Study Guide
Shadow Puppet Theatre
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University:
University of Michigan -
Course:
ASIAN 338 | Humanities Topics in South Asian Studies Academic year:
2021
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Views:
346
Pages:
30
Author:
Gleisenaucp
Indonesia: Javanese Gamelan and
Shadow Puppet Theatre
(Wayang Kulit) Indonesia
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Consists of a archepeligo of several thousand islands
of which Java is the largest.
During colonial times Indonesia was known as the
Dutch East Indies
Consists of many diverse languages and cultures.
The development of a common national language
“Indonesian” made it possible to build the unity
needed to win the revolution against the Dutch
(1945-1949).
Major religions include: Hindu/Buddhism; Islam; and
Christianity. Javanese Gamelan Performance:
Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet theatre) Wayang Kulit
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All night shadow puppet show: goes from approx.
9:00 PM until 6:00 AM
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Led by a master story-teller, musician, puppeteer
called a Dhalang
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Plot consists of material from taken from two epic
stories: the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana.
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Although these stories have Indian origins, they have
been reinterpreted based upon the rivalries between
kingdoms that existed at one time within Indonesia. Wayang Kulit
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Pathet Nem: Plot begins with and introduction of the
key characters and a conflict arises between two
feuding families, one portrayed as good and the other
as evil.
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Pathet Sanga: Hero goes into the forest to meditate
and struggle to solve the conflict. During this lull in
the plot, a set of “clown scenes” take place to
entertain the children before they have to leave to go
home and sleep
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Pathet Manyura: Great battles are waged and the hero
arises triumphant: Good conquers Evil. The Dhalang - puppeteer The Gamelan behind the Dhalang Wayang characters are (roughly) divided
into seven types:
halus (refined);
gagah (vigorous);
gusen (coarse);
putri (women);
danawa (ogres);
wanara (monkeys) and
dhagelan (clowns)
In addition to these, there are puppets representing:
the tree of life (kayon),
various animals (horses, elephants, tigers etc),
and props (swords, arrows, daggers, letters etc).
There are differences of size as well as form.
These character types apply not only to puppet design,
but to accompanying gamelan pieces,
terms of address used in dialogue,
puppet movement and voice characterization as well. Kayon: tree of life Halus: Refined Characters Gusen, Gagah, and Danawa :
Course Characters Dhagelan: Comic Characters used in
Clown Scenes Conflict between a wanara and a halus
character Javanese Social Order
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For the Javanese, however, the cosmos is not only
teaming with life and living energy, but is also
elaborately ranked and ordered. Java has never had a
caste system. Yet something of the pure idea of caste,
shorn of its rigid Indian barbarities and with greater
emphasis upon function than on birth, struck and
maintained strong roots as the appropriate symbolic
expression of a hierarchical community.
(Benedict R. O’G. Anderson. Mythology and the Tolerance of
the Javanese. Jakarta & Kuala Lumpur: Equinox Publishing,
2009:17-18) Javanese Social Order
Implicit in an unequal hierarchical social order is the idea that
each rank or level has its own particular functions within the
social structure . . .
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The king: communicates with the supernatural powers and
secures their benevolence [goodwill or kindness];
The brahmånå: perform the rituals of the state and transmit
the culture of the community to the next generation;
The satryå: have the duty of administering the government and
protecting the state from external attack;
The traders: maintain economic prosperity;
The artisans: construct the material apparatus of the
civilization.
(Anderson 2009: 18) Social Order & Morality
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Out of the concept of function there now emerges the idea of
morality. Precisely, because all functions are interrelated, and
because each order is essential to the others, social approval
for individuals within each order depends on how adequately
they fulfill their order’s functions. (Anderson 2009:18)
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The satryå: who behaves perfectly in the artisan “manner” is a
bad satryå, regardless of the good work that he may in fact do.
The trader: who lives as a trader is a better member of society
than the trader who leads the life of an ascetic brahmånå.
