Yep.. It’s been a veeeeeeery long time since I published my last post in this beloved blog.. there were way too much obstacles blocking my way in posting and sharing hehe.. and in this very post, I myself officially certify that I eventually back to blogging world again 😀
Well this time, I gonna share my paper work on English IV assignment to make some kind of argumentative essay. Mr. john Mewburn, my English lecturer, gave us several topic to be choose(I forgot all the topic, so I can’t mention it. #okayignoreit). Then I chose about Lady Gaga’s concert in Indonesia topic because it sounds like an easy fish. enough with this crap, hope you enjoy it 😀
Introduction
Who does not know Lady Gaga? Known as one of the most success and controversial female actress in the world. Unique, controversy and naughty perhaps are the most suitable words as the benchmark of the singer of “Born This Way”. Every single of her performance are rather not far from what we so called controversy. Once again, “Gaga’s way” is just too extraordinary and unacceptable for eastern country, in this case is Indonesia. Couple of weeks ago, issue about Lady Gaga was going to have a huge concert in Indonesia has being a controversial issue and emerged into the media. Therefore, it triggered a major debate among activists and public organizations in Indonesia. Some are pro to the arrival of Lady gaga to Indonesia and some are against to the arrival of Lady Gaga to Indonesia according to their reasons and arguments. Personally speaking, I don’t really think a couple of hours of Lady Gaga’s performance could affect and bring obedience in a massive way to Indonesia.
As the matter of fact, this issue of Lady Gaga arrival to Indonesia is happening several weeks ago or in other words this issue is already expired. This burning issue finished by the final decision by the Lady Gaga management to cancel their concert in Indonesia because of their fears of violate action tendency by some radical communities, in this case Islam communities delegated by FPI (Front Pembela Islam). As a result, some parties were grieving and condemning FPI as one of the biggest factors that caused the cancellation of Lady Gaga’s concert. I am not one of them, I am not a Gaga’s fans, and moreover I hate Lady Gaga. But in the name of Indonesian youngster, I deplore this kind of situation in Indonesia because of several considerations.
First, talking from constitutional perspective, our 1945 constitution obviously guarantee Indonesian people to get what we so called decent entertainment and education. This issue cannot be ignored and violated because it already existed in our highest source of law, 1945 constitution. It is implicitly stated in article 28C, which states “Every person shall have the right to develop him/herself through the fulfillment of his/her basic needs, the right to get education and to benefit from science and technology, arts and culture…”. I might say that the Lady Gaga concert is categorized as arts in this case. Even though I also aware that Lady Gaga’s performance is stick into wild and hot image, and people argue her performance is not a decent entertainment, but then it is still a part of arts that we are talking about here. Furthermore, the main dish from Lady Gaga’s performance that people expect from is not the wild, hot, or even pornography stuffs. But more likely to her voice in singing her songs, and the way she conducts her fashion style that is very unique.
Second, it is much related into a part in the first point above which is telling about people assessment of Lady Gaga’s performance as not a decent entertainment because she exploring her body and sexy move too much. But the thing is Lady Gaga along with her management are not amateur that are never conduct a big concert in a foreign country. They are professional in this field, which is mean, they must be already known about all the things that should be done before conducting a concert in a country especially eastern country such as the culture, spectators, including justifying their performance into the country’s culture. As far as I know, regarding to a source that I read, there has been a verbal agreement between the promoters and the Gaga’s management to have their performance a bit more polite according to Indonesia culture. What we should worry about then?
Third, I might argue that a couple of hour of a show cannot be affect so much to the people. I mean it is not a ritual thingy show, or hypnotic show, it is a music concert! People come to the concert for enjoying the music, not for the other things. Moreover, the ticket price for the concert is variety from Rp 450,000.00 – Rp 2,250,000.00. In other words, it is quite expensive for a middle-lower classes of people that usually uneducated or easily provoked. Hence the spectators of this very concert will be from middle-higher classes which majorly are educated. They will be able to filter and respond wisely into the entertainment that being served by Lady gaga.
In contrary, people that are against the arrival of Lady Gaga in Indonesia argue that she is sort of a western virus that must be eradicated from Indonesian culture. They judged lady Gaga as an illuminati robot, the queen of liberal satanic cult, icon of pornography, icon of homosexual, icon of free sex, and stuffs. They thought that with the concert of Lady gaga in Indonesia could lead into disobedience and contaminated our very culture. In some extent, I agree and also disagree with them. Indeed all kind of things that are brought and showed by Lady Gaga are too western and not suitable to our eastern culture. Also those western cultures could be very dangerous if it contaminated our very culture. But then, even though it is true that she is a Satanist, or too sexy, once again a couple of hours of a show, at least in my perspective, cannot be affect so much to people. Is it possible a person changes his religion because of watching a music concert? Is it possible for a person turn into a kind of evil person after they were watching a music concert? I don’t think so.
Generally, this is again about different perspective and point of view from some certain people or communities that then bombing because of media ignited it. Beyond of the debate among the people, personally, I am a bit disappointed with the raising of this issue into the public. I watched on all news and gossip program in television discussing this very issue in a full week. I mean isn’t it just too much? There are abundant of nation’s problems that are more worthy to be discussed in television. Media should be raising decent news instead of discussing about this issue. Furthermore, I think this phenomenon illustrate how immature Indonesian people nowadays is. Debating over on not very important things, seeing a thing in a narrow perspective and very stereotype are one of Indonesian people bad habit. As a consequence, Indonesia got a bad image from international public towards the cancellation of Lady Gaga’s concert.
No matter what was happened in previous time, it is our duty to analyze the weaknesses then learn from those weaknesses. Let’s evaluating and reflecting from this very phenomenon while hoping Indonesian people will be more discreet in responding any kind of things like this. In addition, even though I am not a big fan of Lady gaga, in fact I hate her as Satanist and disgusting performer. However, when I am looking from several perspectives, which is not merely from religion or cultural perspective. I’d prefer for Lady Gaga’s concert still take place in Indonesia under condition her performance will justify with a proper attitude and Indonesia culture.
FOR A BETTER INDONESIA!
References
Azharfuadi's Blog 