Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
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The gamelan is an ensemble, well-known as an Indonesian icon, and popular in today's media. However, how well do we really know about its background and roots? How ancient/recent is it, for...Show moreThe gamelan is an ensemble, well-known as an Indonesian icon, and popular in today's media. However, how well do we really know about its background and roots? How ancient/recent is it, for instance? The paper proposes various lines of investigation while highlighting issues of perception and definition hidden in the very core of the object of investigation. Current public perceptions of the gamelan may have to undergo challenges if we are to find an answer. In compensation for such challenges, we discover a fascinating Asia-wide cultural, social and historical perspective and a delightfully rich matrix in which the gamelan emerged.Show less
Tourist destination Bali is internationally known for its dynamic culture and the resilience it has shown over the years with the increase of mass tourism from all corners of the globe. The...Show moreTourist destination Bali is internationally known for its dynamic culture and the resilience it has shown over the years with the increase of mass tourism from all corners of the globe. The Balinese people are often praised for their ability to adapt perfectly and at the same time not losing grip over their own cultural identity, despite the demanding environment due to the large influx of foreigners. The relatively new, yet popular philosophy of Tri Hita Karana (aspiring harmonious relationships) lies at the basis of the versatile attitude towards tourism of the Balinese people. The now omnipresent and most famous brands Facebook, Twitter, Instagram have worked their way into everyday life and have become a vast medium for the spread of information, entertainment and various other forms of content and are therefore widely represented in the tourist industry. It is through these social media networks that representations about a certain tourist destination are created and shared with a mass audience. Tourists often seek authentic experiences of traditional culture that are intensively promoted by government institutions, local tourist offices and other social media platforms such as travel blogs made by tourists from all over the world. “How does social media contribute to the construction of (staged) authenticity within Balinese culture and what is the significance of this in light of the Balinese philosophy Tri Hita Karana?”. The answer is best seen in the creation of the Kecak dance and the developments of the Tirta Empul temple. While the Kecak dance has been created as entertainment for tourists, it is very often presented as a traditional, cultural and historic performance, which becomes evident through the Instagram and travel blogs of tourists. The Balinese are thus effectively staging the dance as something authentic to their culture. However, it serves as good example of the Balinese Tri Hita Karana, by adapting in order to create a harmonious relationship between tourists and Balinese. Thus, one could in turn suggest that the Kecak dance can be seen as something authentic Balinese. The Tirta Empul temple is subject to the same process of harmonization, where tourists are allowed to enter and partake in the temple’s rituals. However, this temple is something inherently authentic, traditional, cultural, historic and sacred to Bali from the start, making the acceptance of unknowing tourists, who prioritize the aesthetic over substantive meaning, into this place a source of de-authentication. This also becomes clear when looking at the Instagram posts and travel blogs. Nevertheless, the same process of Tri Hita Karana that allows these tourists in this place, can be argued to turn such adaptation to foreigners into something authentically Balinese.Show less
This paper examines why the Indonesian government has a vested interest in protecting the current practice of Balinese Hinduism. It argues that the Indonesian government wants to protect Balinese...Show moreThis paper examines why the Indonesian government has a vested interest in protecting the current practice of Balinese Hinduism. It argues that the Indonesian government wants to protect Balinese Hinduism from external influences, because the tourism industry in Bali is extremely profitable and valuable to the Indonesian economy. Since it has been observed that tourists mainly come to Bali for its religious-cultural artifacts and heritage, it can be contested that invoking the monotheistic element of Pancasila justifies Balinese Hinduism’s continued existence as a unique religion and culture that should be preserved and protected from external influences such as radical Islam and Indian Hinduism. Therefore, this thesis has used secondary data analysis and qualitative research to prove that the tourist industry in Bali is very profitable and essential for the Indonesian economy and that different political strategies were employed to ensure that the Indonesian government can benefit from the preservation of Bali’s monotheistic hinduism.Show less
This thesis focusses on nine traditional Balinese paintings collected by Ir. T.A. Resink and purchased by the Museum Volkenkunde in 1971. By first identifying the nine paintings that protray the...Show moreThis thesis focusses on nine traditional Balinese paintings collected by Ir. T.A. Resink and purchased by the Museum Volkenkunde in 1971. By first identifying the nine paintings that protray the Arjunawiwaha story it is possible to give more insight into the relationship between the paintings and the textual tradition, and try to contextualize the paintings in their cultural setting.Show less