So there develops a stratification of moralities according to
caste and class, each of which may be in contrast or conflict
with the others. (Anderson 2009:18)
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Although the ethical requirements of each life-style in the
wayang may be rigid and austere, the existence of a plurality
of such life-styles, each with its own code of behavior, gives
the wayang world a wide variety of psychological contrasts, a
sumptuous array of characters, and, on occasion, an
unmatched moral poignancy. (Anderson 2009:18)
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Moral pluralism suffuses the whole world of wayang. For
example, the criticism leveled at the kuråwå [family] is not
that they are bad men but bad satryå. The hero Adipatu Karnå
fights on the kuråwå side but is approved of because he lives
and dies as a real satryå should. (ibid.) Character Development in Wayang
Characters of wayang are not simply divided into
Left and Right, Kuråwå and Pendåwå, gods, kings,
brahmånå, satryå, princesses, giants, apes, and
clowns, each with their own style and way of life.
Each of these general categories contains within itself
a wide range of personalities, which must be
analyzed, however summarily, in their aspect as
human types and as bearers of contrasting values.
(Anderson 2009:23) Examples of Wayang Characters
Judistira: The eldest of the
Pandawa brothers. He is a pure type
of the Good King and his humility
is sown by the “gentle introspective
inclination of his head” as well as
his simple attire. “He never raises
his voice in anger, never fights, and
never rejects a request from
anyone, however humble. His time
is spent in meditation and the
accumulation of wisdom. Unlike
other heroes, whose chief magical
attributes are weapons, Judistira’s
sacred heirloom in the mysterious
Kalimasada, a holy text containing
the secrets of religion and the
universe.” (Anderson 2009: 23). Examples of Wayang Characters
Bimå (second Pandawa brother): “is
the most feared of warriors, creating
havoc with his terrible club and
atrocious fingernails. He distains to
ride in a chariot and strides through
forests and deserts and over
mountains and seas without any
difficulty. He bows to no one.
Merciless to his enemies, gigantic,
ungainly, heavily muscled, hairy,
with protruding eyes and thunderous
voice, he is a complete contrast to
his elder brother. Nevertheless, his
unswerving honesty, loyalty,
fortitude, and military skill make
him among the most admired figures
in wayang” (Anderson 2009: 24). Examples of Wayang Characters
Arjunå (third Pandawa brother):
“Unequaled warrior in the
battlefield, yet physically delicate
and beautiful as a girl, tenderhearted yet iron-willed, a hero
whose wives and mistresses are
legion yet who is capable of the
most extreme discipline with a deep
feeling for family loyalty who yet
forces himself to kill his own half –
brother, he is to the older
generation of Javanese, the epitome
of the whole man . . . he represents
the physical grace and gentleness of
heart prized by [the
Javanese]” (Anderson 2009: 25). Examples of Wayang Characters
Dewi Kunti: is the mother of
the three eldest Pandawa
sons. Her refinement is
evident in the position of her
head (averted downward
gaze), her overall body
posture, and her style of
dress. She is known as a wise
and perceptive who has
attempted to guide her sons
through the difficult struggle
of succession for the throne
of Hastina. In return, her sons
are loving and unfailingly
obedient. Examples of Wayang Characters
Dewi Srikandi: is the exact
opposite of the refined, humble
female who lives in the shadow of
her husband. Srikandi is “talkative,
strong willed, warm-hearted, fond
of hunting an excellent archer, she
is quite ready to debate with [her
husband] Ardjunå or take on a
passing satryå in battle. She enjoys
travelling about Java, either in
search of her periodically missing
husband or seeking adventures of
her own . . . For the Javanese,
Srikandi is the honored type of the
active, energetic, disputatious,
generous, go-getting
woman” (Anderson 2009: 36). Examples of Wayang Characters
Betari Durgå: “is the goddess of
violence, darkness, and death. Her
abode is in Sétrågåndåmaju where
she holds sway over ghosts,
vampires, and other malevolent
spirits. In the lakons she is always
associated with the Left (Kuråwå)
faction and unceasingly schemes to
destroy the Pendåwå. Most dreaded
of Gods, even her husband, Batårå
Guru, cannot prevail against her
will. It is only Semar before whom
she flees in helpless
terror” (Anderson 2009: 47). Examples of Wayang Characters
Kresnå: “is part God, an incarnation
of the mighty Wisnu. He is the
consummate politician, diplomat,
and strategist of war. By far the most
intellectually brilliant of the
Pendåwå faction, it is Kresnå who
makes their final victory possible.
