This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance.(November 2022) ( Learn how and when to remove this message )
Okky Madasari
Okky Madasari in 2024
Born
(1984-10-30) 30 October 1984 (age39) Magetan, East Java, Indonesia
Okky Madasari (born October 30th, 1984) is an Indonesian novelist and sociologist known for her portrayals of the social and political conditions in Indonesia. She writes on resistance against injustice and the struggle for freedom and humanity and is the youngest writer to have won the Khatulistiwa Literary Award, a major Indonesian honor.[1]
Madasari was born on October 30th, 1984, in Magetan, East Java, Indonesia. She graduated from Gadjah Mada University’s International Relations Department in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in political science. After her graduation, she pursued a career as a journalist and writer. In 2012, Madasari began a master's program in sociology from the University of Indonesia. She graduated in July 2014 with a thesis titled Genealogi Novel Indonesia: Kapitalisme, Islam dan Sastra Perlawanan (Genealogy of Indonesian Novels: Capitalism, Islam and Critical Literature).[2]
In August 2019, Madasari began work on her PhD thesis on cultural censorship in Indonesia's post-totalitarian era. She is writing the thesis under a full scholarship from the National University of Singapore.[1]
Novels
Madasari's novels focus on questions around human rights and freedom, describing struggles against any form of repression. Madasari is seen as a realist.
Apsanti Djokosujatno, an Indonesian literary critic from the University of Indonesia, stated that Madasari's works are already categorized as canon and will be considered classics. Djokosujatno goes further to dub Madasari as the next Pramoedya Ananta Toer.[3]
Madasari's first novel, Entrok (2010), is set during the dictatorship of Suharto's regime and details how Indonesians struggled to survive under the oppression of the military.[4] Her second novel, 86 (2011), describes corruption within the country and among its civil servants.[5] The novel was shortlisted as top five in the Khatulistiwa Literary Award in 2011.
Her third novel, Maryam (2012), focuses on the persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in Indonesia and won a major Indonesian literary prize, the Khatulistiwa Literary Award.[6] At the age of 28, Madasari is the youngest ever to win the award. Both of her previous novels had been shortlisted for the award as well. Maryam was also translated into English and released under the title of The Outcast in March 2014.
Pasung Jiwa is her fourth novel and was released in May 2013. It addresses an individual's struggle to break free from their personal limitations as well as societal restrictions, such as traditions, religion, government, and economic dominance by the rich. The novel was shortlisted by the Khatulistiwa Literary Award in 2013.[7][8]Pasung Jiwa was also translated into English under the title Bound in July 2014 and translated into German under the title Gebunden. In 2019, it was translated into Arabic and published in Egypt.
Her fifth novel, Kerumunan Terakhir, was published in May 2016. In the novel, Madasari emphasizes how digital phenomena and social media can take over people's lives and the risk of conflating reality with the virtual world.[9] The novel was translated into English under the title The Last Crowd.
Short stories
In 2017, she published her first anthology of short stories titled Yang Bertahan dan Binasa Perlahan (Resisting and Fading Away), which covered various issues influential to Indonesia, and summarized her short story writing from the past decade.[10] The stories in the collection follow themes related to the personal and private life of an individual, conflict in families, political corruption, and religious hypocrisy in Indonesia.
Children's novels
Inspired by her daughter's nightly request for a bedtime story, Madasari embarked on writing novels for children in early 2018, and finished her first children's novel, Mata di Tanah Melus (Mata in the Land of Melus) in the middle of the same year. The novel tells a story about adventure of 12-year-old Matara and her mother in a fantasy world in Belu, East Nusa Tenggara. The novel becomes the first of children adventure series, called Mata Series,[11] and has been well received both by the public and literary critics, with one analyst praising it as a progressive work important to Indonesia's children literature.[12]
The second book in the series, Mata dan Rahasia Pulau Gapi (Mata and the Secret of Gapi Island), is based on Madasari'as trip to Ternate Island. In the novel, Matara and her new friends try to help save the great legacies of Ternate Island, which Madasari establishes as a crucial place in world history.[13][14]
In early 2019, Madasari published the third novel of the series , Mata dan Manusia Laut (Mata and the Sea People), based on her trip to Wakatobi Island in Southeast Sulawesi. The fourth and the final book of the series, called Mata di Dunia Purba (Mata in the Old World) is currently[when?] being written.
