Q1. Wayang performances serve multiple functions. The government has used wayang to unite the country. Clark discusses how a wayang performance was sponsored by the government in 1998  when the country was facing an economic crisis. The performance was meant to bring the country together and provide hope throughout the crisis. Weintraub also discusses how the the New Order government created the state-sponsored wayang performances in an initial attempt to unite a country that had been torn apart by upheaval and violence. In addition to the noble effort of uniting a country, these wayang performances provided an avenue for the party to spread its official policies to the masses. While the state has used wayang for it's benefit, wayang performances also serve as a method of critique and protest of the government. Critics of the Indonesian government use wayang performances to critique the policies and problems with the government.The performances provide an avenue that risks less censorship than a direct attack on the government.

I think that a focus on contemporary aspects rather than traditional wayang performances help the effectiveness of wayang. Tradition is great. I appreciate aspects of culture that existed almost unchanged for years. However, sometimes that tradition can hinder an art form from growing and improving. A focus on contemporary practices such as singing and clowning helps the art continue to evolve. Likewise, contemporary audiences may often find more traditional performances stale or old. A contemporary turn may ensure the continued popularity of wayang performances.

Ken Wagner