In 1846, 1848, en 1849 ondernam het Nederlands-Indisch gouvernement drie omvangrijke expedities naar het eiland Bali. Daarbij werd voor het eerst op grote schaal gebruikgemaakt van stoomschepen....Show moreIn 1846, 1848, en 1849 ondernam het Nederlands-Indisch gouvernement drie omvangrijke expedities naar het eiland Bali. Daarbij werd voor het eerst op grote schaal gebruikgemaakt van stoomschepen. Dit onderzoek richt zich op het maritieme element van de expedities, het nut van de stoomschepen daarbij en hoe dat doorgewerkt heeft in beeld en besluitvorming bij de marine. Dat laatste wordt onder meer gedaan aan de hand van een rapport van een commissie, onder leiding van Prins Hendrik, uit 1852. Hiermee wordt aangetoond dat de Bali-expedities en het gebruik van stoomschepen daarbij tot op zekere hoogte een scharnierpunt vormden voor de definitieve overstap van de Nederlandse marine van zeil naar stoom.Show less
Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
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Tolak Reklamasi Teluk Benoa”, freely translated as “reject the Benoa Bay reclamation”, is the slogan which can be seen on many posters and banners on the streets of Bali nowadays. Balinese locals...Show moreTolak Reklamasi Teluk Benoa”, freely translated as “reject the Benoa Bay reclamation”, is the slogan which can be seen on many posters and banners on the streets of Bali nowadays. Balinese locals are protesting against the Benoa Bay reclamation project, which is seen as the biggest mass tourism project in Bali. According to those who oppose the project, the reclamation endangers the physical and cultural landscape of the Balinese. Since 2013, the protest has turned into the largest civil protest, since the Reformasi era, against tourism development. Thousands of people have been protesting the $3 billion reclamation project at the offices of the Bali provincial government in Denpasar. In order to realize the Benoa Bay project, more than 700 hectares of water will be drained out of the former environmental protected zone. Many specialists argue that draining the bay will cause environmental, socio-cultural and political problems in Bali, so how and why is the project still in the running? what is the significance of the Benoa Bay reclamation project, and what are its implications?Show less
Bali has been the core tourist destination in Indonesia for decades. Besides economic growth, the tourism industry has created changes in the natural environment of the island, as well as in the...Show moreBali has been the core tourist destination in Indonesia for decades. Besides economic growth, the tourism industry has created changes in the natural environment of the island, as well as in the local human habitat of the Balinese society. This thesis investigates how the tourism industry in Bali has flourished since the 1970, by means of analysing government policies. Moreover, it researches how processes of solid waste management, water supply, and land conversion have been affected by the strong growth and expansion of the Balinese tourism industry. Lastly, this thesis demonstrates that practices of sustainable tourism are essential for Bali to remain a popular tourism destination.Show less
The purpose of this bachelor thesis is to analyse the effects of the community-based tourism model in several locations in Indonesia. The research is done through 4 case studies executed in Bali,...Show moreThe purpose of this bachelor thesis is to analyse the effects of the community-based tourism model in several locations in Indonesia. The research is done through 4 case studies executed in Bali, Komodo, Lombok and Java. The research is based on the question: “In what way has community-based tourism improved the economic position of selected local communities in Bali, Komodo, Lombok & Java? How has this affected the sustainability of the natural environment of these communities between 1995 and 2015?” The introduction gives a brief insight into the affiliations the author has to Indonesia and the growing concerns arising from the negative side effects tourism has on the environment. The thesis consists of 3 chapters: the first chapter addresses the theoretical framework in which community-based tourism is explained. The second chapter gives an overview of historic developments in economics and tourism in Indonesia and the plans the Indonesian government has for the future. The third chapter consists of the case studies. The conclusion summarises the main findings. The author points out the inconsistency in the execution of community-based projects by the Indonesian government and the lack of reliable data to measure the actual progress. Much attention is paid to the preservation of nature but the benefits of tourism for the local community is still somewhat lacking.Show less
Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
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The Hindu-Muslims relations are different in India and on Bali. The reason why this is, is the fact that ideologies in these areas when it comes to Hindus and Muslims dealing with each other differ...Show moreThe Hindu-Muslims relations are different in India and on Bali. The reason why this is, is the fact that ideologies in these areas when it comes to Hindus and Muslims dealing with each other differ. While in India the difference between the two groups are empathized and the inequality between the two religious groups is clear, on Bali it is the similarities between Hindus and Muslims that are stressed and there is no clear inequality between the two religious groups. Why the ideologies are different can be accounted for by the history of the two areas. In India, there was a time when Muslims invaded the country and ruled over them for more than three hundred years. It assumed by the Hindus in India that the Muslims in their country are descendants from the invaders and because of it they are enemies. On Bali, Muslims and Hindus have learned to live in harmony. They feel like they belong to one group. The economy on the island is dependent on an harmonious relationship between the two religious groups.Show less
