Discovery Channel -- "Keris: The Myth & The Magic"

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Rick

Record it Miguel. DVR.

Rick, I'll see what I can do

Originally Posted by David

Well i'm hoping that the quality of the show is a mite better than the "keris" they chose for the illustration of the show on this site.
http://www.astro.com.my/program/default.asp?i=29639&m=8
Would be cool to see though.

David, I don't remember seeing that horrible piece in the docu. Maybe it's a piece that Astro.com just came up with.

In any case as you said, it will be better if the keris experts in the forum can see the docu. For sure you'll be the better judge

PS - As the title suggests, the docu. is slanted towards the mystical aspect of the keris. But in the interviews of the keris makers & Malaysian collectors, the non-mystical (i.e., technical) aspects were mentioned as well.

[PenangsangII]

I saw it last nite..... to me it's nothing new.... sort of disappointed as well. The collecters depicted in the program were all "nothern peninsular" school... so nothing academic was expected

[Alam Shah]

Just saw the screening.. Overall, it's ok I guess, bearing in mind the scope, "The Myth and The Magic". One should see it from an anthropology viewpoint. Steep in legends, religion, cult culture and shamanism.. with interviews with some old kerismakers, collectors, professors and cultural observers.

However, I feel that the explanation of the myth and magic was too little for one whom is not familiar with the culture. Perhaps, the objective was just a brief intro..

[Battara]

Sounds disappointing.........

[PenangsangII]

Originally Posted by Alam Shah

Just saw the screening.. Overall, it's ok I guess, bearing in mind the scope, "The Myth and The Magic". One should see it from an anthropology viewpoint. Steep in legends, religion, cult culture and shamanism.. with interviews with some old kerismakers, collectors, professors and cultural observers.

However, I feel that the explanation of the myth and magic was too little for one whom is not familiar with the culture. Perhaps, the objective was just a brief intro..

I have to totally agree with Shahrial..... what a dissappointment. The producer had a good chance actually to expose the so-called Malaysian perspective of keris but he blew it

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by PenangsangII

I have to totally agree with Shahrial..... what a dissappointment. The producer had a good chance actually to expose the so-called Malaysian perspective of keris but he blew it

To me, it's not a disappointment, but rather, could be made better.. perhaps exploring some of the malay keris forms such as the tajong, coteng.. the distinct terengganu malela, etc.. the use of javanese keris in some of the re-enactment scenes could be improved.. there was an instance, where a keris collector showed what seems to be a javanese naga piece with gold-work, talking about the origin of kinatah/tinatah works.. while here we are talking about malay legends, malay keris.. hmmm..

[Rafngard]

Just wanted to add that the passable documentary in its entirety seems to be on youtube now, with what I think are Malay subtitles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUNg_Ah2-XY

Have fun,
Leif

[David]

Thanks Leif...though i'm not so sure i'm really sorry i was unable to watch this sooner...