saw people from Jakarta wearing it.
The Jantung Indonesia Foundation for Cardiology, meanwhile, uses a blue band with I My Heart. Let It Beat. written on it.
Author and fashion editor Syahmedi Dean said that one of his friends has started to sell bands with an Islamic prayer on it, such as Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God) and Astaghfirullahaladzim (God Have Mercy).
"But she forgot to scrape off the 'Made In China' writing on the back of the band," he said, laughing.
Sports companies are following the trend by producing bands with Nike, Adidas and Giordano logos. These won't save anything, not even -- as some may argue -- your fashion sense.
Standard Chartered Bank, meanwhile, gives out green band to all of its employees and street vendors now are selling bands of all colors for profit.
Whether the bands will last or merely a trend remains to be seen. "It's been over a year since Lance Armstrong started it. I guess it has some time left yet," Yudhistira said.

Labels: culture

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Bikram yoga is no mere warm-up

Sunday, January 09, 2005
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Imagine doing animal-namesake yoga postures: the squatting and arm-twisting "eagle", single leg-lifting "locust" or bending backward 'til you touch your toes "camel".
Add other poses -- toe stand, wind remover, spine twister, triangle --, all this while trying to coordinate your breathing and to make sure that your stomach is sucked in.
If you feel like you can already empathize with a pretzel, or wonder why there are no nap postures or a couch potato pose, try doing all of this hard work in a room heated to 42 degrees Celsius.
It is called Bikram yoga, or plainly referred to as hot yoga, or what beginners call "an hour and a half of pure hell".
Posture-wise, the practice, established by former Indian weight lifting champion Bikram Choudhury, is basically drawn from regular yoga, with 26 asana or postures and two sets of breathing exercises done in 90 minutes.
The major difference is that it is conducted in a room heated to between 40 and 44 degrees Celsius.
According to Mony Suriany of the newly opened Bikram yoga studio Yoga @ 42ø, the heat is designed to warm and stretch muscle, as well as produce sweat which promotes detoxification and elimination through the skin.
"Fat cells are diluted faster, it may be redistributed and burned as energy during the class. The heat produces a fluid-like stretch allowing for a greater range of movement in joints, muscles, ligaments and other supporting structures of the body," she told The Jakarta Post last week.
She added that capillaries also dilate in the heat, more effectively oxygenating the tissues, muscles, glands and organs and helping in the removal of waste products.
"The twenty-six exercises systematically move fresh, oxygenated blood to 100 percent of your body, to each organ and fiber, restoring all systems to healthy working order, just as nature intended," said Mony, a certified Bikram yoga instructor.
A rosy description, and probably true, but it was easier said than done.
After five minutes of doing them, I began to think that Mony and I were probably enemies in a past life and the hot yoga was a way of her getting back at me. The belief grew stronger as I also felt nauseous and started seeing spots.
"It is not unusual to feel nauseous or dizzy during the first class. Because it's not just our muscles that are stretching, but our inner organs as well. The problem is also caused by not drinking enough water in daily life, let alone for exercising in a heated room," said Mony.
The practice has been enjoying growing popularity all over the world, indicated by the lucrative business empire Choudhury, 57, has built from his Yoga College of India in Beverly Hills, California.
There are 90 schools nationwide in the United States, with hundreds of certified Bikram studios now operating across the country. Others are in Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia, Thailand and Singapore.
Choudhury is in the process of franchising Bikram's Yoga College of India brand.
Benefits that Bikram yoga practitioners tout are that it helps ailments ranging from anemia and diabetes to varicose veins.
Astuti, a beginner who has been practicing for two weeks said that Bikram yoga has made her more energetic.
Mony said that Bikram yoga cured her fractured right shoulder and a dislocated knee due to terrible traffic accident.
"Doctors said I had to undergo surgery but I was terrified because I had never undergone surgery before."
A long-time yoga practitioner, she instead turned to Bikram yoga and claimed that she recovered completely within seven months. An MBA graduate, she then gave up her job as a financial analyst in a General Electric office in the U.S. and turned yogini instead.
However, experts warned people to be cautious about the discipline.
Noted yoga instructor Yudhi Widyantoto said that while the Bikram yoga series was not too advanced or difficult, the heat made the process unnatural.
"I'm not judging, but good and natural air circulation is very important while doing an exercise. There is a concern about possible respiratory problems," said Yudhi, a yoga teacher of 15 years.
Experts in the U.S. also warned that while a little heat and sweat is good, a lot is not necessarily better as prolonged time in a hot environment raises the risks of overstretching, high blood pressure and fainting.
Robert Sherwin of the American Diabetes Association, as quoted by the USA Today said that stretching was not the kind of thing that reduced insulin resistance.
Meanwhile, Stephen Reingold of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society said that while there were claims that the yoga discipline helped MS, heat commonly exacerbated spasticity, weakness and other disease symptoms.
Some yoga experts were concerned that Choudhury's emphasis on curing clinical illnesses reduced the spiritual dimension of the practice.
"The news about him pursuing the patent and franchise is making the practice too commercial," Yudhi said.
With all the pros and cons, it may be best for you to consult a physician first before practicing Bikram yoga.
Bikram Yoga Jakarta Yoga @ 42ø, Saberro House, Jl.Kemang Raya No. 10A 4th Fl., South Jakarta
Tel. 021-7197379/08121020389
E-mail: hotyogajakarta@yahoo.com
website: www.bikramyogajakarta.com

Labels: culture, urban

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In the pink: Businesses start reaching out to gay consumers

Sunday, January 02, 2005
Hera Diani and Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

