On the Subject of Java

by John Pemberton

Book Overview

What are the limits of cultural critique? What are the horizons? What are the political implications? John Pemberton explores these questions in this far-reaching ethnographic and historical... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801499631
• ISBN13: 9780801499630
• Release Date: December 1994
• Publisher: Cornell University Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Good history, decent to poor ethnography

Very readable and relevant not only to academic anthropologists but anyone interested in Indonesian history. Pemberton extends Hobsbawn's notion of "invented traditions" to show how Soeharto's new order has constructed Java and greater Indonesia according to his nationalist agenda. Pemberton's overall argument is argued more or less cogently. However, a problem emerges as he endeavors to depict Java and its traditions as a construct. Namely, Pemberton has a tendency to lump all Javanese experience together, assuming that individuals of different backgrounds all share the same understading of Java and its traditions. Pemberton ultimately overestimates the extent of the political center's power over all Javanese. As a result, this makes for good history but is not thorough enough in its approach and is to generalizing to be considered a good ethnography.