#SHADOW PUPPETRY FOR RURAL AREAS FULL#

Today, it remains a vital theatrical form among several ethnic groups in Indonesia, especially in rural areas and among urban migrant workers. It transmits cultural traditions and values, and has been recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Wayang puppetry is a dazzling art form that has left Indonesian audiences spellbound for centuries. In Indonesia, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, along with the National Family Planning Board, is using the popularity and power of wayang as a way to get people thinking about reproductive health and gender dynamics. In another scene Cangik talks about the importance of avoiding sexually transmitted infections.įinding ways to engage individuals and communities on issues of a very personal and sensitive nature, such as sexuality and family planning, can be a challenge, and traditional media can play a vital role in shaping opinions.

#SHADOW PUPPETRY FOR RURAL AREAS FULL#

And the audience seemed to be in full agreement. What is important is giving lots to your children,” Cangik tells her daughter.

“Having lots of children is now not important.

One of the leading characters was Cangik, a humorous mother who works as a servant at a palace.Įven though Cangik can hardly wait to have grandchildren of her own to indulge, she advises her rebellious teenage daughter about the importance of birth spacing. JAKARTA, Indonesia - For five hours on a balmy and moonlit Saturday night a packed audience was mesmerized as shadows of filigreed wayang puppets engaged in conflict and resolution, all orchestrated to the sounds of a gamelan orchestra.

Shadow puppetry for rural areas