The Indonesian Journal of Social Studies

Recalling Hindu-Javanese Voices in Bali: Anthropological Media Praxis between the Visible and the Invisible

2024-06-10T08:29:04+07:00

This paper argues the potential of filmmaking to encompass “visible/tangible” and “invisible/intangible” cultural heritages, invoking W.J. Ong’s theory of “Orality and Literacy.” To exemplify the impact of media from a historical perspective, the paper takes up two cases related to the old tale of Sri Tanjung in the era of Hindu-Java in Indonesia: Prijono’s 1938 book of the lontar manuscript from Bali, and my filmmaking project in Bali, which focuses on the archaic meter in the original lontar unveiled by Prijono. The first case reveals the attribution of Prijono’s text as a product of Western literacy training that consequently marginalized the lontar's original orality as a kidung (ritual song). The second clarifies the “diversity within a norm” in reciting the meter (pupuh wuikir/adri) by Balinese successors and the similar feature of kidung videos on YouTube, representing a variety of communal oral styles shaped by ritual practices. The comparison finds that, while “text-making of Hindu-Javanese culture” by local intellectuals in the 1930s served to unite Indonesian nationalism for the future, “filming/performing kidung/kakawin” utilizing today’s digital infrastructure promotes local diversity of cultural transmission; it is reactivating the polyphonic nature of ancient manuscripts through the recursive/retrospective relationship between bodily memories and audiovisual images. Today’s bottom-up-oriented interpretive activities, through traditional performing arts, thus suggest the significance of dialogical filmmaking praxes to visualize cultural memories that were invisible until the last century, whereby technical/technological practices could explore the future vision together to transmit cultural heritage from global and local perspectives.

Research on 3D Measurements used for Archaeological Materials in Japan

2024-06-08T14:01:45+07:00

Abstract— This study reviews our research in Japan on examining the 3D measurement method and the accuracy of 3D models. Recently, 3D measurements and the data have been used in various archaeological situations (e.g., recording at excavations, preservation, repairs, education, and research analysis). In particular, SfM/MVS photogrammetry has received increasing attention because it is versatile and inexpensive. However, there are some issues. First, a systematical way to construct 3D model by SfM/MVS photogrammetry has not been established yet, even though various conditions can be set. Considering the sustainability and convenience of 3D data in the future, it is preferable to investigate the degree of effect on 3D model in different conditions and settings (e.g., the number of photos, the kind of camera, the photographing setting of cameras). Second, while archaeologists have classified relics by detail types, there still is a lack of verification between methods. Third, the analysis results of 3D data and previous studies should be compared. We measured and compared one style of jar (Ongagawa style) and human skeletal remains by SfM/MVS and used laser measurement to resolve the first and second issues. We first compared the same materials measured under different cameras conditions and settings. Having applied the SfM/MVS methods of this study, there was only a small difference in the quality of models created by the different methods. Second, we compared the SfM/MVS models with laser models. The result was that the differences between models are little, which shows that SfM/MVS models, under certain conditions, are not inferior to laser measurement models.

Conservation and iconographic analysis of early Buddhist wall paintings from southern Uzbekistan

2024-06-07T09:43:00+07:00

This paper delves into the conservation initiative undertaken for the wall paintings discovered at the Fayaztepa Buddhist site in southern Uzbekistan. It also presents findings from an iconographic study of the paintings. The Fayaztepa site, excavated by L. I. Al’baum in the 1970s, was found to be a Buddhist temple complex featuring a stupa and a monastery. The coins recovered during excavation indicated that the temple was operational during the Kushan dynasty (1st-3rd century AD). Some of the wall paintings discovered at the monastery have undergone treatment and are on display in the museum, while the rest are kept untreated at the Institute of Archaeology in Samarkand. Between 2016 and 2020, the author, in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology, implemented a conservation project focused on the wall paintings from Fayaztepa. The conservation of four wall paintings was consequently completed and made available to the public. The murals representing stupas are particularly interesting and offer unique insights into the transmission of Buddhist art. The shape of umbrellas can be compared with small stone stupas found in Gandhara. The ornamentation of the umbrella with a net of strands of pearls and small bells traces its roots back to the balustrades of Bharhut, central India (2nd or 1st century BC). It is therefore likely that the decoration consisting of a net of pearls and bells was introduced from India to Central Asia through the Gandhara region.

Iconographic analysis of ancient roof tiles using a data science approach

2024-06-07T09:30:00+07:00

In archaeology, typological research methods have long been used as a reliable methodology to estimate the relative ages of artifacts and clarify their genealogical relationships. There is, however, a disadvantage to typological research methods—the researcher’s subjectivity cannot be eliminated during the analysis process. This study aimed to provide an objective typological index by applying data science to typological research. Techniques known as “feature extraction” and “unsupervised learning” were used to recognize the patterns and visualize the data. Thereby, the study is expected to help clarify the laws hidden in the iconographic data of tiles. An experiment was performed to analyze the patterns on the eaves tiles of ancient Japanese roof tiles (from Fujiwara and Heijo Palace), which are the authors’ specialty. Results revealed that matching local features focusing on edges was effective in detecting similarities between tiles and extracting differences in the general framework of the pattern structure. Furthermore, the multidimensional scaling method and phylogenetic tree were utilized to estimate the age and place of origin of each tile, which is a crucial task in archaeology. In general, the results obtained were in accordance with those of previous studies.

Sustaining Indonesian Roots: A Tale of Families, Workers, and Students in Japan

2024-06-05T12:09:37+07:00

Inspired by the tradition of “merantau,” or migration, Indonesians move globally for better opportunities while staying deeply connected to their cultural roots [1]. In Japan, they actively preserve their culture by organizing festivals, simultaneously serving as cultural ambassadors to build connections with Japanese and international communities. To capture this journey, we conducted interviews with Indonesian families, workers, and students actively involved in organizing and participating in cultural events.

The study unveils compelling stories reflecting the challenges and resilience of Indonesian migrants in Japan. A devoted mother, with her three children, drives 366 kilometers from Tokyo to Nagoya, actively participating in traditional dance practices, emphasizing the importance of cultural activities for her children’s connection to Indonesian heritage. A worker, balancing long hours in Japan while also volunteering for the Indonesian Festival, showcases the challenges of event coordination, sleeping on-site to ensure that everything is ready on the day. University students juggle their academic pressures and part-time jobs while teaching traditional dance to children, preparing them for performances and accompanying them to the stage to ease their nerves.

These stories emphasize the multifaceted challenges faced by Indonesian families, workers, and students in Japan, showcasing their commitment to preserving cultural identity. Importantly, the narratives underscore the need for deeper support from the Indonesian government through funding and other means to ensure the sustainability of these efforts, reflecting the aspirations and hopes of these individuals.