Indonesian Cultures of Critique: A Study of Kabayan Films in Indonesia

This thesis examines the function of Indonesian comedy films featuring the Kabayan trickster character as a vehicle for social and political critique, emphasising the distinctions in the modes of critique between the New Order and Reform eras. This thesis employs a qualitative methodology that encompasses textual analysis, semi-structured interviews, and media analysis to examine seven Kabayan feature films produced between 1975 and 2010, as well as two telefilms released after 2020. Through an analysis of Kabayan films, this thesis demonstrates that the Indonesian tradition of critique, which emphasises politeness, can effectively articulate discontent with authority when expressed through culturally acceptable symbolic forms. It also provides a new perspective on how the trickster functions as a vehicle for critique.