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Culture Industry & Indonesia’s Traditional Markets

Prananda Navitas — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 05:18:44 +0000

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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Bonn’s Marketplace

Vicky Ariyanti — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 05:22:18 +0000

When thinking about an impact of a place that is of a city scale, with many functions and means of usage, we think about an urban space. Particularly in this 2000 year-old city; Bonn, there is the need of the whole urban scale to congregate at one point and through tradition; Germans have been used to using Marktplatz as an urban space even for political reasons.

The lay out of the square is quite similar in any German town, in front of the old Rathaus (City Hall), an opening of square fenced by commercial buildings, such as shops, cafes, and restaurants, even in some cases hotels completed with some kind of statue as a mark for the city.

On the market place social interaction happens and created life atmosphere to the city soul. I spent 3 whole months in Bonn, and at almost twice a month there was always something happening.

This market place has been used for different urban function, such as traditional fruit and vegetable market (regularly open every weekdays), commercial and even cultural events (usually at weekends). The different uses we see for this has told us the liveliness of city and thus created the space called as urban centre. This is a feature any given old European cities.

West Lake at Hangzhou; a citizen’s place

Vicky Ariyanti — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:21:14 +0000

The misty and beautiful sunset approached my horizons, here by the side of West Lake in Hangzhou. My breath was taken by its golden color, just ripe enough for me to pick if it were mango.

On the side, there were plenty citizens using the landside to enjoy the scenery and the cool wind.

People chatted; some playing chess, some young couples just simply enjoying their cotton candies, some just sat or read, kids playing around, and some senior citizens complete with their musical instruments are giving out free entertainment.

After my days in Shanghai, Hangzhou has offered a retreat and relieves of the old communal life of the Chinese. The blending of landscape and man-made curvy landside has enriched the value of the lake. It serves as the heart of the city’s life especially in the evening.

Who says that water can only add negative energy when it serves as city centre, certainly in the case of Hangzhou the water it self was full with little oar-boats. Touristy as it is, we should appreciate this effort is a trend created by the citizen. They were the ones who are responsible for the hearty and warm environment on a place. As the trees were fighting the cold, some of their leaves have turned into yellow, red, and brown, yet this does not block the needs to socialize among citizens by the lake-side.

Is there a warmer sight than watching and experiencing this on the end of a cold day?