It used to be tough to find standing space during the "gay" night at packed Jalan Jalan club in Menara Imperium tower, South Jakarta.
These days, patrons find themselves in uncomfortably wide open spaces.
The place to hang out for the gay community every Sunday night during the late 1990s, the nightclub suddenly faces a difficult reality, with several new competitors drawing the crowd away.
Even rescheduling its gay night to Wednesday does not seem to have helped much. Although a crowd gradually gathered for the drag and beefcake shows on a recent weeknight, hardly anybody from the mostly young patrons was buying a drink, despite enticements to "buy one, get one free".
It was a far cry from the nightclub's heyday, when locals and expatriates filled the venue, whiling away the last hours of the weekend by catching a fashion show or performance by Tata Dado and his Silver Boys drag troupe.
A manager, who spoke on the condition his name was not used, admitted times were challenging. For one, Jalan Jalan faced direct competition on Sunday night from the La Dolce Vita theme night of Centro in South Jakarta, which opened earlier this year.
There was also the presence of Two Face, the stylish lounge-bar which offers a gay night on Saturday, located behind Menara Imperium.
Gay men suddenly had a choice -- and many chose to spend their rupiah on Saturday night instead.
"We aim for the upmarket community, smart, affluent businessmen. But now we have so many competitors, we have to be realistic. We're open for any kind of people now," "Willy" said, noting the club has scrapped its Rp 35,000 (almost US$4) entrance charge but does have a "first drink" entry fee policy.
Jakarta, like many major cities in Asia, from Singapore to Bangkok, Taipei to Manila, before it, may finally be waking up to the "pink power" of gay consumers, especially men with lots of disposable income (lesbians have their own clubs and meeting places, but due to societal constraints tend to keep a lower profile).
Limited to holes in the walls during the late 1980s (the venerable Press Club on Jl. Veteran) and fly-by-night upmarket clubs the following decade (Voila in the Patra building on Jl. Gatot Subroto), gay men had a choice of Jalan Jalan on Sunday, or the cavernous, stuffy, ear-splitting but enduring Moonlight in Kota, West Jakarta, by the late 1990s.
Many, afraid of being singled out as gay in this traditionally conservative society, chose instead to mingle in with the straight crowd at places like Tanamur, whose upstairs was unofficially reserved for them.
It and other nightspots, like several hotel fitness centers in the city, which have gradually built up predominantly gay clientele, were friendly toward the community without having to advertise the fact.
Today, gay men, increasingly recognized, if not accepted, after the success of last year's gay-themed movie Arisan and 2001's best-selling book Supernova by Dewi Lestari, are spoilt for choice in how to spend their money during a night on the town.
Although some gays choose not to go to the clubs, either because they are still closeted or they consider them nothing but meat markets, others welcome them as a welcome escape from their usual getting by in straight society.
"It's our own little world, the only place where you can turn the world upside down," said Donny, 26.
With the exception of Monday, every night is a gay or "rainbow" night at a club in the city. Apart from Jalan Jalan, Two Face and Centro, there is Avenue at Sari Pan Pacific in Central Jakarta (Tuesday night); West Pacific at the Jaya Pub building on Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta (Friday); and Wonder Bar at Taman Ria Senayan, Central Jakarta (also Wednesday).
The latter is under the same management as Embassy, one of the most popular clubs in town.
Centro, opened in late 2003, launched its gay night seven months later and has enjoyed success.
"Every Sunday night, some 500 people show up. That's because we come up with something different every week: DJs imported from Singapore, fashion shows and much more," said the club's public relations officer, Joy Tan.
Following the lead of its parent club in Singapore, Centro is targeting affluent consumers, with a minimum age of 19 -- there is an ID check at the gate -- and cover charge of Rp 45,000.
"Visitors must dress neatly, no sandals or shorts. It's important to create an image from the beginning to be competitive. And it looks like other places are following us, we're, like, a trendsetter," Joy said.
"On gay nights, even heterosexual couples show up, too."
Embassy's management turned its club CO2 into Wonder Bar in recognition of the potential market.
"As more clubs emerge, the previous place became uncompetitive. So we upgraded it, targeting a new, more exclusive market aged 21 above, as well as the gay community," said Radian Rahmananta, general manager of Embassy.
Opened in November, the gay night has begun to attract visitors even though the cover charge is relatively high at Rp 60,000.
Two Face has been particularly successful; bar employee Nunu, an unofficial "welcome wagon" man for gay visitors, said the bar could get up to 400 patrons on a Saturday night, each of them paying the Rp 50,000 cover charge.
Another gay club, Qzone, located at Vg club on Jl. Pintu Besar Utara, opposite Museum Fatahillah in Kota area, West Jakarta, is set to be launched on Jan. 15.
One of the owners, American expatriate Jason O'Donnel, said the idea for the venue came after he visited Singapore and saw the many gay-oriented establishments.
"I thought, 'why does Jakarta, a city that is double in size and more open, have fewer gay clubs?'" said O'Donnel.
With a gay night every Saturday, Qzone is aimed at the middle to upmarket range, with a cover charge of Rp 30,000.
"But it's not a discotheque kind of thing, it's more of a bar, cafe, lounge, with a mix of entertainment.
"We'll see how it goes," he said.
Club managers said they were not concerned by a possible backlash from hardliner religious groups.
"We have strong coordination with the police," said Radian.
Joy, meanwhile, said performances were tame compared to those found abroad.
"We don't worry about raids, we're still following local customs. There is only a comedy show, or g-string fashion show."
Some gay people argue that the emergence of gay-themed nights at nightclubs is more about dollars and cents than greater tolerance.
"It appears the gay community is more appreciated and recognized, but I don't think so. The social stigma about homosexuality still exist," said "Miki", 28, a reporter.
Andi, public relations for Avenue, said there was resistance from some members of the management when the idea of a "rainbow" night was first proposed, but it waned once the potential was recognized.
But he acknowledged there is still the fear of being ghettoized among some gays, which indicates that the community is not entirely accepting of itself.
"Gay people still have a strong sense of gengsi (pride); I don't think they would want to go to a place that advertised itself as exclusively gay every night."

Labels: culture, urban

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Magazines reach out to well-heeled

Sunday, October 24, 2004
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While browsing through a local society magazine, "Johan", an Indonesian who has lived in the Netherlands for most of his life, pored over the parade of photos of people hobnobbing and partying.
The 33 year old, who rarely makes trips to his homeland, finally came across a face he recognized, a man striking a pose at a trendy club.
"Hey, I know this guy! He works at a bar in Amsterdam, carrying kegs of beer! Well, now I know what he's doing every time he comes home to Jakarta," he said.
With a look of surprise, Johan pointed again to the man's picture. "Look at his outfit, it's gotta be expensive."
And part of his surprise may have come from the fact that in this supposedly impoverished, indebted third world country, we can get to see the upper crust having their cake and eating it too in several glossy society magazines.
The magazines provide information for the rich and famous on where to shop, dine, spend their vacations and get a Botox jab, as well as allocating ample photo space for them to have their moment in the spotlight.
A sickening show of vanity and pretentiousness, you say? Jealousy gets you nowhere would be the likely retort.
The Peak and Indonesian Tatler, both in English, have been joined by Prestige Indonesia, a franchise of the Singapore magazine, which was launched in a swank do at a five-star hotel in Jakarta in September.
Prestige Indonesia's publisher and editor-in-chief, Ronald Liem, said the timing was right to launch another society/lifestyle magazine in the country, with an increasingly educated and sophisticated market.
The market for luxury products is also growing, with new boutiques opening here.
"Luxury product advertisers have the budget and they are looking for the right media to advertise their products. They are looking for something like this in Indonesia," said Ronald, who also publishes the English-language travel and lifestyle magazine DestinAsian.
Prestige also has a sister company involved in luxury businesses, such as property and retailing, which means in terms of advertisements, the magazine is in safe territory.
Of course, the focus on glitz and glamor is not for everybody. Photographer James Nachtwey once said that his commitment to documenting war and poverty was partly due to fact that the media gives too much attention to lifestyle, celebrities, fashion and entertainment.
Ronald argued that people want to find escapism amid the bombardment of depressing news about terrorism and global problems.
"The market is big enough, there is a market segment there. We are targeting people who aspire to have this kind of lifestyle."
It is targeting the affluent market, but about half of its 15,000 print run gets complimentary distribution to the main movers and shakers.
Instead of hiring professional models for its layouts, the magazine uses socialites and celebrities.
"I think Indonesian ladies are quite famous for being beautiful and are beautiful dressers. So, we approach the celebrities and socialites. That's the unique selling point of the magazine," Ronald said.
Amid the heavy advertisement load, product information, fashion and party pages, he added that the magazine aspired to offer something different from other magazines in content.
There are columns with financial advice, Ronald said, such as how to spend money wisely (an apartment in Sydney or the Caribbean? A private jet or private boat?), as well as information about heritage, culture and restaurants.
"Some people consider it soft journalism, well, it's not New Yorker. But we want our readers to actually learn something about it, 'cause I don't like to waste trees. When we do a profile, we won't ask those superficial questions like a favorite brand and so on. We talk about a philosophy or rule of leadership, that's more interesting.
"It's not high journalism, but we can add more substance with the questions we have."
Despite the desire for the magazine to bring more depth to its content, many people, even those in the targeted readership market, find them to be superficial and only serving to confirm societal status.
But restaurateur Amalia Wirjono said the magazine helped her keep in touch with upper class society, her target audience as well, to promote her restaurant Koi.
"True, it is more of a status thing. If I want information, I look someplace else," said Amalia, who makes frequent appearances on the party pages of society magazines as well as appearing on the cover of Prestige Indonesia.
Director Nia Dinata, whose 2003 film Arisan (Gathering) poked fun at her own crowd of urban socialites, said she did not see any reason to subscribe to such magazines.
"What we need right now is a magazine like Vanity Fair, that can balance the articles on lifestyle and serious issues like politics. Even the pieces on politics are an easy read."
It's true that there is no middle ground here between the serious content of magazines like Tempo and Gatra, or the light entertainment and lifestyle magazines of Kosmopolitan and a+, as well as the society magazines.
There is no magazine that can create a happy medium like Vanity Fair, which runs cover stories on Reese Witherspoon or Jude Law along with scathing condemnations of George W. Bush, or even music magazine Rolling Stone's current affairs articles.
Ronald disagreed.
"It doesn't fit into the whole thing if we suddenly talk about corruption and stuff. This is not the concept of the magazine. if you mix socialites with politicians and stuff, you get things mixed up."
Media observer Veven SP Wardhana said that the difference was that in developed countries people consider lifestyle and entertainment to be sources of information, not status symbols.
"That's why we can find in-depth analysis on lifestyle in a foreign magazine, not just the superficial stuff," he said.
The ultra-lite content has more to do with the mentality of the people in this country, he added, as well as the fact that the reading habit remained poor.
"Finding writers won't be a difficult thing, as media people are pretty flexible. But people are not really looking for information here. There are people who do, and they will go straight to the source: Foreign magazines or the Internet."

