Book launched in Indonesia
Photo (from left): Ade Armando, Nina Mutmainnah, Apriline Widani from the Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta, Lestari Nurhajati, Elisabeth Eide, Abeer Saady, Andina Dwifatma and Ming-Kuok LIM from UNESCO in Jakarta.
The anthology «Transnational Othering – Global Diversities» had its first launch in Depok, a city just outside Jakarta, Indonesia on 30th November, at Universitas Indonesia, the largest university in the country.
This was part of a three day event, including a two day workshop on teaching gender in journalism and media studies.
The launch gathered academics and students from the Department of Communication Studies at Universitas Indonesia, as well as journalists. Representatives of UNESCO and the Norwegian Embassy in Indonesia were also present.
Five of the contributors to the volume spoke, including Ade Armando, Andina Dwifatma and Lestari Nurhajati. In addition, Abeer Saady, Egypt presented her chapter, and Elisabeth Eide (co-editor/contributor) led the panel.
Freedom of expression dilemmas were central to the debate that followed, as in Indonesia, extremists have exploited this right to promote hate speech and thus silencing others.
Armando’s chapter addresses this in particular, by asking whether government interference against hateful utterances may lead back to authoritarian oppression.
Dwifatma’s chapter includes how, twenty years after the fall of the Indonesian dictatorship, there are areas deemed not suitable for cultural debates and arenas.
Lestari Nurhajati’s chapter includes critique of mainstream media and coverage of diversity, including women and sexual minorities.
READ THE BOOK:
Transnational Othering – Global Diversities, Media, Extremism and Free Expression
Bambang Harymurti, former editor-in-chief of Tempo
Students from Universitas Indonesia participated
Andina Dwifatma reading from her book
Five contributors from three countries were present