WEAPONS OF THE SHADOW PUPPETS

klewang · 26th June 2011, 09:25 PM

These plays are certainly nice to watch, especially in Jawa at night, when you here the gamelan....

Sajen · 26th June 2011, 09:50 PM

I have seen it many times for a short time or in passing, when you don't understand something it is boring after short time (my personal sensation) and so far I know it went over a very long time, depend from what they are showing. And discreet spoken is the Gamelan music very strange for western ears!

But maybe one time I will look it longer.

Regards,

Detlef

Nathaniel · 27th June 2011, 01:35 AM

Vandoo,

Great post. I think it is very interesting to see the weapons portrayed with Shadow puppets

I agree it would be interesting to sit down and watch a show and compare the puppets movements to real usage...especially if the puppeteer was somewhat versed in martial forms...or would it be more than likely be just like modern movies today...exaggerated dramatics for the entertainment of the masses

Battara · 27th June 2011, 02:19 AM

OH I LOVE GAMELAN

(Javanese, Balinese, Moro, T'boli, etc)!

Nice to see puppet weapons- very interesting Barry!

A. G. Maisey · 27th June 2011, 09:36 AM

Wayang performances are something that requires a very special education to follow, understand and appreciate. It is an education that most of the last two generations living in Jawa lack, and it an education that I have never sought out nor do I have any desire at all to acquire it.

Even those who can understand a wayang performance, will in most cases not understand the language of the dalang, but they will know the story and can follow it. The dalang will intersperse his recitation of the wayang story with comedy and topical remarks, and for this he will use the local ngoko dialect, which in most cases is unintelligible to people from outside the local community, but it is perfectly understood by the locals. The same applies with the jokes and topical comment:- it is rare for an outsider to see anything funny at all in a dalang's jokes.

Personally, I find wayang performances enormously boring, even though I can usually understand the jokes and comments in ngoko. A typical performance will start in the early evening, and go through to daylight. Very few people stay all through the performance , they come and go, meet friends, have something to eat and drink, go home again. Its a social occasion more than a theatrical performance.

There is no doubt at all that the dalangs are extremely skilled artists, but I feel that wayang in Jawa has almost become art for the sake of art.

Probably in some out of the way rural communities it is still appreciated, especially by older people, but just about anybody under 50 in most urban environments would much rather watch a soapy on TV.

Gamelan is a bird of different feather, and depending on style and composition can be quite entertaining, however the scale used does take a bit of getting used to for somebody from a western culture.

Call me a peasant if you will, but after 50 odd years of fairly close contact with both gamelan and wayang, I'd rather watch Clint Eastwood, and I'd rather listen to Bob Dylan, or Pavarotti, and just about everything in between, than gamelan. But I do like kroncong.

David · 27th June 2011, 04:38 PM

Well personally i love gamelan music (and hate Pavarotti) and can listen to it just about anytime. It does something to my psyche that i just cannot explain.
As for wayang, i have only seen short bits of a few performances, though the shortness of my exposure was not due to boredom, but rather because i had other pressing matters to attend to. Personally i don't find any need to fully understand wayang to enjoy it, but i guess i'm funny that way...

A. G. Maisey · 28th June 2011, 12:09 AM

Gamelan has the undoubted ability to do something to my psyche too, David.

Especially when it is played at a wedding, and it continues non-stop for two days and nights, and you're laying in a sweat soaked bed trying to get to sleep.

By about 4am on the first night you feel like going and committing murder.

But then the Perang Mesjid starts, with the call to morning prayer from 6 or 8 mesjids within hearing range, all trying to outdo the others in volume and aggressiveness. So that night is a write-off.

By 4am on the second night you no longer have the mental capacity nor physical strength to commit murder.

On the third day you sleep all day.

Almost anything that is a bit out of the ordinary and exotic can be entertaining or amusing for a short time, but living up close and personal very often takes a major change in orientation.