Labels: culture, media

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Yoga House lets the gentle force be with you

Sunday, July 18, 2004
Hera Diani , The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Wiggle your big toe, wiggle your big toe.
The mantra Uma Thurman repeated in Kill Bill Vol. 1 to revive her stiff feet after four years in a coma did not work for me as I bent over and tried desperately to reach my toes.
Did it mean I was not cut out to do the 5,000-year-old exercise of yoga? Will it end my short dalliance with Sting and Madonna's favorite workout?
"Don't be afraid to do yoga just because your body is not flexible," said instructor Yudhi Widyantoro from Rumah Yoga (Yoga House). "There are modifications and levels in doing it. Just do a posture or a movement at your own pace.
"Don't force it as you can get injured."
Although it has never been part of a huge fitness boom, yoga, like the methodical principles of the discipline itself, has enjoyed slow but sure growth in popularity in the past few years. Several fitness centers have added yoga to their roster of aerobics and other classes, and spiritual foundations and institutions have also come on board with yoga instruction.
Its ability to heal and give peace of mind is what lures frazzled urbanites. Benefits reported from regular yoga practice include strengthening the body, increasing flexibility and concentration, weight management, improving blood circulation and concentration, as well stress management.
Not surprisingly, demand for yoga increased at about the same time as the monetary crisis hit in the late 1990s.
"People were seeking a way to reduce stress. With media reports about celebrities practicing yoga, they also became more interested," said Yudhi, who took up the activity 15 years ago.
Dealing with stress and a chronic health problem also attracted restaurateur Amalia Wirjono.
"I had terrible asthma when I was a child, and was dependent on medication which had side effects. Yoga worked for my asthma and it reduced my dependence on the medication," she said.
The practice also helped release stress and fatigue, as well as keeping her figure in shape.
"And the exercise is very simple, only 90 minutes a day and you can do it all by yourself at home," said Amalia, who has been a regular practitioner for the past four years.
Along with friends Dian Mediana, Tami Arifin, Anita Pasaman and Afi Shamara, she decided to establish a more conducive setting for people to relax and unwind than a crowded gym.
"Because of the trend, yoga has become commercialized. However, there are many unqualified yoga instructors, which is dangerous as they can cause injury. We want to prevent that," said Amalia, pointing to Yudhi, who has obtained his teacher's certificate from an institution in Australia and makes regular visits to India to upgrade his skills.
The women opted for the concept of a house, bathed in the dominant color of lavender, to serve as a warm, cozy sanctuary from the mad rat race going on outside.
Although there also comprehensive services aside from yoga, including reflexology and reiki, the healing therapy based on the transfer of energy to the patient, yoga is really what Yoga House is all about.
The several types of yoga classes on offer consist of Hatha, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vinyasa or yoga flow, Manasa, yogalates and baby yoga.
Hatha combines yoga postures with breathing technique, as well as meditation. Iyengar, taken from the teachings of yoga guru B.K.S. Iyengar, emphasizes proper alignment in each posture for balance and strength, with the extensive use of props to assist people in maximizing their abilities in each posture.
Ashtanga and Vinayasa are similar to Hatha in their postures, but Ashtanga is done in a strict and intense sequence, while Vinayasa is practiced in a rhythmic flow with the breath.
Manasa yoga is the practice of Hatha yoga, with a particular focus on the mind.
"I do yoga and pilates," Madonna raps in her song American Life, and both practices are combined in Yogalates class, which is designed to strengthen the muscles, bones, tone the body as well as create a sense of inner calm, health and well being.
As for yoga for babies, it is said to enhance the bond between a baby and its mother, as well as other family members and nannies.
"Yoga reduces (the need for) chemical medication. Each posture has a therapeutic function. The snake posture, for instance, improves the functioning of the digestive system," Yudhi said.
It all sounds very tempting to calm the nerves and get a great workout to boot but, except at the Indian cultural center in Menteng, Central Jakarta, yoga classes are not cheap. Still, there are long waiting lists for classes at most places.
According to marketing guru Kafi Kurnia, it is likely that the high fees come from yoga's exclusivity as the exercise activity of the elite.
"It's a New Age sport and has become a trend, so to give a sense of exclusivity, they charge you a lot. But perhaps they have to pay high wages to the teachers as well," he said.
Rumah Yoga charges a walk-in fee of Rp 100,000 per session. The membership fee is Rp 300,000 annually, with a 10-session package of Rp 750,000, five-session package of Rp 400,000 and Rp 270,000 for the three-session package.
Baby yoga costs Rp 55,000 per session and there is an extra fee for yogalates.
Amalia said there were special fees to accommodate people on limited incomes.
"We also have a community class for students or people from the low-income bracket. It's only Rp 20,000 per session."
-----------------------------------Rumah Yoga Jl. Lamandau No. 19, South Jakarta Tel. 021-7393266/739 3267 Fax. 021 739 3267 www.rumahyoga.com -------------------------------------

Labels: culture, urban

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Ad images, and society, still give women no respect

