Buku Arti

Gde Aryantha Soethama is not only a superior observer, but also a short story writer who truly understands the social and cultural situation of the island where he lives. Gde never scorns, let alone opposes, the changes which have occured. He only indicates that Bali is at crossroads. The advance in tourism has not only brought with it the promise of prosperity, but also a great number of complex problems. In this book, there are no solutions presented. Gde merely desires to describe reality. It is up to the reader to interpret it.

-Kompas Books

A compilation of short journalistic essays written in a light touch but with serious thoughts and questions on development in Bali in relation to tourism and modernization, reflecting the writer’s fears and beliefs in the island on which he was born.

(language: Indonesian)

In this compilation of poetries, the author, born with the name Ida Ayu Putu Alit Susrini writes about her inner struggles of being born a woman in Bali, especially in the social lives of women where religion, tradition, including the caste system forces them to be submissive in their obligation to rituals. The critic is not aimed towards their opposite, but to the women who consciously or unconsciously oblige to their inferior positions. Alit S. Rini joined the Bali Post in 1988, and since 1998 has taken on the position of chief editor for the newspaper.

(language: Indonesian)

Jarang orang tahu, sejak berabad-abad silam Bali punya aturan melarang warganya memiliki lebih dari satu istri. Perkawinan kedua dan seterusnya, dianggap sebagai "perkawinan terlarang". Larangan berpoligami itu disuratkan dalam awig-awig desa, ada juga hanya berdasarkan mitos. Potret lima desa yang menentang poligami dalam buku ini merupakan desa-desa Bali Kuno. Warga desa-desa itu merupakan pelanjut kebudayaan Bali Aga atau Bali Mula, sebelum orang-orang Majapahit datang.

This book examines the growing consciousness of Balinese people in strengthening and negotiating their ethnic identity against the crisis of modernisation and rapid process of Indonesian politics of decentralisation. It based on a carefully studies on the interplay between literature, politics, pop songs, multiculturalism and tourism. One argument that the book offers is that like other ethnic minorities in Indonesia, Balinese people have also enthusiastically reconstructed their regional identity while continue to maintain national identity.

Kita terlalu banyak menuntut pada orang asing yang berbisnis di Bali, agar patuh pada yang kita mau. Pada bagaian lain, kita menjadi orang yang tidak patuh dan tidak menjunjung Bali....Kelak, industri pariwisata, bukan satu-satunya primadona. Kelak, ia hanya salah satu dari sekian banyak sektor ekonomi unggulan di Bali. Kesalahan kita selama ini adalah mengorbankan sektor lain demi pariwisata. Pariwisata Bali kelak adalah kehendak dari dalam. Menjadi sektor ekonomi yang suci, jujur, dan tidak lagi dijalankan dengan kebohong-kebohongan.

Benarkah wajah Bali adalah wajah "simpang jalan" kita? Kalau begitu baliho, spanduk, standing banner, papan reklame, flyer, plster, pamflet dan segala jenis tumpang tindih iklan di jalan, jembatan, pertokoan, dan bahkan di pohon-pohon punya andil "mempercantik" wajah pulau Bali tercinta...
Buku ini mencoba memotret "wajah" itu dan menampilkan dalam bentuk kartun

Daging Cakepan:

Dasa Tali Dogen
Kobarang Apine
Siate di Selat Bali
Sri Kumala Ngentungang Api di Badung
Mara Teka
Kaden Saja
Ingetang
Tusing Madaya
Patut Lestariang
Eda Anggon Plalian
Mindang Batu
Mara Lima Bulan
Baang Dogen
Eda Engsapina