However, yeah, sure, depending upon what the piece is, gamelan can be OK in limited doses, but try remembering a gamelan theme or melody. I cannot, and I've played music now for 60 years.

asomotif · 28th June 2011, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathaniel

I agree it would be interesting to sit down and watch a show and compare the puppets movements to real usage

No comparison I assume. Wayang puppets are rather stiff.
It might at the best look a little bit like Steven Seagal

26th June 2011, 09:25 PM	#1
klewang Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 23	These plays are certainly nice to watch, especially in Jawa at night, when you here the gamelan....

26th June 2011, 09:50 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,212	I have seen it many times for a short time or in passing, when you don't understand something it is boring after short time (my personal sensation) and so far I know it went over a very long time, depend from what they are showing. And discreet spoken is the Gamelan music very strange for western ears! But maybe one time I will look it longer. Regards, Detlef

27th June 2011, 01:35 AM	#3
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Vandoo, Great post. I think it is very interesting to see the weapons portrayed with Shadow puppets I agree it would be interesting to sit down and watch a show and compare the puppets movements to real usage...especially if the puppeteer was somewhat versed in martial forms...or would it be more than likely be just like modern movies today...exaggerated dramatics for the entertainment of the masses

27th June 2011, 02:19 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	OH I LOVE GAMELAN (Javanese, Balinese, Moro, T'boli, etc)! Nice to see puppet weapons- very interesting Barry!

27th June 2011, 09:36 AM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Wayang performances are something that requires a very special education to follow, understand and appreciate. It is an education that most of the last two generations living in Jawa lack, and it an education that I have never sought out nor do I have any desire at all to acquire it. Even those who can understand a wayang performance, will in most cases not understand the language of the dalang, but they will know the story and can follow it. The dalang will intersperse his recitation of the wayang story with comedy and topical remarks, and for this he will use the local ngoko dialect, which in most cases is unintelligible to people from outside the local community, but it is perfectly understood by the locals. The same applies with the jokes and topical comment:- it is rare for an outsider to see anything funny at all in a dalang's jokes. Personally, I find wayang performances enormously boring, even though I can usually understand the jokes and comments in ngoko. A typical performance will start in the early evening, and go through to daylight. Very few people stay all through the performance , they come and go, meet friends, have something to eat and drink, go home again. Its a social occasion more than a theatrical performance. There is no doubt at all that the dalangs are extremely skilled artists, but I feel that wayang in Jawa has almost become art for the sake of art. Probably in some out of the way rural communities it is still appreciated, especially by older people, but just about anybody under 50 in most urban environments would much rather watch a soapy on TV. Gamelan is a bird of different feather, and depending on style and composition can be quite entertaining, however the scale used does take a bit of getting used to for somebody from a western culture. Call me a peasant if you will, but after 50 odd years of fairly close contact with both gamelan and wayang, I'd rather watch Clint Eastwood, and I'd rather listen to Bob Dylan, or Pavarotti, and just about everything in between, than gamelan. But I do like kroncong.

27th June 2011, 04:38 PM	#6
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Well personally i love gamelan music (and hate Pavarotti) and can listen to it just about anytime. It does something to my psyche that i just cannot explain. As for wayang, i have only seen short bits of a few performances, though the shortness of my exposure was not due to boredom, but rather because i had other pressing matters to attend to. Personally i don't find any need to fully understand wayang to enjoy it, but i guess i'm funny that way...

28th June 2011, 12:09 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Gamelan has the undoubted ability to do something to my psyche too, David. Especially when it is played at a wedding, and it continues non-stop for two days and nights, and you're laying in a sweat soaked bed trying to get to sleep. By about 4am on the first night you feel like going and committing murder. But then the Perang Mesjid starts, with the call to morning prayer from 6 or 8 mesjids within hearing range, all trying to outdo the others in volume and aggressiveness. So that night is a write-off. By 4am on the second night you no longer have the mental capacity nor physical strength to commit murder. On the third day you sleep all day. Almost anything that is a bit out of the ordinary and exotic can be entertaining or amusing for a short time, but living up close and personal very often takes a major change in orientation. However, yeah, sure, depending upon what the piece is, gamelan can be OK in limited doses, but try remembering a gamelan theme or melody. I cannot, and I've played music now for 60 years.