Widening the Frame with Visual Psychological Anthropology: Perspectives on Trauma, Gendered Violence, and Stigma in Indonesia

Description

This book uses visual psychological anthropology to explore trauma, gendered violence, and stigma through a discussion of three ethnographic films set in Indonesia: 40 Years of Silence (Lemelson 2009), Bitter Honey (Lemelson 2015), and Standing on the Edge of a Thorn (Lemelson 2012). This exploration “widens the frame” in two senses. First, it offers an integrative analysis that connects the discrete topics and theoretical concerns of each film to crosscutting themes in Indonesian history, society, and culture. Additionally, it sheds light on all that falls outside the literal frame of the screen, including the films’ origins; psychocultural and interpersonal dynamics and constraints of deep, ongoing collaborations in the field; narrative and emotional orientations toward editing; participants’ relationship to their screened image; the life of the films after release; and the ethics of each stage of filmmaking. In doing so, the authors widen the frame for psychological anthropology as well, advocating for film as a crucial point of engagement for academic audiences and for translational purposes. Rich with critical insights and reflections on ethnographic filmmaking, this book will appeal to both scholars and students of visual anthropology, psychological anthropology, and ethnographic methods. It also serves as an engrossing companion to three contemporary ethnographic films. Series Editor’s Preface Preface Acknowledgments Contents Abbreviations List of Figures Part I Introduction 1 Filming Trauma, Gendered Violence, and Stigmatization The Films Not Made The Origins of a Visual Psychological Anthropology Trauma, Gendered Violence, and Stigma Onscreen Trauma Gendered Violence Stigma Filming Human Suffering: Questions Raised What Visual Psychological Anthropology Can Contribute Sensory, Aesthetic, Emotional Representation/Experience Longitudinal, Inductive, Person-Centered, Reflexive Collaborative Multimodal Book Outline and Summary References Part II The Films 2 40 Years of Silence: Generational Effects of Political Violence and Childhood Trauma in Indonesia Theorizing Trauma and PTSD The Historical Context G30S, the Mass Killings and Suharto’s New Order The Era of Reform The Film Participants’ Histories Budi and His Family Lanny Degung Kereta Participants’ Experiences and Responses Budi: Internalized Victimization, Eroded Trust, and Desire for Revenge Mini, Mudakir, Kris: Endurance Through Ongoing Suffering Lanny: Moving Past Anger Through Buddhist Detachment and Pragmatic Action Degung: Advocating for Critical Dialogue Kereta: Withdrawal from Society Conclusion: Diversity of Responses to Fear-Based Experiences References 3 Bitter Honey: Culture, Polygamy, and Gendered Violence in Bali An Ecological Perspective on Gendered Domestic Violence in Bali Context: Polygamy and Marriage in Bali Courtship, Marriage, and Patrilineal Descent Economics, Marriage, and Polygamy Marriage Law and Polygamy The Film Participant Histories Tuaji’s Family Sadra’s Family Sadra Purniasih, Sadra’s First Wife Murni, Sadra’s Second Wife Darma’s Family Darma Kiawati, Darma’s First Wife Sulasih, Darma’s Second Wife Rasti, Darma’s Third Wife Suciati, Darma’s Fourth Wife Purnawati, Darma’s Fifth Wife Participant Experiences and Responses The Emotional Economies of Balinese Polygamy Domestic Violence, Male Power, Harmony, Female Isolation, and Shame Marital Satisfaction in a Time of Change Conclusion: Social Change, Ambivalence, and Stigma References 4 Standing on the Edge of a Thorn: Stigmatization, Social Violence, and Sex Work in Central Java Stigmatization Local Ecological, Cultural, and Family Contexts Regional Poverty and Limited Work Opportunities Gendered Norms for Sexual Behavior, Courtship, and Marriage Mental Illness Vigilante Community Violence The Film Participant Histories Imam Rohani Tri Lisa Participant Experiences and Responses Mental Illness as Family Stressor Gendered Sexuality, Marriage, Legitimacy, and Precarity Lisa’s Perspective Conclusion: The “Violences of Everyday Life” References Part III Integrative Discussion 5 Trauma, Gendered Violence, and Stigmatization: Tracing Themes Throughout the Three Films Trauma and Fear-Based Experience in Ethnographic Context and Individual Subjectivity Trauma in Indonesia Trauma in the Films Connecting Trauma and Gendered Violence Gendered Violence in the Films Stigmatization Structural Violence Family Loss, Separation, and Abandonment Reactions to Loss Widening the Frame: Cultural Schemas and Psychocultural Themes References 6 Additional Psychocultural Themes Shame (Malu) Gendered Malu; A Feminist Reading of Shame in Indonesia Malu in Participant Experience Marriage and Marital Status Sexual Transgressions Violence and Victimization Situating malu: Tri and Imam’s Shame Anger (Marah) Anger in Participant Experience Anger Directed at Family Members Gendered Anger Effects of Trauma Compound Gendered Anger and Child Maltreatment Downregulating Anger, Enforcing Silence “Disappointment” (Kecewa) The Desire for Revenge and Its Modulation Moving Past Revenge Resilience Resilience in Participant Experience Religious Practice and Spirituality Karmic Justice Bearing Burdens and Being Strong for Others Activism Conclusion: Film Participation and Participant Experience References Part IV A VPA Approach to Film as Process 7 Visual Psychological Anthropology in the Field Adapted PCE Interviews as Primary Field Method The Nature of “Truth” in VPA Interview Material Indonesian Psychocultural Factors in PCE: Minimizing Conflict and Maintaining Harmony Example: Moving Past Templates of Harmony to Lived Experience of Marriage in Bitter Honey Example: Obscuring Real Reason for Budi’s Placement in Orphanage Example: Indirect Reveal in Thorn Psychological Truth: Memory, Self-Protection, and Paradox Example: Lisa’s Memories of Childhood Defense Mechanisms Example: Imam’s Rationalizations Psychological Truth Leaving, Returning, and the Benefits of Longitudinality Example: Sadra’s Remorse Emphasizing Shared Human Experience Performative Disclosures Considering the Interviewer Narrative Templates Curhat Example: Suciati’s Lingering Grief Reflexive Considerations Anthropologist Subjectivity and Response Example: Imam’s Justification for Tri’s Sex Work Relationship to the Camera and Staging the Interview Example: Sadra’s Extramarital Affair Example: Use of Local Language Depicting the Ethnographic Encounter References 8 Crafting Stories Using a VPA Approach Crafting Narratives VPA Narratives: Theorized but Inductive, Responsive, and Emergent Narrative Style and Structure Years Bitter Honey Standing on the Edge of a Thorn Discussion: Strengths and Weaknesses of Different Stylistic Choices Editing for Emotion Arguing for Emotion Techniques for Emotion Juxtaposition and Montage Music and Sound Design Emotional Displays The Artifice of Endings References 9 Ethical Issues in Visual Psychological Anthropology Consent Danger to Safety and Well-Being Triggering Surveillance Fears Impact on Participant in Family and Community Representation Compromising Material Ethnographic Representation on Film Versus in Writing In-Progress Screenings for Participant Consent and Feedback Screenings, Distribution, and Digital Media Social and Psychocultural Dynamics of Consent Amelioration of Harm Psychological Protection and Amelioration of Harm for Participants During Sensitive Interviews Interventions Financial Support and Mentorship Confronting Perpetrators Formal Mediation Screenings and Malu Films as Advocacy, Participants as Advocates References 10 Epilogue References Glossary Index