'Rhizomatic' movements help youth voice political messages
Alternative movements based in cultural spaces, among other places, may help young people to express their political stance and understand more about today’s politics, although experts argue more work is necessary to push for changes in the system.
Decentralized movements based in cultural spaces may give young Indonesians a platform to voice their political opinions, despite a shrinking civic space. Dongker, a punk band from Bandung, West Java, exemplifies this trend. Comprised of students from the Bandung Institute of Technology's School of Art and Design, Dongker uses anti-establishment material in their performances.
Vocalist and guitarist Delpi Suhariyanto encourages audience members to question the government's actions through strong language. In October, Dongker held a show at Plaza Kalibaru in North Jakarta as their third performance in public spaces. Attendees were asked to contribute 2 kilograms of rice and a book. When a generator malfunctioned, the crowd of thousands persisted, using phone flashlights to illuminate the band acoustically.
Collectively, the audience donated 4,000 books to local communities and exchanged rice for plastic waste. Jim Alberka, member of the Dago Elos Resistance Forum, explained the band's intention to eschew the "Santa Claus trap" by treating donors as morally superior to recipients.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
