What is lost or left unsaid when we talk about music in Indonesian music documentaries? Art is a part of social, economic, and political utility, closely related to the various contexts of a country’s civilization through various policies and interests. Political interests have a complex relationship with music. Political policies can shape the musical ecosystem, determining the boundaries of musical expression and production. However, music is never a passive force. As an art form, it presents collective memories of its locality. Music becomes a form of resistance and opposition to express criticism, identity, and the socio-political conditions of society.
This session explores how music and politics negotiate with each other in Indonesian history.