On the other hand, he is a
conscienceless liar and an
unscrupulous schemer who never
hesitates to break the rules when he
feels it necessary. Though a satryå,
he repeatedly ignores the lesser
values of the satryå class. Only duty
to carry out the will of the gods and
his own destiny claim his
allegiance” (Anderson 2009: 25). Examples of Wayang Characters
Radèn Kumbåkarnå: “Similar to Karnå
in his outlook and morality, Radèn
Kumbåkarnå, hero of the Ramayana, also
dies to defend a king whom he realizes
has dishonored his position . . . The main
difference between Karnå and
Kumbåkarnå is one of physical type.
Kumbåkarnåis the most colossal of giants
and is the largest wayang puppet of all,
sometimes one and a half meters in
height. He is the monstrous giant type in
extreme form, with brutal red features,
bulbous nose, hyperthyroid eyes, clumsy,
hairy torso, and wolf-like fangs. These
are all physical characteristics which the
Javanese find repugnant. Yet
Kumbåkarnå is among the best-loved
wayang figures, and the prize example of
inner nobility and purity belying external
appearance” (Anderson 2009: 31). Examples of Wayang Characters
Dahjang Durnå: “is a brahmånå,
magician, and teacher. When they were
still boys, both Kuråwå and Pandåwå
learnt the arts of war from him, and to the
end he retains a deep affection of his
favorate pupil Ardjunå, though they are
arrayed on opposite sides in the Last
War. The tendency in wayang today is to
portray him as a half-sinister, half-comic
figure, but this is not the older, traditional
perspective. He was then Kresnå’s great
adversary, but with the Gods against him
and without Kresnå’s divinity . . . In the
long struggle between Kuråwå and
Pandåwå, he matches Kresnå trick for
trick, stratagem for stratagem.” Similar
to Kresnå, “he stands outside the satryå
code,” obeying a higher morality
(Anderson 2009: 31). Kjai Lurah Semar: is the most venerable of the
punåkawan (clown) class of characters.
“Partly this is because Semar, though a
humble and comical character, is yet the most
powerful of Gods, so that the Lord Shiwa
himself, Batårå Guru, must on occasion
submit to him. Partly it is just because he is a
clown, a man of the people, to whom the rules
of satryå behavior do not apply, and who by
his presence alone offers an implied criticism
of the whole range of satryå values. Partly it
is because Semar is the physical denial of the
satryå type. He is immensely fat, with heavy
breasts and a vast behind. He is ornamented
like a woman, his clothes are those of a man,
yet his face is that of neither man nor woman.
He is the repository of the highest wisdom, yet
this flashes from in between his gentle jokes,
his clowning, and even his persistent,
uncontrollable farting. Anyone who has
witnessed a Javanese shadow-play will recall
the wave of deep affection and respect which
flows out of the audience towards Semar when
he appears” (Anderson 2009: 37). Playon “Lasem” a scene from a Wayang
Kulit performance
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Dhalang knocks on the puppet chest to signal the gamelan
musicians to begin playing.
Begins in “soft style” (complete with a female singer:
pesindhén) but then speeds up and gets loud at the end of the
first phrase.
Completes the entire gendhing, begins to repeat but then is
interrupted by the puppeteer banging on metal plaques as he
engages the characters in a fight.
Drumming and banging on the metal plaques continues until
the dhalang performs a pattern of knocks on his wooden box to
signal the gamelan to move toward the ending phrase.
Knocks continue as gamelan musicians continue to slow down
and begin their transition to the next piece.
Shadow Puppet Theatre
of 30
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