Sunday, April 18, 2004
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The composite impression of the Indonesian woman in advertising in 2004 is that she is not so strong, certainly not invincible but she does suffer gladly and lives to please.
Some choice examples.
* An undeniably pretty young woman is still (somehow) sentenced to be the perennial wallflower until her skin is transformed several shades lighter. Oh, and make that wavy hair super straight.
* A wife sighs and smiles at her endearingly sloppy and unhelpful husband. Men, you gotta love 'em.
* What does a hungry boy find when he goes home from playing outside? There is go-getter mom, finding the time to do a quick batik pattern in between her household chores.
And more: Husband shouts at wifey to find his jacket, a bride freaks out as she cannot cook while hubby is a hog, a husband and his friend do a leering "the 'milk' is just right" as buxom mom hovers in the kitchen.
By and large, these representations -- sexist, stereotypical and seeming to hark back to a bygone age of the totally dependent woman -- continue to dominate the market.
The message is that femininity means becoming flawless beauties (skinny, straight hair and fair-as-can-be skin) through product consumption, using coquettish body language to attract the opposite sex and maintaining an aura of feminine innocence to remain sexy.
Of course, sex sells. But what on earth are a couple of scantily dressed women doing in a car paint ad?
According to Jean Kilbourne, an American activist against advertisements causing negative societal impact, the sexual images tie the product with women's basic desires, as if by buying the product, they are going to get not just sex, but love.
"Sexualizing women contributes to creating a society that has less trouble digesting violence against women. Ads also create impossible standards for women to live up to," said Kilbourne, a writer and award-winning documentary filmmaker, on the Internet.
Jeanny Hardono, creative director of Lowe Lintas, the local branch of Lowe Worldwide ad agency, acknowledged that using women's sexuality was the easiest way to create an ad.
"I believe that happens not only here, but all over the world as well," she told The Jakarta Post.
"Here, I must admit, advertisements still objectify women. Perhaps because not everyone is aware of a gender perspective, and the gender issue has yet to be on the agenda nor become a reference for advertisers and ad agencies," Jeanny told The Jakarta Post.
It's not just about objectifying women, but also taking advantage of women's insecurities, for instance, about having fair skin, which is the wish of most Asian women.
Believing that such ads are misogynistic, "Rossie", a senior copywriter at an ad agency, refuses to handle skin whitening products.
"Of all the beauty product ads, I think those for skin whitening products are the meanest of all. Because the bottom line is always that you won't get a guy unless you're white. Hair products don't always use that approach, but skin whitening products do," she said.
"Sadly, the product sells, because it's what Asian women want."
Aside from using women's sexuality, Rossie added that most ads still weigh on the formula of boy-meets-girl and boy-gets-girl, with most of the young women shown as shy and innocent -- the way society would like them to be.
"Attracting the opposite sex is another easy trick. But advertising people deny that they only want the easy way. The excuse then is human insight, that women want to be beautiful because they want to attract men," Rossie said.
Another excuse is that it is what clients want, or because it is in line with the research done by the client or the ad agency.
Glenn Marsalim, creative director of OgilvyOne (of Ogilvy & Mather international group), said research showed that public perceptions defined women as submissive and people pleasers.
"Do women feel like they are losing their dignity if they use skin whitening products or straighten their hair? No way," he argued.
According to Jeanny, however, the research is often abused to validate taking particular approaches, which results in a pattern for certain ads.
"Like bank ads must have men wearing ties, or detergent commercials always show housewives doing the laundry," she said.
The prevailing mentality is that it is good to stay in one's comfort zone, and better not step out if there is no example to follow.
No advertisers dare to be different, which Glenn also attributed to the monetary crisis and a reluctance to take risks.
"Besides, people are getting more individualistic right now. In the 1980s and early '90s, pop culture can still dictate and aspire people. Not now. There's no single trend right now."
However, if sex is the easiest trick in advertisements, it is still arguable if it will actually boost product sales.
"There are so many factors which can boost sales. Could be the price, good distribution, relevance to people's needs and interesting marketing. An ad induces trial, and works as shock power. If it has no relevance with the product, it only ends up as a cheap trick," Rossie said.
Women's rights organizations such as the Indonesian Women's Coalition have called upon ad agencies to sit down with them to enhance their gender sensitivity.
"We urge advertising agencies to start changing the social construction which is still against women. It's their role in educating society," said the Coalition's secretary general, Masruhah.
Rossie said that ultimately it was not the job of ad agencies to become gender awareness advocates, because they were merely taking from what the wants of society.
"Ad agencies are just an opportunist. They won't focus on skin whitening if people don't want the product. The responsibility of ad agency is only for the client. If they don't want to increase women's insecurities, then don't take the job," she said.
They need to respect the customer, and the only responsibility was to not mislead through false advertising.
Glenn said the issue was not about advertising and the media, but the public's view of women.
"I think if the value of women in society changes, the ad will follow. If women have jobs and something to do, the portrayals will shift," he said.
Ads merely reflect society, and in the end, he said, they were "all about dollars and cents".

Labels: culture, women's right

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Clubs bring lovers of the written word together

Sunday, September 07, 2003
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A muggy Tuesday night in the third week of August was time once again for the book club bacabaca (from the Indonesian for reading) to hold another meeting.
Nine people gathered in an apartment in Kuningan, South Jakarta, each clutching a copy of Of Love and Other Demons by Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor in the living room, circling a wooden table and munching snacks, the group discussed the tale of a love affair between a middle-aged priest and a teenage girl believed to be possessed by demons.
Everyone shared a nugget of their literary observations.
A.S. Laksana from akubaca publishing company said Marquez was always careful in selecting characters' names for his books.
Rizadini Haryanto, an employee of QB bookstore, commented on how Marquez's journalism background influenced the plot, while Hikmat Darmawan spoke about how the Colombian writer was skilled in spinning a romance.
All the opinions showed the members shared one definitive thing in common: a great love of the written word.
They are also bucking the established notion that Indonesians are loath to pick up a good book.
"We'd heard enough about the low reading habit among Indonesians. So, we thought we just start from ourselves as we all love books," said Hikmat, an editor and translator in a publishing company.
Along with fellow members Rani E. Ambyo and Rizadini, they recruited several friends -- mostly in their late 20s and early 30s and working in the publishing field -- to form the club about four months ago.
"We appointed one person to be the moderator in our monthly meeting. All books are in English," said Rani, adding that the readings were not limited to any one genre and that comic books were already on the agenda.
A former resident of Bandung, West Java, Rani had started a club there three years ago, as well as setting up a book shop called Tobucil, a name taken from the Indonesian for "small book shop".
"I often got annoyed, however, because many of the members there hadn't read the book like they were supposed to. They came to the meeting because they wanted to know what kind of book it was. So, it would end up with only one person doing the talking," she said.
The books discussed were limited to Indonesian works or those translated from other languages.
"It was almost impossible to discuss English books. They were not very familiar with books in English, perhaps because the access to English books in Bandung is very limited."
It is the reason she established the book club in her new home of Jakarta, a place she said where people were more "literate" and access to books was better.
For Ditta Amahorseya, the head of corporate affairs of Citibank's Citigroup, the problem is getting Indonesians to join her club.
Ditta is the lone Indonesian in the club, established 11 years ago, among a group of expatriate women.
"I've given up asking my Indonesian friends because they are not committed. They never showed up again. After several attempts I gave up because I feel embarrassed," Ditta said.
She said many of the book clubs in the city were organized by expatriates.
Ditta's club consists of women of various nationalities, whose professions range from businesswomen, consultants to housewife.
"Our membership is ever-changing, because the expatriates move a lot. We meet monthly, except for summer and December, because at that time, the foreigners usually go back to their home country," Ditta said.
Each member recommends a book, and then a vote is taken on which will be read for the next meeting.
The books discussed are award-winning, critically acclaimed works, or best-sellers, and must have been published within the past three years. Most are fiction, but an occasional nonfiction work, such as a biography, is put on the agenda.
"I wish there were more contemporary Indonesian books being translated into English. It's a pity that I can't recommend Indonesian books. We only have discussed two books by (noted local authors) Pramoedya Ananta Toer and Mochtar Lubis. Even then we had to break the rules because both books were published in the 1960s."
Despite the problems of getting Indonesian members and books, Ditta said being a book club member was rewarding.
Her knowledge and references have been broadened and enriched; she is now familiar with many writers she never knew before, such as from Germany and Morocco.
"We also learn the discipline to read regularly. There's even homework for each member to read another work from the same author whose book are being discussed. And then we're always eager to look for a new book to recommend," she said.
Ditta remains optimistic that more Indonesians will join book clubs and that a true reading habit will one day become the norm, not the exception.

