Finally,
a phenomenon we cannot ignore
is the economic advantages resulting
from the harmonic integration
of the arts and tourism. Cultural
conservation is often seen as
burden for many people sof the
world these days, but in Bali,
with the presence of tourism and
its sponsorship of the culture
is general and the arts in particular,
both the arts and their preservation
are thus guaranteed. As a commodity
of tourism, the arts play a large
part in economy of the island,
and of the nation as a whole,
enabling artists to improve their
standards of living above the
ranks of the lower classes, farmers
etc. This means that people are
unlikely to think twice before
choosing the arts as profession,
rather than simply as a hobby,
and therefore the skills and talent
necessary for artistic endeavor
are maintained from generation
to generation . The skills of
the carver or dancer are reared
carefully throughout the society
because these abilities serve
as a source of prosperity for
those ready to master them.
These
realities show that between tourism
and the art in Bali there is a
dynamic interaction which so mutually
beneficial. This tends to support
the discovery made by American
Anthropologist McKean more than
two decade ago, that although
great social and economic changes
were taking place in Bali, this
was all taking place in Bali,
this was all taking place - hand
in hand - with the conservation
of traditional culture.
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Tourism
it seems, has actually strengthened
the process of conservation, reformation
and revitalization of various
tradition including art.
Tourism
has selectively reinforced traditional
culture in Bali through a process
which has been termed "culture
involution '. Cultural influence
from abroad is a given and no
culture can isolate itself from
foreign influence. Interestingly
in Bali as anthropologist Stephen
Langsing has noted, this influence
has an additive rather than a
subtractive effect. The influence
enriches and develops rather than
changes and destroys. This kind
of influence is swallowed whole
(rather than in spoonfuls through
a process of Balinisation) and
regurgitated as a purely Balinese
product. This agrees with the
many theories which posit Balinese
culture as having an intense vitality
and adaptability when faced with
startlingly new conditions. History
has already shown that Balinese
culture can ride many a storm
without losing its balance and
at the same time give birth to
new and exciting cultural creation.
The history of the Balinese arts
is a syncretistic one
showing a staying power and adaptability
in the face of many changes. Several
factors tend it support these
positive influences of tourism.
These have their roots in traditional
Balinese culture which is based
on its Hindu faith, whose concept
of Rwa-Bhineda (mentioned later)
underlines so many aspects of
life. There is also the doctrine
desa, kala, patra ( time, place,
situation), which praises variety
in accordance with the place,
time and objective situation
of different environments.
Source
material: Cultural Affairs Office
Bali Provice |
