Kerises: Bali vs. Jawa etc

ariel · 15th March 2013, 12:45 AM

Fascinating.... Sounds like the mythical Bali Hai.
What do you attribute it to? Religion? Closeness of the island habitat? Level of westernization/industrialization?

David · 16th March 2013, 12:51 AM

Interesting enough the "mythical" Bali Ha'i is based upon the real island of Ambae (formerly Aoba Island and also known as Leper's Island) located in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu. Michener never actually stepped foot on it, developing it's mythology from afar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali_Ha'i

A. G. Maisey · 16th March 2013, 07:21 AM

I don't think I can give a short explanation of my opinions on the way in which Balinese society functions. Quite frankly I know a great deal less about Balinese society than I do about Javanese society. Quite a bit has been written on the society in general and on specific aspects of the society. Anybody who is trying to get a slightly better understanding of how the society functions should probably start with Covourrubias and then go to Eisemann (ptobably haven't spelled either of these names correctly but I guess google will sort the spelling for you). The underlying force is religion, but for the traditional Balinese, religion cannot be separated from daily life:- its not something you do to satisfy a requirement, it is how you live your life on a day to day basis. Society, religion, tradition all are woven together in a mesh that incoporates the individual into the weave.

As I said:- they're different.

15th March 2013, 12:45 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Fascinating.... Sounds like the mythical Bali Hai. What do you attribute it to? Religion? Closeness of the island habitat? Level of westernization/industrialization?

16th March 2013, 12:51 AM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Interesting enough the "mythical" Bali Ha'i is based upon the real island of Ambae (formerly Aoba Island and also known as Leper's Island) located in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu. Michener never actually stepped foot on it, developing it's mythology from afar. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali_Ha'i

16th March 2013, 07:21 AM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	I don't think I can give a short explanation of my opinions on the way in which Balinese society functions. Quite frankly I know a great deal less about Balinese society than I do about Javanese society. Quite a bit has been written on the society in general and on specific aspects of the society. Anybody who is trying to get a slightly better understanding of how the society functions should probably start with Covourrubias and then go to Eisemann (ptobably haven't spelled either of these names correctly but I guess google will sort the spelling for you). The underlying force is religion, but for the traditional Balinese, religion cannot be separated from daily life:- its not something you do to satisfy a requirement, it is how you live your life on a day to day basis. Society, religion, tradition all are woven together in a mesh that incoporates the individual into the weave. As I said:- they're different.