Labels: culture, literary, urban

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Yoga for kids teaches more than humming 'om'

Sunday, August 03, 2003
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Ciawi, Bogor

It is said to possess healing power as well as increasing the ability to concentrate.
But yoga is not exactly for kids. How on earth would you teach your young child to meditate and concentrate when getting them to sit still for more than 10 seconds is often a headache?
It is certainly not an easy task for the instructors of yoga-for-kids class, held monthly by the Anand Ashram Foundation, owned by meditation guru Anand Krishna.
Anand, 6, opened his eyes even wider when asked to close them while breathing deeply. He bugged a kid next to him until the latter cried. He kept answering "No!" to any question, before finally holding his chin and releasing a sigh, "What time will this class be finished?"
Another kid crouched and raised his hands, instead of doing the requested poses of a snake and crocodile.
"It's a guguk (a child's word for dog) pose!" he said repeatedly.
Although the concentration session seemed futile, the kids seemed more receptive to getting lessons through songs and drama to accept differences and to not discriminate.
It's an important lesson in this country as people in several regions are divided by ethnic or religious-based conflicts, like the prolonged conflict in Maluku, for instance.
It was a bright Sunday morning when seven kids gathered recently for yoga class at the "Assalam" open veranda, a small spot in the spacious 3,000-square-meter compound called One Earth One Sky One Humankind.
Located in Ciawi, about a one-hour drive south of the capital, the compound comprises several buildings surrounded by trees and plantations, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
When the instructor called for a break after the concentration session, the children dispersed and ran around before eating their snacks at the cafeteria.
"There are usually more children, like 25 or 30 of them. But school hasn't started yet, so many children are still out of town for holidays," said instructor Dewi Hariri, adding that the fee for the class was only Rp 10,000, including snacks and milk.
The class started some five years ago, but it was not until last year that it became a fixture. Children from three years to 12 years old from any religion are welcome to take the class, as long as their parents are participants of Anand's meditation class or have taken it at least once in the past.
"We're afraid that there will be some misunderstanding caused by the teaching if the parents are not familiar with it," said instructor Gede Merada.
Of Indian descent, 47-year-old Anand is known for his spiritual view that eliminates boundaries between religion. He has written numerous books, many of which discuss interfaith dialog.
Opponents often perceive the view as confusing or even blaspheming strict religious teachings. In 2000, it resulted in the withdrawal of Anand's books from the market following a protest by Muslim groups.
"Children from any religion are welcome to join this class. Through this class, we want to educate from an early age the value to love each other, to accept differences and not to discriminate against others," Gede said.
"We're not mixing up religions, but appreciating all of the religions."
The principle was in clear view on the veranda, adorned with symbols of the country's five main recognized religions. From the ceiling hung heart-shaped styrofoam banners with words like victory, devotion, quality and enlightenment.
"We don't just teach yoga, which is aimed at increasing children's concentration. We teach moral values as well. That we have to be nice on others, that the symbols of religions may be different but the purpose is the same," Dewi said.
The break was over, and the children sat in a circle to do some role play. They sang as well, with lines like, "Be careful with the mouth what you say/be careful with the eyes what you see".
They also recited prayers according to their own religion, after the instructor chanted, "Be sure that every prayer recited will go to the same God".
Parents, like 40-something Djoko Herinanto, expect their children to be more open-minded through the class.
"Religious instruction teachers often say bad things about other religions. I want to counter that, so that my son will appreciate differences. There are so many conflicts rooted in fanaticism about religions," said Djoko, who brought his son Ryan, 6.
Then the children sang one more song, saying greetings of peace and ended the around two-hour session with handshakes and hugs.
"It's about sharing the love, because it's the only thing that we can share," Dewi said.
For more information on yoga for kids, contact Dewi at 0818922434

Labels: culture, urban

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Gender equality a threat to unique Donggala silk

Sunday, February 23, 2003
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Donggala, Central Sulawesi

Juleha, 67, is proud of the fact that three of her daughters, of five children, have their own careers and are financially independent.
Yet, the resident of Kabonga Kecil village, Banawa district, complained about how young women today refuse to learn the skill that has been passed down through generations: weaving.
"My daughters just don't want to do this. They're lazy, or have got too many other things to do: teaching and working. And while they're at work, they drop their children here and ask me to mind them," sighed the woman at a recent visit I made to her house.
In front of her was the traditional weaving equipment made of ebony, gedokan, as Juleha prepared to work on another sarong in the living room that noon.
Around her, two toddlers ran around the simple wooden house, while one of her daughters-in-law was trying to put her baby to sleep.
"If my grandchildren are not around, I can finish more quickly," Juleha said while looking for her glasses, finding them in a wooden box filled with thread.
She is justified in worrying, though, as Juleha is one of only three elderly women left in the village with the skill to produce traditional handwoven cloth.
Donggala regency is famous for its home industry that produces handwoven cloth, or ikat, made of silk, which has become a trademark of Central Sulawesi.
Unfortunately, handwoven textiles are on the brink of extinction, as fewer and fewer women are willing to master the skill, like Juleha's daughters.
At neighboring Wani village, there is not a single woman left who can weave using gedokan. In the past, Wani was the most famous place, turning out Donggala silks, using natural dyes.
Handwoven cloth is still produced in the area, but with more modern, more sophisticated equipment (ATBM), which is faster and more productive.
That is part of the reason why young women prefer to work with ATBM, as a piece of cloth can be finished in less than a week, compare with two weeks or even months if working with gedokan.
However, ATBM cannot produce certain motifs that are the trademark of Donggala silk. Although slicker, ATBM cloth lacks the detailing and unique "imperfections" found in traditional handwoven cloth.
"Bombakota (a checkered motif) is difficult to make on ATBM. It can't weave two-sided cloth like this either," Juleha said, showing off one of her creations, where one side has golden thread, which does not show through on the other.
Juleha has woven using both ATBM and gedokan, but since last year, she gave up the ATBM as she found it too large and cumbersome to operate in her old age.
She then recalled how she learned the craft back in the World War II period, when the Japan colonized the country.
"We had plenty of food back then, but there was no fabric, let alone clothes. The Japanese taught us how to plant cotton, make thread and use natural dyes," said Juleha, whose husband is a retired schoolteacher.
Today, she said, people here no longer used natural dye as it could only be applied to cotton.
"But we don't produce cotton anymore, because it's really difficult to weave. The material is easily broken. We only use silk now, and that's what has made Donggala famous."
It was amazing to see Juleha installing the threads one by one on the more-than-100-year-old gedokan, as she recognized well what the motif would be, while it was still in the form of thread.
"Hey, there's a high level of mathematics involved. There is nothing that has not been calculated. I may only be an elementary school graduate but I'm experienced," she bragged, laughing.
Now, she no longer breeds silkworms, making thread and dyeing it. Others exist who can provide that service, and thread is readily available on the market.
"But now it's becoming more expensive. Before the economic crisis in 1997, three threadballs, which could produce one piece of cloth, cost only Rp 25,000. Now they cost Rp 105,000," Juleha said, shaking her head.
Her creations cost about Rp 300,000 to Rp 350,000, but Juleha said the profit was not that great.
"Well, it's not bad, it helps my husband," she said.
But at least she does not have to look for customers, as people come to her house: government officials, tourists and others.
Sometimes they order, and many prefer purple, brown and grey hues.
"It usually takes two weeks for me to make a piece of cloth. My mother, though, worked very fast, taking only three days to a week," Juleha said.
When asked whether she felt sad that handwoven silk might become extinct, Juleha paused for a moment, looking into the distance.
"I'm sad, of course, but well, what can I say?" she asked wistfully, while continuing with her work.

Labels: culture, travel

Posted by hera at 2:56 AM | Permalinks | Comments

Closet door remains shut for many gays

Sunday, March 03, 2002

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

It took years of pretending, of dating women and feeling hollow inside when others teased him about when he would get married, before "Heldy" finally faced facts.

