Culture and Customs of Indonesia

(Hardback)

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Description

Indonesia comprises more than 17,000 islands stretching on either side of the equator for nearly 4,000 miles and hundreds of ethnic groups with almost 300 languages spoken. This book reveals the remarkable social, religious, and geographical differences that exist from island to island. Because of such variety, Indonesia defies simple categorizations. Europeans have produced most of the written histories of this region, although Indonesians have contributed much. Culture and Customs of Indonesia reveals something of local people's ideas of their identities and pasts as well. Indonesian cultures covered include those of forest-dwelling hunters, rice growers, fisherfolk, village artisans, urban office and factory workers, intellectuals, artists, wealthy industrialists, street vendors, and homeless people. Readers will learn about the amazing range of belief systems, material culture, and arts that enliven Indonesia. Forshee describes the majestic temples, complex poetry and literature, lavish theatrical performances, and splendid visual arts and more that have distinguished Indonesia for centuries and continue into the present. Indonesians are shown to be constantly reinterpreting and refining their cultures in the modern world.

Reviews

For students and general readers, Forshee describes the culture and customs of Indonesia, with specific emphasis on common people. Background is given on the land, people, and the country's history; religion; past and modern literature and art; architecture and housing; cuisine and dress; gender, courtship, and marriage traditions; festivals and leisure activities; music, dance, and theater; and social customs and lifestyle. Attention is given to all the islands, not just Bali and Java. * Reference & Research Book News *

Author Bio

JILL FORSHEE is a cultural anthropologist and Visiting Scholar at the Center for Southeast Asia Studies, University of California, Berkeley. Author of Between the Folds: Stories of Cloth, Lives, and Travels from Sumba (2000), she has written numerous articles about Indonesia.