Culture Industry & Indonesia’s Traditional Markets
Background: Traditionally, markets in Indonesia were not just places to trade goods and services, but also a place of cultural and social exchange. In the ancient days, markets open once a week (the Javanese calendar only has 5 days in a week; Pahing, Pon, Wage, Kliwon, and Legi) because the population was not as dense as today. The day on which the market is open is known as “dina pasaran” (market day). More over, every village had their own market day. This meant that anyone from a particular village, who needs to purchase goods on a non-market day, must go to another village to purchase the goods they need. This phenomenon encourages markets to also function as a place of social and cultural exchange, with local produce reflecting local culture (every village also has their own trading customs, depending on local culture and traditions). Markets also encourage village growth, and thus were the barometer of a village’s welfare. Thus, Indonesia’s traditional marketplaces represent one of the nation’s many cultural heritages. Their existence is undoubtedly needed by society as they, up to this day, provide goods and sevices at a low and negotiable price.
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There was also modern influence happen there. for example, traditional market called pasar Gede (the Big Market) here not only sold daily needs like foods, vegetables and fishes but now they also sale ceramics tile and modern sanitary there.
Some of them also had air conditioning system inside, like pasar pagi (the morning market).
So, It is not only related with how to preserve the market, but to adapt the “modern living” with the traditional culture inside there.
I just fear that by incorporating “modern living” into traditional markets, then we will lose its essence…what’s the difference between this modernized traditional market with modern supermarkets (physically)?
If we can manage the markets well; keep them clean and safe, for example, then cities can generate great revenues from tourism…we have floating markets…and regular markets like the Kianggeh market in Bandar Seri Begawan (we have tons of these…) and tourists (especially those coming from foreign countries) want to experience the real deal…and not modernized miniatures of tradition.
Thanks for the input, bro!^^
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