"I met a man that I really look up to because he is very decent and nice. It turned out he is gay, too. It made me realize that gay people can be decent and manly, instead of the typical effeminate and sex-oriented gay that is always projected," he said.

The urge to be honest with some of those close to him grew. He told one of his best friends, but it was difficult to utter the words.

"At first I told her that I had converted to another religion, which made her nearly fall off her chair," laughed the 26-year-old writer.

"She was shocked, of course, but then managed to be cool about it."

Although Heldy has since told other friends, it has never crossed his mind to tell his family. Like most Indonesian gays who have grown up with feelings of guilt and shame, he is choosing to be selectively open with others because of the fear of rejection and stigmatization.

Although waria (transvestite homosexuals) are nothing new in Indonesian society, homosexuality remains a highly sensitive issue. Self-acknowledgement of a gay identity, including by having a same-sex partner and not submitting to societal pressure to marry, is a modern phenomenon and an anathema in this communal, family-oriented and traditionally conservative society.

The growing recognition of gays in urban centers -- where gay men and women have traditionally fled the social and family pressures of villages and small towns -- does not translate into acceptance.

Several famous fashion designers, artists and at least one former minister are generally assumed to be gay, but they would never acknowledge it to a disapproving public.

Although gay-bashing is rare here, the disruption of an AIDS conference near Yogyakarta in 2000 and the attacks on gay and transsexual participants failed to cause a public outcry.

Most people tolerate gay public figures or acquaintances, but they would not display the same attitude to their children.

Labels: culture, social affairs

Posted by hera at 1:08 AM | Permalinks | Comments

'Cosmo Man 2001', not just about macho looks

Tuesday, November 13, 2001
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Mr. Right, according to Kosmopolitan magazine, the franchise of the U.S. magazine with a "C", is not merely a good-looking guy with a flat stomach and bulging biceps.
Of course looks matter, but a man must have certain "qualities", including a successful career, a respect for a woman's career, maturity and the ability to be a reliable partner.
Oh, one more thing, he must have a soft side which makes a woman feel "understood". With these qualities in mind, the magazine chose 10 finalists for Cosmo Man.
The search for the Cosmo Man has been an annual event since 1998, a year after the magazine was first published here. The event always attracts hundreds of participants, and this year 758 men from across the country took part.
A jury which included TV anchor Zsa Zsa Yusharyahya and model Lulu Dewayanti cut this number down to 33 semifinalists and then 10 finalists.
This year's grand final was held on Oct. 31 at the Grand Melia hotel. Surprisingly, it was entertaining. And not just because it landed three top performers -- singers Shanty, Melly Goeslaw and Titi DJ -- as well as noted emcees Tika Panggabean and Farhan.
It was just fun to see how these men were willing to go through this beauty pageant-like competition. The magazine may have played down the physical thing, but the event was not much different from a model competition.
When the event started, those in attendance were shown a video of the finalists' four-day "quarantine", during which time they took part in various activities like outdoor sports. The activities were aimed at getting to know the men's leadership, their sense of teamwork and their sensitivity.
And then, there they were, the 10 finalists, walking around the catwalk and posing before answering a Miss Universe-like question.
For Johanes Alford Suwignyo, a radio DJ/TV presenter/magician, the question was "What is your ideal woman"?
"She has to be loyal and have the same religion as me. It's easier for us to bridge the differences if our religion is the same," he said.
"You see, a woman is like a puzzle. It can be in order or put together incorrectly. Even if the color is wonderful and the picture is great, if the pieces are not in the right places, it won't be good," he added.
Want to know what success means for H. Akhiz Royhan Nasution, an assistant manager for training and development at a big insurance company?
"It's not about position, titles or money. It's about understanding yourself, keeping life in balance and being independent," he said.
Then the winners were announced. Favorite Cosmo Man went to Palar Sakti Sutojo, an architect. And the Outstanding Achievement Award went to Sonny Harry Budiutomo, who is only 26 but already a doctoral candidate at University of Indonesia's School of Economics, a lecturer and researcher.
Second runner-up and runner-up went to Darry Sjahrinaldy Darwis and Rudy Djohor, both pilots. And the Cosmo Man 2001 is ... Akhiz.
How did the judges come to their conclusion?
"We (judged) teamwork, leadership, physical appearance and also ... how macho (the men were)," said Zsa Zsa, adding that the event was not just a model competition.
One of the finalists, Zaki Ahmad Ibrahim, asked people not to be cynical about the event.
"The winners actually deserve it," he said.
But the real star of the night was Tika Panggabean. If not for her witty banter and jokes, the event would have been downright boring.
She was the real proof that physical appearance is not the most important thing.

Labels: culture, urban

Posted by hera at 3:22 AM | Permalinks | Comments

MTV' tunes into today's trends

Sunday, August 05, 2001
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Go ask a group of teenagers at the mall about what they want to be when they grow up.
Yes, doctor, architect or accountant are sure to come up, but, in their hipsters and tank tops and sneakers, they will also mention an occupation that never crossed the minds of their parents.
MTV veejay.
Being on the station, talking the talk and becoming a household name has been a dream of many since MTV Asia first broadcast into the country's living rooms in 1995 on ANteve and by satellite.
Every time MTV looks for the person with the right combination of looks, personality and teen appeal to be a new VJ (they call it a VJ Hunt), more than 2,500 people are sure to sign up. Many of them are even already famous, like model Caroline Zachrie.
From four million viewers of ANteve in 1995, last year's official viewer figure is more than 19 million households.
"That is only based on people who watched it through ANteve. That means there are a few million more who watched through satellite," public relations executive of MTV Southeast Asia Jakarta Muthia Farida told The Jakarta Post.
The station's influence on young people in music, lifestyle and fashion is undeniable. Hip-hop and rap have taken on their own regional variations, there are marked changes in attitudes toward formerly taboo subjects, including sex, and what young people wear in Jakarta is little different from New York or London.
A recent survey by Asia Market Intelligence and Bates advertising shows that MTV is the coolest brand among teenagers in this country.
An Indonesia Peoplemeter survey by AC Nielsen confirms that MTV is the most popular music channel in the country, reaching 75 percent of the audience aged 15 to 34 every month.
Little wonder that advertisers are banging on the door to plug their products, especially as the station's influence spread last year with the founding of MTV Radio and also merchandise store MTV Style.
According to Muthia, from five local advertisers in 1995 there are now over 50 local companies advertising on the station, over 100 regional advertisers and 50 advertisers who sponsor shows.
Changes
For the music industry in Indonesia, MTV has changed everything. Video clips are now an integral part of the success of singers and bands, with a well-produced video sometimes able to make a hit of a so-so tune.
New artists take advantage of MTV to lure the public, and old ones come back to it time and again to put their careers back on track.
Take Chrisye for example.
The 50-something singer and songwriter is suddenly hip again. His formula for success is to remake old hits, looking a little out of place as he stands among a bevy of models and other celebrities in striking videos produced by top directors.
Record companies acknowledge the influence of MTV as a promotional medium.
"It would be very stupid if we didn't use MTV to promote our artists," Suntono, a promotions executive at PT Indo Semar Sakti, told the Post.
One of Indo Semar's bands is Naif, whose latest album Jangan Terlalu sold hundreds of thousands of copies and won many honors, including an MTV award.
However, Suntono said that MTV was not the be all and end all of making a successful record.
"It really helps. But since the broadcasting is limited, the impact is not really that significant," he noted.
Fashion
The channel has also been part of changing fashion.
What the artists on MTV are wearing will soon be found adorning bodies in cities large and small around the world.
Fashion writer Muara Bagdja said MTV exerted a profound influence on fashion tastes among the young, and also made them a fashion market to be reckoned with in Indonesia.
Before its debut, he said, most Indonesian designers made clothes for older women. Today, local designers such as Urban Crew and the teen-oriented boutiques of Mangga Dua, for example, know where their rupiah is to be made.
"I don't think MTV is merely part of the change, but what has made the changes occur among the young," Muara said, noting fashion references to the Madonna and more recently Destiny's Child "looks".
"In fashion, you see the clothes are bolder, freer, dynamic, trendy. The influence wasn't directly on the designers but on the consumers -- and then the designers followed."
He said that MTV's nonmusic programming and ultrahip VJs, including bilingual Sarah Sechan, also had a positive effect on the personality and attitudes of Indonesian youth.
Young Indonesians, he believed, now hold to "universal" values, which have come in tandem with globalization and technological advances.
"Today young people are more open, more direct. Just compare how someone like Indra Safera approaches a topic to how Bob Tutupoli did," Muara said of the popular emcees.
Power
There is no doubt MTV has an influence on the lifestyle of young people, but is it really creating those trends or is it merely an artful follower?
Youth observer Robby Chandra said the power of MTV lay in its ability to study, observe and then conclude what was hip among young people.
"They can read the spirit of young people, give it the format and creatively present the things that are really suitable for them," he said.
Guitarist Piyu from rock band Padi said the function of MTV was only as an information provider.
"It only gives input about what's hip, information about the latest music," he said. "But when it comes to setting trends, it's not MTV who does it. The trend is already there. MTV only gives the impression that they are the actual trendsetters, while they're actually not."
Some young people criticize MTV Asia as too mainstream and commercial, and that its original mission as a music channel has taken a backseat to its reality-based shows, such as It's My Life, promoted as an up-close look at the lives of young Asians.
"Hery," 26, said that he stopped watching MTV over a year ago because the content was only boybands and teen pop.
"The local shows are also disappointing. It's My Life, for example, is a very bad reality show. And MTV Screen is not a movie review -- it is movie promotions because (according to the show) every movie is good," he said.
"Shouldn't MTV be about being different, taking risks and youth freedom?"
Others, however, worry that sometimes the content shown on the channel, with scantily clad men and women living out the "rock n' roll" lifestyle, goes too far.
Robby, along with Piyu and Muara, expressed concern about the negative impact of the music channel, which he said promoted consumerism and a hedonistic lifestyle in some of its programming.
Although MTV's various channels around the world have taken steps against explicit drug references in songs, including late-night-only airings of the offending videos, Muthia said the presence of "western values" was unavoidable.
"We can't just cut videos like that," she said.
And if they did, what would Indonesia's budding MTV Generation do?

