Review by John Hartley

Dean of Arts, Queensland University of Technology

“The story of television in Indonesia is that of a country inventing itself by promoting a national cultural identity. Philip Kitley, who is not only a media scholar but has also worked as a dimplomat in Indonesia, shows how important television has been to both the official and popular imagination since its beginnings in the early 1960s. It’s a fascinating tale, with implications going well beyond regional specialists, since the use of popular media to promote nation, citizenship, and identity is common to many countires, new and old.As Indonesia attracts increasing international attention in the post-Soeharto era, it is important to understand the cultural as well as political issues that have led to the current turbulent situation. Kitley’s book is a well-researched, wise and elegantly written account of the forces, dreams, and policies that link public and private life in and after ‘New Order Indonesia“.“

Review