UNDERANING
PERKAWIS |
TALKING POINTS
– To grab the reader’s attention from the first page,
we’ll start with a section that is both flexible and
inclusive. It should be a section that talks about
whatever is most important to people at this moment. This
is not a “News” section. It is an “Issue” section that can
include, but not be limited to the news. For some
months, that might be a big news headline like war or an
election. In other months, that might be a cultural event
or personality. That will give us greater flexibility.
What we need in this first section is the flexibility to
be very relevant. Underaning Perkawis will include major
local, national and international news stories. As a
monthly publication, PAWARTOS JAWI is best suited to the
thoughtful interpretation of news and current events. We
will not try to be the first to uncover the news. To catch
fast breaking news stories, the public will no doubt turn
to television. But to understand what these stories mean,
and to put this meaning into context, this is the role of
PAWARTOS JAWI. We will welcome a variety of opinions on
each story, at times printing analysis by different
commentators that is in sharp disagreement. There is no
reason for PAWARTOS JAWI to present a single viewpoint on
relevant issues. It will better serve our readers to
provide thoughtful viewpoints that are in contrast with
each other. Our goal is to inform and provoke a thoughtful
consideration of current events. We are not here to give
simple answers to complex questions. We are here to open
up the questions. To this end, the views of liberals and
conservatives, the young and the old, will all be invited
for our reader’s considerations.
PAMAOS
KANDHA |
READER’S RESPONSE
- will publish letters, essays and commentaries from our
readers. If Underaning Perkawis is designed to open up the
question of the day, Pamaos Kandha will provide an
important forum for a continued discussion of these
questions. It is common in publications to include a
section of letters to the editor. Such sections are
normally confined to one or two pages. By contrast,
PAWARTOS JAWI has a central to its mission the promotion
of Javanese as a central vehicle for contemporary
communication. To this end, Pamaos Kandha is vitally
important. Through this section we hope to both further
our exploration of the issues, and promote Javanese as the
principal means through which we accomplish this
exploration.
REMBUG
KITHA PRAJA |
THE TALK OF THE ROYAL CITY
– This section will deal with issues of interest to the
people of Java with special attention paid to the Royal
cities of Yogyakarta and Surakarta. As the Kratons of
these cities are central to our culture, history and
traditions, focusing on the royal cities is a way of
dealing with aspects of who we are as a people. To what
extent have these royal establishments shaped us, and what
is their relevance in our lives today? The life of both
Yogyakarta and Surakarta represents an important set of
conflicting values and intentions. Coming to terms with
these conflicts is one way of opening up the questions of
our essential identity.
LELUNGAN
|
TRAVELING
– While it is essential that we look inward to understand
ourselves, it is equally important that we broaden our
perspective. Putting Java in context requires that we see
ourselves as citizens of the world. In this section we
will look at a different region of the world each month.
We will invite our readers from other cultures to share
their insights, and we will invite the Javanese, through
the pages of PAWARTOS JAWI, to become ‘Globe-Trekkers’.
WAWAN
REMBAG |
CLOSE UP
- We will interview people, both icons of our culture as
well as ordinary citizens who are in some way illustrative
of our culture and times. We will attempt to put their
persona and contributions in the context of Javanese
society. Who are the people that fascinate, inspire or
irritate us the most? Why do they intrigue us so? What are
famous cultural icons telling us about ourselves? As we
get to know them through the pages of PAWARTOS JAWI, in
turn, we learn about our ever unfolding identity.
GESANG
GAGRAG ANYAR |
CONTEMPORARY LIVING
– Where can I get the best French, Greek or Russian food
in Java? Or, how can I make such food at home? What new
technologies can I use that might improve my life? Where
can I buy or find the things I want? These are all basic
questions of contemporary living, and fit subjects for our
magazine. Indonesians tend to be creatures of habit. We
eat, buy and do the same things each day. Rarely does a
Javanese person say, I think I’d like to try some West
African food today. Why not? Why shouldn’t we open up our
horizons to include the richness and diversity of life
around the world? Making contemporary life as rich and
exciting as it can be, this is a part of PAWARTOS JAWI. In
some cases, that richness will come from a better
understanding of our own culture. In other cases, we might
grow as a result of understanding someone else’s food,
culture and heritage.
LELANG
BARANG ANTIK |
AUCTIONS & ANTIQUES
– Java is well known as a paradise for curios. PAWARTOS
JAWI will be a meeting point between potential sellers and
buyers. We will not only feature the antiques taken from
different angles, on our magazine we will explain what it
is about this object that makes it worthy of collecting.
CUKLA-CUKLI
|
NIGHTLIFE
– The title of this section is a play on words. In the
context of Javanese culture, the “nightlife” is filled
with spirituality. At night, people gather to pray in
homes or at the village’s pendapa to discuss spiritual
matter. Cukla-Cukli is the section through which we will
explore spiritual matters. Javanese spirituality and our
historical connection to other faith traditions will be
dealt with in Cukla-Cukli.
SENI
|
THE ARTS
– Both the traditional arts and crafts as well as radical
new artistic experiments will live side by side in our
pages, each giving vitality and context to the other.
Film, theatre, music, dance, the visual arts,
architecture, and the creative people who work in these
fields will be featured in interviews and essays. As we
explore theatre, the Ramayana as well as new works by
contemporary playwrights will be given great attention and
respect. This section can include both Gamelan and
Classical Western Music. We will explore to what extent
contemporary art and artists are informed by, or departing
from, Javanese traditions, history, and culture.
INFO
PAGELARAN |
ARTS CALENDAR
– Will provide opportunities for groups and individuals to
promote their performances and current or upcoming
exhibitions or events.
SASTRA
|
LITERATURE
- In this forum new writers will receive the highest
priority. We will encourage contemporary authors to
produce new fiction that deals with real life on the
Island of Java in the 21st century. The goal will be to
draw our readers into new fiction that is vivid and
compelling. Javanese will not survive as a language unless
new literature grabs the attention of the reading public.
In the absence of sufficient Javanese books, PAWARTOS JAWI
will seek to fill the need for new writing in the Javanese
language.
PUSTAKA
|
BOOKS
– Is an in depth review of books in the Javanese language
as well as books relating to Javanese historical,
political and cultural matters.
GEGURITAN
|
POEMS
- Provides readable editions of ancient and contemporary
Javanese poems. Giving voice to new poets will help us
transcend or explore the mundane aspects of life for the
purpose of helping us see more clearly. Poetry is
the language of soul, and, thus, central to our
understanding of our identity.
MEMETRI
JAWI |
EFFORTS TO SAVE JAVANESE
- This is a monthly section on the progress being made to
bring Javanese education and literacy back to Java. What
is being done, and what still needs to be done, this will
be a constant concern of PAWARTOS JAWI. We will not only
be an outlet for new and old Javanese literature, we will
champion its cause.
Our goal is to bring Javanese culture and literature (old
and new) to the centre of Javanese life. Simply put,
PAWARTOS JAWI will be a resource for intelligent, curious
Javanese people (and Java-watchers) who want to grow in
their understanding of themselves and the world. The
newsletter will not only celebrate and advocate for
Javanese culture, but also be open to the world and all we
can learn from it. The Javanese people will not flourish
by retreating to a past era of feudalism. In considering
our identity, we must move forward and explore what it
means to be Javanese in the 21st century. This is PAWARTOS
JAWI.