Labels: culture, media, urban

Posted by hera at 3:27 AM | Permalinks | Comments

Cheap 'branded' items available at factory outlets

Friday, April 27, 2001
By Hera Diani

JAKARTA (JP): Factory outlets have become very popular among shopping freaks in this country.
It refers to a store where you can buy branded clothes, shoes and other fashion accessories at prices much lower than at official counters.
How is that possible?
The products are said to be surplus export products or rejected items. The labels have usually been cut, although many are still left on the clothes.
However, many suspect that the products at factory outlets are counterfeit.
One such person is lawyer George Widjojo, who once represented Adidas in a product counterfeiting case.
"If the products are surplus, then how come the quality is much lower than the original? The difference is really obvious," he told The Jakarta Post by telephone on Thursday.
A DKNY shirt, which costs hundreds of thousands of rupiah at an official outlet, for example, is available for less than Rp 50,000 (US$4.16).
Yongki Dwi Subagyo, general manager of Link Stok which has several stores in the capital, denied that the products were counterfeit.
"We have a factory in Cileungsi, Bogor, which exports clothes to the United Kingdom. Surplus products and seconds are sold here in our shops with permission from the license holder in the UK," he told the Post.
However, Yongki admitted that there were many producers who used leftover export fabrics to make their products.
"They then sew them and put well-known brands on them," he said.
Such a practice is indeed counterfeiting and is a copyright violation, but so far there have been no lawsuits filed regarding violations.
According to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights' director general for intellectual property rights, A. Zen Umar Purba, so far there have been no complaints from license holders about products being copied and sold at factory outlets.
"Therefore, we can't do anything. It's not that we encourage such practices, but if there are no complaints, we can't do anything," he told the Post on Tuesday.
"You see, intellectual property rights are private rights, not public. So it depends on the owner, whether they file a complaint or a lawsuit or not," he added.
Purba said that many companies were reluctant to file suit as the legal process would burden them and cost them a lot.
"It's common in the United States, for example. Some license holders there let products, such as perfume, be distributed with the same brand and packaging as their products. They claim the targeted market is different anyway," he asserted.
That several companies were reluctant to comment on the matter when contacted verifies Purba's claims.
"So far, we haven't found any copyrights violations of our products," said a manager at PT Great River International who declined to be named.
Great River is a license holder for 30 brands such as Arrow, Triumph and Lee, which can be easily found at lower prices at factory outlets.
When asked about this, the manager refused to comment, saying she had no authority to do so.
Meanwhile, Chris Helzer, external affairs director for Southeast Asia region at Nike Inc., said that the company had found fake Nike products in virtually every country around the world.
"Companies like Nike are hurt because consumers that purchase counterfeit products are defrauded," he said when contacted via e-mail.
Nike, he added, invests a great deal to develop the products and if the items are copied, they cannot get an adequate return on the investment.
Helzer did not elaborate on whether the company planned to take legal measures, but said "we hope to work together with all parties to stop counterfeiting activities".
Separately on Thursday, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri also expressed concern over intellectual property rights violations, which she said had resulted in big losses.
In a written statement marking International Intellectual Property Rights Day on Thursday, Megawati acknowledged that law enforcement was still poor.
"There has to be breakthrough steps in overcoming the problem. We also need a solid intellectual property rights system," she said as quoted by Antara.
The system, she added, is not only important for law enforcement but also to improve economic growth.
For consumers, however, factory outlets are a savior in times of economy crisis when everything appears expensive.
Desy, 27, is a regular customer at a factory outlet because of the prices.
"The quality of some products may not be that good. They sometimes shrink or get bigger after washing, but most of them are OK," she said.
And for many other customers, the most important thing is they can enjoy "branded" products, the originals of which are out of their price range.

Labels: culture, urban

Posted by hera at 3:33 AM | Permalinks | Comments

Up-close and not so personal with 'MTV It's My Life'

Sunday, December 10, 2000
MTV It's My Life; ANteve: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.; MTV Asia: Tuesday, 8:30p.m., Friday, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, 4:30 p.m.

