Author: Jasleen Dhamija (Ed.), Joanne B. Eicher (Editor in Chief), Rites of Passage and Rituals in Indonesia pgs 420-447 Colonial influence on dress in Indonesia
Publisher: -
The Berg Encyclopedia of Dress and Fashion consolidates the expertise of more than six hundred distinguished scholars representing diverse regions across the globe. As the first truly comprehensive reference work to examine the multifaceted dimensions of dress and fashion on a worldwide scale—from prehistory to the contemporary era—it offers unparalleled breadth and depth. Organized geographically and authored by an international consortium of specialists, the Encyclopedia constitutes an indispensable resource for inquiries into the artistic, cultural, and anthropological dimensions of costume, dress, and fashion. The book presents dress and fashion in ten nations in Southeast Asia from page 320 until 447. aIt is designed to serve students, scholars, and professionals within the design and fashion industries as the authoritative point of reference for the study of sartorial practices across time and place.
Author: Alwi Shahab, 2002. 190pgs. (Indonesian). Softcover
Publisher: Republika, Jakarta
Queen of the East positions itself as a historical and architectural record of Batavia (Jakarta) during the late eighteenth to early twentieth centuries, foregrounding the city’s colonial grandeur and European cultural imprint. While the volume succeeds in cataloguing streets, gardens, and residential districts with descriptive detail, its scholarly limitations are evident in both scope and methodology. The narrative tends to romanticize Batavia’s urban landscape, emphasizing its “tropical beauty” and “well-planned city planning” without sufficiently interrogating the colonial power structures that enabled such transformations. The focus on European enclaves—French in Rijswijk and Noordwijk, English in Menteng—reinforces a Eurocentric lens, marginalizing indigenous perspectives and the lived experiences of local communities who were profoundly affected by these spatial reorganizations. Moreover, the book’s reliance on descriptive passages, while valuable for preservation, risks reducing architecture to aesthetic spectacle rather than situating it within broader socio-political contexts. The absence of critical engagement with issues such as labor exploitation, segregation, and the environmental consequences of colonial urbanism weakens its analytical depth. By privileging the monumental and picturesque, the authors inadvertently perpetuate a nostalgic vision of Batavia that obscures the complexities of colonial modernity. As a documentary archive, Queen of the East undoubtedly contributes to the preservation of Jakarta’s architectural heritage. However, its lack of critical interrogation limits its utility for scholars seeking to understand the entanglements of architecture, colonialism, and cultural hybridity. The work is best approached as a descriptive resource rather than a comprehensive analysis of colonial urban history.
Author: Jill Forshee, 2000, 266pg. (English). Softcover.
Publisher: University of Hawaii, USA
The book successfully integrates personal life narratives, historical accounts of intercultural contact, and analyses of trade and commerce with a nuanced interpretation of cultural encounters between tourists and local communities. The result is a work that, while theoretically sophisticated, remains accessible, personal, and engaging. Its interdisciplinary scope makes it particularly well-suited for undergraduate courses in art, tourism, globalization, and symbolism, as well as for broader curricula on Southeast Asian cultures.
Author: Idanna Pucci, 1992. 199pgs. (English). Softcover
Publisher: A Bullfinch Press Book, Little Brown and Company, Boston, USA
The volume constitutes a striking English rendition of a classic Balinese Hindu folk epic, the Bhima Swarga. It narrates the descent of Bhima, the formidable Pandawa brother, into the netherworld to liberate the souls of his parents, Pandu and Madri, from the torments of hell. Commanded to undertake this perilous journey, Bhima traverses the realms of the dead, bearing witness to harrowing punishments inflicted upon sinners, juxtaposed against the serene rewards reserved for the virtuous in heaven. The narrative interweaves stark moral admonitions with unexpected elements of folk humor, ultimately conveying a profound acceptance of life, destiny, and cosmic order. The Bhima Swarga motif occupies a central place in Balinese cultural imagination, most famously depicted on the painted ceiling of the Hall of Justice (Kerta Gosa) in Klungkung. Its resonance extends beyond visual art into ritual performance, as the story is regularly enacted through traditional shadow‑puppetry (wayang kulit) during purification rites (Pitra Yadnya). Pucci’s work succeeds in capturing both the visual grandeur and the moral gravitas of Balinese cosmology. The netherworld is not portrayed merely as a locus of terror, but rather as a metaphysical domain of balance, retribution, and eventual liberation. In this way, the text underscores the integrative philosophy of Balinese Hinduism, wherein suffering and redemption are harmonized within a broader cosmological framework. As a scholarly resource, the book functions primarily as an accessible introduction rather than a rigorous textual analysis. Yet its value lies in opening a gateway for non‑Indonesian readers to apprehend the philosophical depth and ritual significance embedded in Balinese narrative traditions. It illuminates how epic storytelling, visual iconography, and ritual performance converge to sustain cultural identity and articulate a vision of moral order within the Balinese worldview.
Author: Tom Wright & Bradly Hope, 2018. 179pgs. (English) Softcover
Publisher: Hachette Books, New York
Billion Dollar Whale is an extraordinary, meticulously researched true-crime exposé that unfolds with the pace and suspense of a thriller. Written by two Pulitzer-finalist Wall Street Journal journalists, the book chronicles the 1MDB sovereign wealth scandal, centering on its mastermind: Jho Low, a young Malaysian Wharton graduate. Low orchestrated one of the largest financial heists in modern history, siphoning off an estimated $4.5–$5 billion under the noses of major global institutions. The narrative details how Low exploited elite access, complex financial structures, and social engineering to manipulate the global banking system. He weaponized people’s desire for inclusion in exclusive circles, transforming trust into a psychological instrument of fraud. A central takeaway is the ease with which institutional gatekeepers—including top-tier investment banks such as Goldman Sachs and auditors—ignored glaring red flags because they profited from Low’s massive transactions. The book is replete with jaw-dropping accounts of how stolen taxpayer money was squandered: mega-yachts, private jets, rare art, millions lost in casinos, and even the financing of Hollywood’s The Wolf of Wall Street. Wright and Hope excel in mapping the labyrinth of shell companies, lawyers, and intermediaries that shielded the fraud. Their prose remains accessible to general audiences while retaining corporate credibility. At times, however, the density of corporate structures and bank account minutiae may feel tedious to casual readers. The book also offers a fascinating glimpse into how Hollywood A-listers, including Leonardo DiCaprio, were unwittingly entangled in the scheme. Yet the relentless descriptions of multimillion-dollar parties risk monotony. More importantly, the text underscores the devastating impact of corruption on Malaysian democracy and ordinary taxpayers. Ultimately, Billion Dollar Whale is more than a chronicle of excess and audacity; it is a sobering indictment of systemic vulnerabilities in global finance. Wright and Hope demonstrate how unchecked greed, institutional complacency, and the allure of prestige can converge to enable catastrophic fraud. The book’s unresolved ending—marked by Low’s continued evasion of justice—serves as a haunting reminder that accountability in transnational financial crimes remains elusive. Far from being merely a sensational tale of yachts and Hollywood parties, the exposé compels readers to confront the fragility of democratic institutions when corrupted by money and influence. It situates the 1MDB scandal within broader debates on governance, transparency, and the ethical responsibilities of global finance. In doing so, Billion Dollar Whale transcends its thriller-like narrative to become an essential cautionary text for policymakers, scholars, and citizens alike.
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