Seminar by Professor Sumarsam| ‘Java-Islam-global encounters in wayang and religious propagation’

Java’s long process of Islamization has given rise to rich variations in the content and context of the performing arts through the “mixing and matching” of Islam with Java-Hindu ritual contexts, stories in wayang puppet theatre, and musical practices. The recently-emerged radical wahabi movement and the localized incorporation of Western-influenced, global cultural trends has questioned this mix-matched, hybridized forms of cultural expression. Yet, Java continues to have many thriving artistic traditions. In some cases, long-forgotten regional performing arts connected with the creation of Islamic saints (wali) have been revived, marking a Java-Islam cultural distinction. In a similar vein, certain ulama incorporate wayang puppet plays in their preaching, presenting an Islamic interpretation of Java-Hindu stories. I will discuss this development in terms of the hybridized forms and transreligion/ transculturalisms inherent in Javanese Islamic cultural expression.

Sumarsam (Professor of Music, Wesleyan University) has played Javanese gamelan since childhood. He is also a keen amateur dhalang (puppeteer) of wayang puppet play. His research focuses on the history, theory, and performance practice of gamelan and wayang, and on Indonesia-Western encounter theme and more recently on the intersections between religion and performing arts.