Re-crafting Communities: Artistic Rhetoric and Identity Dynamics in Eastern Indonesia

Kathleen M. Adams - Loyola University Chicago

Abstract:  Whereas most people tend to conceptualize “rhetoric” in terms of persuasive speech, this paper pushes for a deeper appreciation of art as a form of and forum for persuasive rhetoric. In particular, the paper examines some of the ways in which material culture is drawn upon to articulate and negotiate identity dynamics in tumultuous times. Based on long-term fieldwork in Indonesia, the paper addresses how, with the rise and fall of tourism and in the current shadow of inter-religious violence, Toraja art operates as a vehicle for articulating and navigating both internal and external relationships. In part due to its very ability to maintain ambiguity and carry multiple meanings, Toraja art is central to inter-group sensitivities and struggles and may surreptitiously effect changes in inter-group perceptions.