Indonesian Literature - Overview

Overview

During its early history, Indonesia was the centre of trade among sailors and traders from China, India, Europe and the Middle East. Indonesia was then a colony of the Netherlands (ca. 1600—1942) and Japan (1942–45). Its literary tradition was influenced by these cultures, mainly those of India, Persia, China and, more recently, Western Europe. However, unique Indonesian characteristics cause it to be considered as a separate path and tradition.

Chronologically Indonesian literature may be divided into several periods:

• Pujangga Lama: the "Literates of Olden Times" (traditional literature)
• Sastra Melayu Lama: "Older Malay Literature"
• Angkatan Balai Pustaka: the "Generation of the Office for Popular Literature" (from 1908)
• Angkatan Pujangga Baru: the "New Literates" (from 1933)
• Angkatan 1945: the "Generation of 1945"
• Angkatan 1950 - 1960-an: the "Generation of the 1950s"
• Angkatan 1966 - 1970-an: the "Generation of 1966 into the 1970s"
• Angkatan 1980-an: the "Decade of the 1980s"
• Angkatan Reformasi: the post-Suharto "Reformation Period"
• Angkatan 2000-an: the "Generation of 2000s"

There is considerable overlapping between these periods, and the usual designation according to "generations" (angkatan) should not allow us to lose sight of the fact that these are movements rather than chronological periods. For instance, older Malay literature was being written until well into the twentieth century. Likewise, the Pujangga Baru Generation was active even after the Generation of 1950 had entered the literary scene.