JAKARTA (JP): The phenomenon that is MTV -- who can doubt its popularity among teenagers?
When the music-only TV channel was first established in the United States19 years ago, the skeptics had a field day, saying it would last for a yearat most. You know, who actually wants to watch a 24-hour music channel?
Well, surprise, surprise, MTV turned out to be a giant industry and a media icon for young people around the world. An entire "MTV Generation" was born.
MTV Asia arrived in 1995 with three 24-hour channels -- MTV Mandarin, MTV Southeast Asia and MTV India. Like its forebear, it is also hip among young people and sets trends for them.
Many shows with local content have been produced, including MTV It's My Life, which is now in its second season.
The half-hour show is meant to be a peek into the daily lives of six young people from six different countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and India.
The participants were selected from thousands of young Asians who signed up. With a series of tests, a jury from MTV picked the six winners who would be followed by a cameraman for every minute of every day for three months.
The show's aim is clearly to give an up-close and personal look into the lives of young Asians in their respective countries. The idea is based on the MTV USA show MTV Real World.
The difference is that Real World gathers seven young people (not necessarily U.S residents as some have been from Australia and Europe), andputs them together in a house with a cool interior design for about three months.
The audience gets to see how they interact with each other, how they become friends, or maybe enemies, as shown when one of the participants wasso annoying that his housemates decided to kick him out.
But the show is quite successful in picturing young people's lives, theirthoughts, their views, their dreams.
These are the very things that It's My Life unfortunately fails to present.
The first thing to be concerned about is the choice of participants. Fromthe first season, the jury's selection was questionable.
Check out the lineup of the first season: a college student/model/actress, a model and singer wannabe, a couple of annoying andboring high school twins, a waiter in a Hard Rock Hotel, a wimpy dancer/dancing teacher and a reporter (or was it editor?) of a magazine.
Roll out the second season's lineup: a model (again), a college student/model/actress, a high school student, a professional mountain biker, an assistant in an artist management company and a radio DJ/emcee/singer.
Are they in any way representative of their peers around Asia? Oh, come on.
The continual choice of models (because their easy on the eyes?) is one issue. And judging from their outfits, houses and cars, it is clear that the monetary crisis which battered the region in recent years had nothing to do with their privileged lives.
It is no comparison with the Real World, which is supposed to be its standard, which shows a variety of people who come from every level and group in society. Men, women, rich, poor, gay, straight, you name it.
One thing is for sure, they are in line with the title, the Real World.
Secondly, and most importantly, what is highly questionable about It's MyLife is the content of the show. Scenes of people getting a haircut, meeting clients, going for a car ride with a friend, dating, traveling and striding down the catwalk all eventually get really boring.
The only exception was the woman reporter from Hong Kong in the first season.
She sure has a fun life as a reporter, and she really filled her spare time with exciting activities like diving, bungee jumping, traveling abroadand stuff. Then again, how many young people can afford such activities?
At the very least the show should provide insight into the thoughts and dreams of the participants. It should, but it does not.
"I want to stay in the United States for the rest of my life," sighs Indonesian Charmantha Adji, the 23 year-old artist manager who graduated from an American university.
Other comments are also about as deep as the thought process of third graders.
Oh, please. Where is the angst, the anxiety, the restless soul of youth?
It's nowhere to be found, just like on the other superficial shows featured on the channel (Hera Diani).

Labels: culture, media, urban

Posted by hera at 3:37 AM | Permalinks | Comments

TV soaps - ice breaker for father and daughter?

Sunday, July 02, 2000
By Hera Diani

JAKARTA (JP): If you watch Indonesian television, you must be familiar with soap operas or sinetron (an acronym for sinema elektronik).
Some people love them, others hate them. But who would have thought they could bridge a widening gap between a father and his daughter?
Well, they did just that to my relationship with my father.
It's not the ideal father and daughter relationship pictured in episodes of The Cosby Show. But neither is it like those in Married With Children.
When I was a little, my father was a stranger who suddenly appeared after leaving for months -- when he came back from his studies in Germany.
But after that, long after that, he was still a stranger to me.
Being a reporter, he was rarely at home. The way we communicated was through my weekly allowance and report book. (Long speech in high-pitched voice when I got bad grades. Not a single compliment when I did well).
When I hit puberty, communications went no further then "no-boyfriend-and-no-sleep-over" and "come-home-not-later-than-6-pm" speeches.
The situation improved slightly when I started university, despite a dispute over what major I should chose. (He wanted me to go to medical school, I preferred engineering). We started to discuss politics, history and culture. He has a broad knowledge, and wherever I had a question about those three subjects, I could always turn to him.
But that was it. No heart-to-heart talks, no goofing around, tickling, teasing or telling dirty jokes. There was a time when my father and I would leave town without even exchanging words.
He is not a bad guy. He is just ever so conventional and stiff.
His idea of having fun is gardening, which is not bad, but for me is dead boring. He does not like music, or film and his favorite TV program is the news.
If we happened to be watching TV together, he would frown and looked at me in a puzzled way like I was some kind of alien because I laughed so hard I cried over Seinfeld, while he didn't get what the fuss was all about.
The situation was reversed when he was giggling his way through traditional sketch show Srimulat, during which I preferred to leave the room, thinking its jokes rude and sexist.
At other times, it was like in the movie Girls Just Want To Have Fun. He would scold me for coming at home at midnight, and I'm thinking, "Hey, it's the weekend. Beside, I'm not drunk or anything ... ". But rather than just spit my thoughts out, I'd stay quiet and go to bed.
It was always like that. He got angry, and I ignored him and went to my room.
Actually, we have some things in common -- which is reasonable since we share the same DNA -- like an addiction to reading, the same taste in food and clothes and a bad temper.
Apart from that, we just do not understand each other, and sometimes refuse to try to do so. Rather than trying to communicate our feelings, we choose to keep them to ourselves.
So it's strange how cheesy sinetron could touch us -- well, just a little bit.
The first time we were in the living room and the only watchable program was a sinetron, of which I don't remember the title nor the actors.
A father was advising his daughter to do her best at whatever she choose to do.
"I don't care what you become, a doctor, a teacher, or even a prostitute, just do the best that you can," he said.
My father laughed at the dialogue, but when I said, "Well, at least her father loves her the way she is," he stopped laughing and fell silent, with a certain expression on his face.
Oops.
The other day, we were watching TV again, along with my cousin, who is in senior high school.
Another father in another sinetron was furious that his son had chosen to be an artist while he had wanted him to be a doctor.
My father laughed again, as the story was exactly the same as my cousin's.
"Haha ... this is exactly like you and your father, Adi," he said to my cousin.
My cousin only smiled, while I mumbled, "Yeah, parents ... I mean, hello ? Who was it who forced me to be a doctor?"
I was expecting my father would explode with anger, but instead he again fell silent.
The last sinetron showed a man about to go and rescue his mother who was being taken away to be murdered. But, like most sinetron characters, the son was so moronic that instead of rushing to save his mother, he took a pose and delivered a long goodbye speech to his girlfriend.
I didn't know why, but that scene annoyed me so much that I yelled out how stupid, ungrateful and useless the son was. I mean, his mother was going to be killed!
I accidentally glanced at my father and was kind of surprised. He seemed to be touched by my remark. His expression was as if he was the one who was going to be killed and her daughter was about to save him.
Those three scenes, especially the last one, really got to me afterwards.
I began to think about my relationship with him.
I began to remember how, when I was a little, he took me to the bookstore every weekend to buy the books I liked.
About how he took me to art and photography exhibitions. About how he stayed up until midnight to help me with college assignments, although he sometimes overdid it, resulting in an assignment so good that I got punished.
I remembered about how, during his report assignments, he took me to places all over Indonesia. About how he brought me dinner when I had to sleep over at the university laboratory to finish my thesis.
I especially remembered all his kindness. Now we are 200 miles apart, I have found that the cliche "absence makes the heart grows fonder" is true.
And I'm beginning to understand why he got angry if I came home late, after watching ABG (trendy teens) at the mall or in cafes getting drunk and making out with each other.
I think the same thing struck my father also. Although he has never said it straight to my face, I knew from my sister that he misses having me around.
It's still difficult for me to talk to him, as it is for him to talk to me. And I'm still annoyed at how he still gets mad at me for coming home late if I am at home for the weekend. Or how he always tells me what to do.
But at least there is something improving in our relationship. Something that makes my father call me every other day.
"How are you?" he says.
"Fine, you ?"
"Good. OK then, take care," and then he hangs up.
Well, somethings never change, but that's okay.

Labels: culture

Posted by hera at 3:41 AM | Permalinks | Comments