Each of the three books has become bases for various academic and thesis writing, with different aspects of the book being raised as important part for children.[15][16]
Non-fiction book
In December 2019, Madasari published her first non-fiction book titled Genealogi Sastra Indonesia: Kapitalisme, Islam dan Sastra Perlawanan (Genealogy Indonesian Literature: Capitalism, Islam and Critical Literature) in the form of a free digital book in her official website.[17] The popularity of the book, which is based on Madasari's master's thesis, caused the website to temporarily crash.
The book has received very positive reviews from critics,[18] with one writing that it is the first attempt since Ariel Heryanto's 1985 book Perdebatan Sastra Konstektual (Debating Contextual Literature) to discuss Indonesian literature seriously and comprehensively.[19]
Personal views
Madasari has written a number of essays on various issues for Indonesian and international media.
In her essay for the Griffith Review titled "Islam, Capitalism and Literature" in 2015, she criticizes the penetration of Islamic fundamentalist teachings into fiction, especially novels. She argues that publishers focus on book sales rather than content[20] and warns of the death of serious literature and the wider exposure of young Indonesians to fundamentalism. She also wrote an article on the same issue for Jakarta Post titled "Questioning Islamic Label of Books and Films," which criticized the use of Islam in cultural products and argued instead that these books and films are not Islamic at all.[21] Madasari also speaks out against pressure for women and girls to wear the hijab in her Jakarta Post article, citing the fact that the authorities actually require students to wear a hijab in school, and stating that those not wearing a hijab are facing bullying and threats.[22]
Madasari also criticizes rising women's activism driven by strict and fundamentalist interpretation of Islam, stating that such a morally based activism is arbitrary, and is often against public interests.[23]
She is very active in fighting against blasphemy law in many of her writings, arguing that it legalizes and legitimizes hatred and violates basic human rights.[24]
She has demanded the revision of the national curriculum to better address the mass killings of 1965-66 and urges Indonesian authorities to officially acknowledge the massacre, and apologize to the victims.[25]
On regional issues, she believes that a true and genuine bond of people in Southeast Asia can only be achieved through cultural and literary exchanges.[28] She also writes about the Australian intellectual contribution to Indonesia, praising Australian scholars for their influence on the country's critical minds.[29]
In several interviews and speeches, Madasari has stated that she is influenced by Karl Marx and Michel Foucault,[30] but that above all she believes in individual freedom and human creativity.[31][32][32]
Academic
Madasari graduated from Gadjah Mada University's International Relations Department in 2005 with bachelor's degree in political science. In 2012, she pursued her master's degree in sociology with the University of Indonesia, and graduated in July 2014.
In 2017, Madasari was selected by the US government to represent Indonesia for the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa, US, from August to October 2017, where she engaged in various programs with local community, including speaking about Indonesia's culture to local and international audiences. That year, the program celebrated its half-century anniversary.[33]
From January to June 2018, Madasari was resident writer and visiting fellow by the National University of Singapore (NUS). She delivered speeches about literature and society in front of Singaporean audiences at various venues, including schools, art and community centers.
Madasari is a PhD candidate with the Malay Studies Department of NUS under a research scholarship from the university since 2019. She was also awarded the Dean's Fellowship, an award of the NUS, which is only offered to the top incoming PhD students[34] She is now doing her PhD thesis on censorship and knowledge production in Indonesia after the fall of Suharto. She believes that rather than disappearing, censorship in post-Suharto Indonesia has been more frequent, especially in the Joko Widodo presidency.[35][36] She has been expressing how proud and honored she has been to be with the Malay Studies Department, which she says is among the first, if not the first, to seriously develop social theories by using local and indigenous sources of knowledge as opposed to being dependent on Western sources.[37]
Global activism
In 2017, Madasari was invited to speak at the Berlin International Literature Festival in Germany about her works as well as about Indonesia in general.[38] In 2016, Madasari was invited by University of Warwick in United Kingdom to speak about the role of culture and literature in forging ASEAN prosperity and unity. In 2015, she was invited by the Austrian government to speak at the Islam and Women's Contemporary Literature in Hittisau, Austria. In October that year, she was one of Indonesian writers featured at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where Indonesia was the guest of honor. In 2014, she was invited to speak about literature and society at the Douarnenez Film Festival in France.
