Acculturation : REASON TO ACCEPT DIFFERENCES

The basic reason for acculturation is simply functional. 

Let's see the photos below

 

These are pictures I took on "Pameran Warisan Tiong Hoa Peranakan Indonesia" at Bentara Budaya, Jakarta on January 25 2009, a day before the dated lunar new year. It was an amazing exhibition with various antiques back from the past.

The first picture are oyster skins planted on Djati Wood. A classic ornament from the Peranakan Chinese of Indonesia. This ornament is a result from search of the most functional material found in the land to create the most beautiful object. These kinds of ornaments are nowhere to be found in the Mainland Chinese culture.

While the other picture shows the instruments for playing the legendary GAMBANG KROMONG, the unique music that results from certain acculturation. These instruments have strong Javanese, Sumatranese, and Balinese effect, containing a Gong, Gamelan, etc. It's very amazing how chinese music can be acculturated through these Indonesian instruments.

Furnitures speak all of how humans behaves day-by-day. Those displayed in the exhibition has a strong sense of chinese, take a look at these photos.

The picture in the upper-left is called a cuiho. The word is rootly a name of a production company in China, Jui Ho. Right now it is simply a metonym. The tradition that lives within this cupboard is very emotional. It is known to be given to newly weds by their parents as a blessing. The upper-right is an opium seat and the last one is an altar for praying to the deceased. These original chinese culture lives through the Chinese Peranakan of Indonesia. But still, acculturation makes its way through these antiques. The carvings of each furniture have very bold characters of Javanese artists. The methods and materials are no longer China original.

This concludes to a statement, the Chinese Peranakan of Indonesia are not alike its origins. Too many elements of culture have been modified aligning to its efficiency. Compromises are made and slightly different objects are created. It's very interesting seeing Chinese culture trying to assimilate and adjust to changes in order to live in harmony and balance in the land they occupy. Yet the gap between still lingers.

The Chinese Peranakan today in Indonesia are still in question of their nationalism. It is said to be natural for Chinese born to exclude themselves from national activities because they don't belong. And on the other side, Indonesian originals tend to simplify the difference to "Pribumi" and "Cina". This is a never ending story. By bolding the boxes that exist from false pride and principals, both sides will never gain harmony over each other.

The exhibition tells it all. How we can keep our traditional customs, yet still try to merge the differences and never try to push too hard on meaningless grudge against each other. By creating harmony, peace can be achieved.

The "TAMAN MENTENG" Today

The building of Taman Menteng back in 2006 was full of controversy. But as time goes by, the former Stadion Menteng has now been officially known as Taman Menteng.

Parks are symbols of well-sustained planning in a city. That is why the birth of this green area had given hope to the citizens of Jakarta, the over-crowded city. This multi-functional park has various activites offered to people. Communities can interact through sports like basketball, soccer, skateboarding, bicycling, etc; organizing a small orchestra; implementing an exhibition; or just simply take a walk and enjoy the breeze for a while. The whole concept of this park was so well-thought that it results to a modern and lively public space.


But a year after, I took a second trip to this park and it was way different than how it had been years ago. The difference was not in the activities, but more in the maintenance and caring for this place by the whole community. Vandalism started spreading to various places in this park. Graffitis are all over the place starting from the flower beds, the walls, even the trash cans. It also became harder for cleaning service to cover their job since people don't seem to care of their own trash.


These symptomps are gained over a quick observation by the writer on January 25, 2009 early in the morning. I cannot imagine other possible inappropriateness occuring in this high-aimed public park. The people whom we want to give our contribution to seemed not ready in so many ways.


This continues to another issue. In college I learned a lot about the negativities of commercial private open spaces that are missjugded as a public space. The issue is about gaining profit by immitating the functions of public spaces. This phenomenon creates a huge gap between people who can afford being in this space and people who couldn't. It is said to cause more flaw in our social conditions.

But seeing how people treat the spaces that are voluntarily given to them, rises a thought. No wonder affording people tend to exclude themselves from social-intented spaces. The logic-gap of caring and maintaining is a very strong factor for exclusivism. Senses of possesing creates a certain behaviour that makes us care. Without it, we can easily let it be destroyed.


Before planning a beautiful hope of a city. It's better to reflect on how every social layer of people in Jakarta might react to the concept.

Before asking for your own rights, it's always necessary to check whether you have done your responsibilities.