Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

ganjawulung · 9th May 2007, 01:16 PM

I've read the three editions of Keris, and also Pamor. The main story of newest edition of Keris, (published in April), is about The Dawn of Cirebon Palace (Kingdom). What suprised me, is the foto of pusakas of Cirebon. The photographer (I heard, that he is a National Geographic Photographer, hired especially for the main story) took photos of various forms of old Kudi (or Kujang, the West Java people often call them).

I had been once there, in Cirebon, visited the old palace and the museum where the Kudis are. The Kudis are closed in the cupboard. But the photographer was able to take photos of the Kudis, using special instrumen. Probably small lense you can put through keyhole of a cupboard. So we can see the various forms of Kudi, original Kudi from the old Royaume of Pajajaran -- the ancestor of Cirebon. That's great.

If I may compare the two magazines, Keris magazine tends to report: keris in a broad view, in order to take attention of Indonesians who don't even bother their unique heritage of keris. It is no wonder, Mr Wiwoho Basuki Tjokrohadiningrat (one of the senior board of editor) is the no 1 person in Indonesia Keris Association (they call the organization, SNKI Secretariat of National Keris Indonesia. This organization is the secretariat of around 30 paguyuban or associations on keris lovers).

The Pamor magazine, published by one of the association, Panji Nusantara in Jakarta. (Panji Nusantara also one of SNKI members). Pamor is more technical than Keris. Both of them have their own targets, their own aims, and audience. Pamor especially for masyarakat (community) of keris, and Keris is meant for masyarakat keris and also people who pays attention on keris.

Keris is more entertaining. But good too for keris lover. Every edition they put "Keris Bulan Ini" or "Kris of the Month". As if Playboy Magazine: Model of the Month. Also "Kawruh" or knowledge on keris, like what is pamor beras wutah, or pamor udan mas (rain of gold?).

Pamor has their own style. Sometimes, too technical and too difficult to understand by non-Indonesians. But anyway, both of them encourage the keris world in Indonesia. As you know, many Indonesian even "throw" keris in the rubbish because of different belief (musyrik). The image of keris in Indonesia, even almost identic with "dukuns" or paranormal, witch. So just throw them to the rubbish...

Anyway, the two magazine on keris, have their contribution in repromoting keris to the nation. Bravo..!

9th May 2007, 01:16 PM	#17
ganjawulung Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: J a k a r t a Posts: 991	Keris and Pamor I've read the three editions of Keris, and also Pamor. The main story of newest edition of Keris, (published in April), is about The Dawn of Cirebon Palace (Kingdom). What suprised me, is the foto of pusakas of Cirebon. The photographer (I heard, that he is a National Geographic Photographer, hired especially for the main story) took photos of various forms of old Kudi (or Kujang, the West Java people often call them). I had been once there, in Cirebon, visited the old palace and the museum where the Kudis are. The Kudis are closed in the cupboard. But the photographer was able to take photos of the Kudis, using special instrumen. Probably small lense you can put through keyhole of a cupboard. So we can see the various forms of Kudi, original Kudi from the old Royaume of Pajajaran -- the ancestor of Cirebon. That's great. If I may compare the two magazines, Keris magazine tends to report: keris in a broad view, in order to take attention of Indonesians who don't even bother their unique heritage of keris. It is no wonder, Mr Wiwoho Basuki Tjokrohadiningrat (one of the senior board of editor) is the no 1 person in Indonesia Keris Association (they call the organization, SNKI Secretariat of National Keris Indonesia. This organization is the secretariat of around 30 paguyuban or associations on keris lovers). The Pamor magazine, published by one of the association, Panji Nusantara in Jakarta. (Panji Nusantara also one of SNKI members). Pamor is more technical than Keris. Both of them have their own targets, their own aims, and audience. Pamor especially for masyarakat (community) of keris, and Keris is meant for masyarakat keris and also people who pays attention on keris. Keris is more entertaining. But good too for keris lover. Every edition they put "Keris Bulan Ini" or "Kris of the Month". As if Playboy Magazine: Model of the Month. Also "Kawruh" or knowledge on keris, like what is pamor beras wutah, or pamor udan mas (rain of gold?). Pamor has their own style. Sometimes, too technical and too difficult to understand by non-Indonesians. But anyway, both of them encourage the keris world in Indonesia. As you know, many Indonesian even "throw" keris in the rubbish because of different belief (musyrik). The image of keris in Indonesia, even almost identic with "dukuns" or paranormal, witch. So just throw them to the rubbish... Anyway, the two magazine on keris, have their contribution in repromoting keris to the nation. Bravo..!