Dr Intan Paramadhita1, Dr Wulan Dirgantoro2, Dr Edwin Jurriëns3, Ms Naomi Srikandi4, Mr Garin Nugroho5, Ms Arahmaiani Feisal5, Mr Gustaff Hariman Iskandar6
1 Lecturer, Macquarie University, 2 McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, The University of Melbourne, 3 Senior Lecturer in Indonesian Studies, The University of Melbourne, 4 Peretas Network,
5 Independent, 6 Common Room Foundation
The roundtable discussion will examine the intimate connection between spirituality, creative practices and social empowerment through the perspective of leading Indonesian cultural producers. As the rest of the world experiences the impact of global populism, neoliberal policies and most devastatingly, climate change, Indonesia is also not immune to these issues. The panel will discuss the possibilities of agency for Indonesian society in the present as well as in the broader context of future Asias, through a renewal of traditional knowledge. The discussion will engage in practical ways of learning both from the past and the present within various communities from West Java to Papua. Rather than making a priori distinction between modern and non-modern, the speakers will discuss not only cosmologies but also on the ground observations and from varied historical and cultural points of view in contemporary Indonesia.