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Dua Milenium yang Hilang dari Indonesia - Asisi Suhariyanto | Endgame #145

Gita Wirjawan・67 minutes read

Fransiskus Asisi Suhariyanto's journey from childhood interest in Javanese culture to a career in media, focusing on the power of visual narratives in influencing positive change and educating the public, particularly through comics and historical narratives. The importance of presenting history engagingly, highlighting the impact of temples in reflecting the nation's cultural and spiritual prowess, and discussing leadership qualities and the need for strong institutions for societal progress and continuity.

Insights

Fransiskus Asisi Suhariyanto's childhood fascination with Javanese culture through comics and puppetry inspired his career in media, focusing on educational comics to positively influence the younger generation, particularly in rural areas.
Fransiskus emphasized the transformative power of visual narratives, like his controversial caricature, to spark conversations and confrontations, highlighting the importance of making educational content entertaining and accessible to all.
The historical and cultural richness of Indonesia, particularly Majapahit history and temple symbolism, underscores the importance of presenting history in engaging ways like music, animation, and comics to connect emotionally with audiences and foster unity and diversity.

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What sparked Fransiskus' interest in culture?
A comic about Semar, a Punakawan figure.

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Summary

00:00

Fransiskus Suhariyanto: Comic Creator and Activist

Fransiskus Asisi Suhariyanto, a content creator, recalls his childhood interest in culture sparked by a comic about Semar, a Punakawan figure.
As a child, Fransiskus was drawn to comics and puppetry, particularly Javanese wayang, leading him to pursue a career in media related to comics.
Fransiskus began his media career in 1995, working as an illustrator at Tilik Desa publication, focusing on village illustrations.
Transitioning to Suara Indonesia in 1998, Fransiskus faced a crisis when the government blamed the media for the country's issues, leading him to create a controversial caricature.
Fransiskus' caricature depicting the government and press blaming each other led to a confrontation with the military, highlighting the power of visual narratives.
Fransiskus resigned from Suara Indonesia and focused on educational comics during Indonesia's riots in May, aiming to influence the younger generation positively.
Fransiskus later joined an NGO, Rakyat Kuasa, where he worked on comic projects about democracy and human rights for beginners, aiming to educate the public through comics.
Fransiskus emphasized the importance of making educational content entertaining and accessible to all, particularly targeting rural communities.
Fransiskus believed in the transformative power of history and religion, leading him to create historical comics for young people to instill wisdom and enthusiasm for the future.
Fransiskus pursued a solo career in comics, pitching concepts to various publishers and eventually joining a publication in Sidoarjo, focusing on children's books to impact the nation positively.

15:31

"From Children's Books to Global Entrepreneurship"

The individual conducted research on children's books and encountered a crowded market.
Eventually, the individual was approved by a company and met their future spouse there.
The couple shared a love for media, popular culture, and aimed to educate children on history and science in an engaging manner.
After working together for a year, the individual resigned to establish their own studio, which unfortunately failed.
The individual's spouse continued working in publishing while they became a stay-at-home parent.
The trend at the time was working abroad as an illustrator due to the internet's efficiency.
The couple transitioned into entrepreneurship, founding a translation business called Vihayana Creative in 2015.
They traveled extensively, exploring various countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
During their travels, they encountered diverse cultures and reflected on the importance of unity within their own country, Indonesia.
The individual's experiences in conflict-ridden areas like Bosnia and Israel/Palestine highlighted the impact of war on humanity and reinforced the value of unity and diversity in Indonesia.

30:24

"Indonesia's Diversity Through Engaging Historical Videos"

In late 2019, with COVID approaching, the concept of showcasing Indonesia's diversity and tolerance through videos was developed.
Videos were chosen as the medium due to their popularity among Indonesians, especially the younger generation.
Travel restrictions during the lockdown led to the initiation of creating videos at home, starting with historical characters like Durga.
The interest in classical history, particularly Hindu Gods like Semar, was sparked by reading "Gajah Mada" by Pak Langit Kresna Hariadi.
The novel inspired a newfound appreciation for Majapahit history, leading to a deeper study of classical history.
The importance of presenting history in an engaging manner, such as through music, animation, and comics, to make it appealing to the public was emphasized.
The emotional connection to history, like that felt towards temples, was highlighted as a powerful tool to engage people with historical narratives.
The Sukuh Temple in Karanganyar, Central Java, was singled out as the most impressive due to its unique shape and fusion of local and Hindu-Buddhist influences.
The significance of temples like Borobudur and Prambanan in reflecting the architectural and spiritual prowess of the nation was discussed.
The concept of temples as symbols of loyalty and unity among regional kings in ancient Java was explored, showcasing the importance of temples in historical narratives.

