© Photo: Krisna Murti, Forbidden Zone, 2008

Representations of the other in the media.
Some reflections about the impact of mass-mediated images
in Indonesia.

A panel discussion with Krisna Murti, Dr. Amanda Katherine Rath and Katerina Valdivia Bruch
Moderator: Prof. Dr. phil. Vincent Houben

December 14th 2011, 6 pm
Humboldt University Berlin, Seminar for Southeast Asian Studies - Room 117

Considering actual visualisations of terror attacks, natural disasters and religious beliefs, and ten years after September 11, there is a need to talk about the impact and treatment of images in mass media. The panel discussion Representations of the other in the media suggests some reflections on how mass-mediated images have the power to transform reality, manipulating our psyche through repetition and global distribution.
The talk will also give attention to the influence of these images in the way we see the other. The discussion will focus on the work of Indonesian artist Krisna Murti and how his work addresses this subject matter.

Krisna Murti has been analysing television and media culture in Indonesia since the beginning of his career. The artist has been concerned with socio-political topics in Indonesia, taking into account the viewpoint from inside and outside of his own cultural background. His latest body of work is related to current environmental and religious issues in Indonesia. During the talk, the artist will present some examples of these topics and its impact in media culture.

Dr. Amanda Katherine Rath will talk about the significance of landscape in Indonesian history and its contemporary interpretation. She will analyse the socio-political aspects of landscape, starting from the consideration of Indonesian landscape as 'Mooi Indies' (Beautiful Indies) during the Dutch colonial period, and  its appreciation in the arts over time as a shifting construct of desire.

Katerina Valdivia Bruch will focus on how mass media strengthen a particular social behaviour of women in society. Her starting point will be Indonesia's cultural pluralism, which contrasts with the partial perspective of Indonesian society presented in the media. She will concentrate on Krisna Murti's videos about women and its performance in society, in their upholding role as transmitter of tradition and beliefs.

Organised and conceptualised by Katerina Valdivia Bruch, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. phil. Vincent Houben - Chair of the Department of Southeast Asian History and Society at Humboldt University Berlin, and the Department of Southeast Asian Studies of Humboldt University Berlin

Special thanks to Arie Setyaningrum, Lecturer and Researcher at Universitas Gadjah Mada and PhD Candidate at Humboldt University Berlin

With the support of the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (IfA)

Address:

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Institut für Asien-und Afrikawissenschaften
Seminar für Südostasien-Studien
Schlegelstraße 26
10115 Berlin

U-Naturkundemuseum / S-Berlin-Nordbahnhof