In The Appearances of Memory; the Indonesian architectural and urban historian Abidin Kusno explores the connections between the built environment and political consciousness in Indonesia during the colonial and postcolonial eras. Focusing primarily on Jakarta; he describes how perceptions of the past; anxieties about the rapid pace of change in the present; and hopes for the future have been embodied in architecture and urban space at different historical moments. He argues that the built environment serves as a reminder of the practices of the past and an instantiation of the desire to remake oneself within; as well as beyond; one’s particular time and place.Addressing developments in Indonesia since the fall of President Suharto’s regime in 1998; Kusno delves into such topics as the domestication of traumatic violence and the restoration of order in the urban space; the intense interest in urban history in contemporary Indonesia; and the implications of “superblocks;†large urban complexes consisting of residences; offices; shops; and entertainment venues. Moving farther back in time; he examines how Indonesian architects reinvented colonial architectural styles to challenge the political culture of the state; how colonial structures such as railway and commercial buildings created a new; politically charged cognitive map of cities in Java in the early twentieth century; and how the Dutch; in attempting to quell dissent; imposed a distinctive urban visual order in the 1930s. Finally; the present and the past meet in his long-term considerations of how Java has responded to the global flow of Islamic architecture; and how the meanings of Indonesian gatehouses have changed and persisted over time. The Appearances of Memory is a pioneering look at the roles of architecture and urban development in Indonesia’s ongoing efforts to move forward.
#314723 in eBooks 2013-10-08 2013-10-08File Name: B00EYIAN42
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Required Reading for Anyone Involved in Classical Music at the College Level!By Michael KetnerRobert Freeman was the Director of the Eastman School of Music when I enrolled in the doctoral program there in the mid-90s; so I was very interested in what he had to say about the world of classical music in this book. What I found was a fascinating and well-written account of his career and a plethora of important advice for those who are involved in any way with the classical music field.Perhaps the most important portion of the book are the chapters dedicated to the advice he would give to parents of prospective music students (collegiate); music students; music faculty; music deans; provosts and presidents; and foundation directors. Dr. Freemans vast experience as a music administrator in higher education--someone who has dealt closely with all of these constituencies--makes him uniquely qualified to dole out such common sense advice in this area.As the title of the book suggests; there is a crisis surrounding classical music in the US. This has been documented and discussed by many over the years. According to Dr. Freeman; one of the primary causes of this is that music schools are producing far too many graduates for the number of actual jobs available to them. Instead of simply closing down these schools; though; he suggests that they begin alter the way they train their students. For example; rather than having students spend an inordinate amount of time on solo repertoire for instruments that do not have a lot of it (tuba; trombone; bassoon; etc.; compared to piano; violin; voice; etc.); schools should be training them to be more versatile musicians so they are not so limited when they graduate and enter the professional world. He also discusses the benefits of a higher level music education for students who may want to follow another professional path once they graduate. Music schools would do their students a great service by making sure these other opportunities are obvious to them. The bottom line--the world needs good musicians; but not just at the professional level. Amateur music making at a high level is very important as well.For me; this book was inspiring. As an administrator in an Ivy League music department; I often struggle with balancing the need for strong musical training with the notion that we may be preparing students for professional futility. Dr. Freemans ideas helped me reframe (and reaffirm) my role in our students musical lives. If you are a student (or the parent of a student) considering attending a conservatory or school of music; please read this book! It wont discourage you from that path; but it will help you consider all of the possibilities available to you. I cant recommend this enough.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. An Indispensable Guide to the Music ProfessionBy JACK C KOHLThere are many fine manuals out there for guidance in the field of frontier survival; but save for Robert Freemans new book; I know of no other work that deals with the most dangerous wilderness area I have ever encountered: the contemporary classical musical world. THE CRISIS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC IN AMERICA will help to dissuade those greenhorn pupils who are ill-equipped to make a go of it in such a brutal landscape; and it will also assist those students who have the true mettle for the field - from the young instrumentalist to the most experienced conservatory director - with creative survival techniques which only a man of Robert Freemans experience can provide. - Jack Kohl; pianist and author of the novel THAT IRON STRING2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Enlightened View of Music Higher Education from One of the ExpertsBy Michael L. DrapkinBrilliant tome written for a variety of audiences by Americas premiere music school dean - under his directorship Eastman received their #1 rating on US News. His book is amazingly enlightened from someone from the "establishment" of music higher education and is written in a very approachable style. This book should be required reading not only for prospective students considering a music degree; but especially for their parents.