Madasari has been invited to speak at Singapore Writer Festival, Philippine Literary Festival and Kuala Lumpur Book Fair. She co-founded the ASEAN Literary Festival in 2014 and is the program director of the festival. In 2019, Madasari was nominated for Southeast Asia's Women of the Future Awards for her contribution in advancement of the region's culture.[39]
ASEAN Literary Festival
In 2014 Madasari co-founded (with Indonesian journalist Abdul Khalik) the ASEAN Literary Festival, which aims to introduce ASEAN writers and their works to the global world while providing a medium for writers to exchange ideas and works. The first ASEAN Literary Festival took place in Jakarta in March 2014. The festival quickly became one of the region's most important annual cultural events.[40]
In 2016, the Indonesian police tried to ban the festival by withdrawing the permit it had previously issued due to protests from organisations against the festival's discussions of LGBT issues and the 1965 Communist massacre.[41][42][43]
Expert witness
In her commitment to freedom of expression and fighting against censorship as well as protection of minorities, Madasari has become an expert witness for students of University of Sumatera Utara in a recent censorship case in Sumatera Utara Administrative Court against the university's rector who dissolved the whole editorial team of a student press, Suara USU, because of the publication of a short story.[44][45]
Omong-Omong Media is a platform founded by Okky Madasari. This platform is part of OMGroup, which also includes OMG! My Story and OM Institute. Omong-Omong Media provides an alternative space for information and discourse, focusing on essays, fiction, and poetry on a variety of topics and perspectives.
The platform is based on the spirit of "omong-omong," which means chatting or conversing, and aims to transform casual talks into more structured and in-depth writings.
OM Institute
OM Institute is an educational platform under the OMGroup, which also includes Omong-Omong Media and OMG! My Story. OM Institute offers a variety of courses and workshops focused on writing, creative content, and personal development.
Some of the programs they offer include:
•Writing Fiction: A course covering the basics of writing fiction.
•Private Mentoring: Personalized mentoring for projects like novels, short story, and opinion writing.
Advanced Essay Writing with AI: Exploring how AI can assist in writing essays.
•Writing Retreats: Intensive writing retreats to help writers focus and complete their projects.
OM Institute aims to nurture creativity and provide tools for writers to develop their skills and produce high-quality content.
Bibliography
Entrok/The Years of The Voiceless (2010)
86 (2011)
Maryam/The Outcast (2012)
Pasung Jiwa/Bound (2013)
Kerumunan Terakhir/The Last Crowd (2016)
Yang Bertahan dan Binasa Perlahan (2017)
Mata di Tanah Melus (2018)
Mata dan Rahasia Pulau Gapi (2018)
Mata dan Manusia Laut (2019)
Genealogi Sastra Indonesia: Kapitalisme, Islam dan Sastra Perlawanan (2019)
Mata dan Nyala Api Purba (2021)
Related Research Articles
Sapardi Djoko Damono was an Indonesian poet known for lyrical poems, and who was widely regarded as the pioneer of lyrical poetry in Indonesia. He died in South Tangerang, Banten on 19 July 2020 after a long illness.
Dian Paramita Sastrowardoyo, better known as Dian Sastro, is an Indonesian actress and model. She is known for her lead role as Cinta in the Indonesian 2001 film Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?
Indonesian literature is a term grouping various genres of South-East Asian literature.
Seno Gumira Ajidarma is an Indonesian author of short stories, novels, essays, and movie scripts. He is also known as a journalist, photographer and lecturer. He won the 1997 S.E.A. Write Award. Some of his well-known short stories are Manusia Kamar (1988), Penembak Misterius (1993), Saksi Mata (1994), Dilarang Menyanyi di Kamar Mandi (1995), Sebuah Pertanyaan untuk Cinta (1996) and Iblis Tidak Pernah Mati (1999).