This thesis discusses the paradox of tourism and culture in Bali. In the face of globalisation the island has changed over the years, often favouring economic values above cultural values. The main...Show moreThis thesis discusses the paradox of tourism and culture in Bali. In the face of globalisation the island has changed over the years, often favouring economic values above cultural values. The main research question will focus on how tourism has changed Balinese cultural diversity and to what extent.Show less
Bachelor thesis | South and Southeast Asian Studies (BA)
closed access
In my thesis I will look at two areas in Indonesia which are popular tourism destinations for both Indonesian and foreign tourists and which have experienced and still experience a considerable...Show moreIn my thesis I will look at two areas in Indonesia which are popular tourism destinations for both Indonesian and foreign tourists and which have experienced and still experience a considerable amount of tourist influx. Tana Toraja and Bali are both areas to which tourists are attracted because of the culture they can find there, including for example rituals, architecture and art performances. The tourists visit these places to see and experience something that is different from their daily lives, to break through the daily grind and experience something new. This is in accordance with the definition Valene Smith gives of a tourist: "a temporarily leisured person who voluntarily visits a place away from home for the purpose of experiencing a change" (1977: 2). The tourists, or guests, visit a place of which its inhabitants can be called the host community and of course there takes interaction place between these two groups of people. Tourism is a powerful medium affecting culture change and I want to examine in how far tourism affects culture in these two areas. Tourism growth in Tana Toraja and Bali started in the 1970s, during Suharto's Orde Baru, and these areas were explicitly named in the First and Second Five Year Plan and encouraged for tourism development. In the years after this the tourist influx in both areas grew exponentially, especially in the 1980s and 1990s, but it decreased in the years from 1997 because of political instability in Indonesia, and of course the Bali bombings in 2002 can't be ignored. So my time-frame will be from the 1970s until now, with the exception of some background information from before that time. In the case of Bali, when looking at tourism and cultural change, it is important to realize what this 'Balinese culture' actually is. Because in earlier times, Balinese culture has been influenced and inspired significantly by Western art and artists (and the other way around), like Walter Spies, and the kind of art that came about then still exists in the Bali of today. Culture is not something static, it is always subject to change and thus ever changing. So I will not discuss one 'kind of culture' in Tana Toraja and Bali respectively, but look at the process of culture change over time. Culture change doesn't always have to be because of outside influences, like tourism, but it can also happen from the inside. From what I've read until now, this is an important point concerning Tana Toraja. My thesis will not just be a one-way analysis of the positive and negative influences of tourism on these areas, but it will also be about how the hosts react and adjust themselves and their culture to the growing tourism in their homeland. There are different effects of tourism on the host community concerning religion, commercialization, the staging of culture, culture becoming art, cultural revivalism, self-image and pride, and I want to examine whether these things are taking place in Bali and Tana Toraja and if Bali responds differently to tourism then Tana Toraja and if so, why this could be. I already found that in Tana Toraja, as a result of nascent tourism, the ancestral religion or Aluk To Dolo has actually been granted legitimacy by the Ministry of Religion, which is interesting. I expect something similar happens in Bali to Hinduism. This is of course already a religion recognized by the Indonesian government, but as with Aluk To Dolo I believe it has gained a lot more political (on the national level) and outside interest and 'prestige' because of tourism. Besides that, the growth of commercial tours to Tana Toraja has supported a renewed interest in local ritual and artistic tradition, as is also true in Bali. Commercialization of religious rites in both areas is almost inevitable and I will further examine in what ways this is taking place. I will include the political context where necessary and the process of modernization and globalization also plays an important role. My expectation is that the effects of tourism in Tana Toraja in most cases parallel those in Bali, although in Bali on a bigger scale than in Tana Toraja, considering the amount of tourists visiting Bali every year. This may have the consequence that the process of culture change in Bali takes place more swiftly, and more gradually in Tana Toraja.Show less