45:37

Religious Literature in Southeast Asia Temples

Rakawi wrote literature for religious purposes, opening with worship and praise of Gods.
The literature served various purposes, including storytelling and praising kings.
The conclusion of the literature often includes well wishes for the author and copyist.
Classical literature on palm leaves was sacred and exclusively written by religious leaders.
Temples in Central Java are considered the embodiment of God's house, where God is believed to come into the world.
Stories found in temples on palm leaves are meant to cleanse sin and bring worshippers closer to God.
Literature, like the stories presented in temples, aims to bring prosperity and purity to readers.
The mindset shift in architecture and literature may be attributed to changes post-Majapahit era.
Southeast Asia has historically maintained peace, with a fatality rate based on ethnic, religious, or racial differences lower than in Europe.
Acculturation in Indonesia has led to peaceful coexistence and harmony, with a blend of outside influences and local traditions.

01:01:51

Recognizing cyclical patterns in history for progress.

Nature follows a cyclical pattern of rise and decline, repeating itself.
Literary sources mention the current Kaliyuga era, even during prosperous times like the Majapahit golden age.
The ancient Javanese possibly associated periods of conflict worldwide with the Kaliyuga era.
Studying history is crucial to recognizing patterns and adapting to changing times.
The ancient Javanese view the world as cyclical, not linear, with repeated patterns.
The possibility of reviving past peace and cultural glory is discussed.
Cultural success is measured by projecting and influencing culture globally.
Economic success involves trading and investing across borders.
Technology advancement includes downstreaming and actualizing knowledge.
Understanding history is deemed essential for the Indonesian public to progress.

01:19:04

"Law enforcement key to historical success"

The colonial period should not be used as an excuse for lack of progress; solutions should be sought instead of excuses.
Leadership issues in the first and second millennia are discussed, questioning whether figures like Raden Wijaya and Gajah Mada's success was due to luck or strong institutions.
Gajah Mada's influence and success were attributed to the strong system of law enforcement during his time, where everyone, regardless of status, was subject to the law.
Gajah Mada's ability to enforce the law without hesitation, even against high-ranking officials, was crucial to his success and leadership.
The collapse of Majapahit led to the loss of the strong legal system, which, if discovered earlier, could have been beneficial in solving contemporary issues.
The importance of law enforcement in producing success, both culturally and economically, is highlighted, emphasizing the need for upholding laws for societal progress.
The concept of creating a democratic framework with Indonesian characteristics is discussed, focusing on the importance of law enforcement and democratization in shaping the nation's character.
The necessity for leaders to prove themselves through conquest, law enforcement, and economic stability to maintain power and influence is emphasized.
The decline of Majapahit due to weak leadership and lack of institutional regeneration despite a strong legal system is analyzed, pointing out the importance of succession planning and guidance.
The significance of stability in the country for the construction of temples and cultural development is highlighted, showcasing the impact of strong institutions on continuity and regeneration.

01:35:37

Leadership and Succession in Indonesian History

Hayam Wuruk, a king, remained on his throne until his death, not appointing a successor, possibly due to a strong religious spirit.
Airlangga abdicated his throne, leading to chaos until he returned to stabilize the kingdom, showcasing the importance of strong leadership.
Gajah Mada's exceptional abilities allowed him to be replaced by multiple successors, highlighting the impact of individual charisma in governance.
Majapahit's meritocratic system selected the best individuals for leadership positions, emphasizing the importance of talent selection based on merit.
The colonial period is viewed as a disgrace, hindering the nation's progress, with a call to focus on the future and educate the younger generation about Indonesia's history.
History should be presented in an engaging manner to appeal to the youth, emphasizing the need to bridge academic data with public understanding for a better future.

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