Laksmi Pamuntjak is an Indonesian novelist, poet, journalist and food critic based in Jakarta. In 2016, she won the LiBeraturpreis for the German translation of her debut novel, Amba/The Question of Red. In 2018, the movie adaptation of her second novel, Aruna dan Lidahnya, won two prizes at the Festival Film Indonesia. In 2020, her third novel, Fall Baby, won the Singapore Book Award for Best Literary Work. She also writes widely on culture and politics including for the Jakarta Post and the Indonesian newsmagazine Tempo, as well as international publications such as South China Morning Post and the Guardian.
Budi Darma was an Indonesian writer, essayist, and academic.
Afrizal Malna, is an Indonesian activist, writer of prose, poetry, and theatrical texts.
Happy Salma is an Indonesian actress, theater producer and jewelry entrepreneur. In 2020, Tatler Asia named her as one of the most influential figures in Asia.
Djenar Maesa Ayu, also known as Nay, is an Indonesian novelist, short story writer, actress, screenwriter, and filmmaker. Her work has variously been described as "provocative and lurid", and unique and brave. Because of the boldness of the topics she writes about, Ayu is considered to a member of the informal movement labeled sastra wangi.
Iwan Martua Lokot Dongan Simatupang, more commonly known as Iwan Simatupang was an Indonesian novelist, poet and essayist.
Sastra wangi is a label given to a new body of Indonesian literature written by young, urban Indonesian women who take on controversial issues such as politics, religion and sexuality. Initiating the movement was writer Ayu Utami's best-selling first novel, Saman (1998), a contemporary view of Indonesian society published two weeks before the downfall of President Suharto. Large numbers of similar works by young women have followed.
Fiksimini, also spelled fiksi mini, is an Indonesian internet community based on Twitter in which followers or fans write short compositions to pique reader interest. Its participants are known as Fiksiminiers.
Mira Widjaja (Wong), or Mira W., is a highly popular Indonesian author. In spite of her background being an ethnic Chinese of Cantonese extraction from the Peranakan Chinese diaspora community, her work now reaches audiences from the entire country. Her father, Othniel, was among the pioneers of the Indonesian movie industry. She writes in an accessible genre, and deals with topics such as romance, crime and hospital life. She was a medical doctor before establishing herself as a writer.
Di Bawah Lindungan Ka'bah is the 1938 debut novel of the Indonesian author Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah (1908–1981). Written while the author worked in Medan as the editor of an Islamic weekly magazine, the novel follows the doomed romance of a young Minang couple from different social backgrounds. Generally praised for its simple yet eloquent diction, the novel has been twice adapted into film, first in 1977 and then in 2011.
Floribertus Rahardi is a poet and a journalist.
Philipus Joko Pinurbo, commonly known by the nickname Jokpin, was an Indonesian poet. His works were deemed innovative for their use of humour and everyday objects, as well as simple language, to touch on contemporary social issues. His poems, which are spread amongst various media as well as over a dozen collections, have been described as amongst the most widely read of Indonesian poetry.
Fatimah Busu is a Malaysian novelist, short-story writer, and academic. She is one of the leading contemporary authors of fiction in the Malay language, actively publishing since the 1970s. She is also the foremost Malay-language literary critic.
Korrie Layun Rampan was an Indonesian novelist, short story writer, poet, literary critic, journalist, and politician.
Muhammad Ainun Nadjib, best known as Emha Ainun Nadjib or Cak Nun/Mbah Nun, is an Indonesian poet, essayist, kyai, ulama, and humanist. Born in Jombang, East Java, Nadjib began writing poetry while living in Yogyakarta, publishing his first collection in 1976. He became one of the city's predominant poets by the late 1980s, and by then had also began writing essays. He is the leader of the Kiai Kanjeng group, which stages dramas and musical performances on religious themes.
Damiri Mahmud was an Indonesian writer. He also wrote poetry and various articles for newspapers and magazines. His writings in the form of cultural, political, and religious articles, appeared in various dailies and magazines in Indonesia and Malaysia, among others: Buana News, Pelita, Kompas, Republika, People's Thoughts, Analysis, Alert, Free, People's Mind, Lampung Post, Media Indonesia, Community Flag, Sovereign, Horison, Base, Council for Literature and Daily News (Malaysia).
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
