Q1- What function do wayang performances serve in Java?
Wayang serves serveral purposes- by using the Indonesian language instead of Javanese, wayang serves as outreach to the non-Javanese Indonesians in much the same way that immigrants to the U.S. use English in their traditional performances to expose English speaking audiences to the performers native culture. Wayang also serves as a safe way to mock the ruling elite and escape censorship by using the fantastic stories of kings, queens, pricesses and evil villians. The performances seek to reach and influence the middle class- this is reminds me of the big musicals during the war years in the U.S. The stories were meant to remind America of the middle class values that the soldiers were fighting for and inspire patriotism in the populace. Maybe wayang serves a simlar purpose in Java- not the war part, but to inspire a feeling of national pride and "oneness"- kind of an "us against them" mentality that is neccessary when there is oppression in a society.
Does the contemporary emphasis add or detract?
The contemporary twists make the wayang more accessible to the audience. An example is the one given in the Clark piece where a character used to just float away but now he gets into his jet fighter and off he goes- more dashing, more exciting, more alive, more realistic! I think that the audience enjoys the newness and the updating. This is very similar to the way songs are "covered" and each generation thinks they have found a "new" song- the kids are shocked when their parents sing along with the "oldie"! Also, when movies are re-done using updated locations, songs, slang, etc- like the remake of "Parent Trap"- popular then, popular now. Updating makes performances relevant to today's audiences.
Angela - I like the way you compared the contemporary elements of wayang performances to a song being covered by a current artist or a remake of a movie. I can think of many songs that I had never heard of until an artist I like covers them. Usually, once I realize its a cover, I go back and listen to the original version. Maybe the same is true in wayang?
ReplyDeleteI like that you brought up this issue of identity. Yes, performance (particularly storytelling) functions to define and strengthen a nation or culture's sense of shared identity. I think the Javanese have a way of looking at shared identity that contrasts with the way we think of cultural/national identity in the US. To me, there seems to be a greater comfort with/recognition of difference. For example -- the wayang stories come from a Hindu religious tradition. Contemporary Javanese are predominantly Muslim. This is just one example of how they seem to be more comfortable with creating a shared identity that's less based on all trying to be the same, and more focused on an identity that takes pride in how well people from different backgrounds and points of view can come together to work for a common goal.
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