‘Dissenting Voices: Challenging the Colonial System’

A Bridging Humanities publication of Maartje Janse and Anne-Lot Hoek,
with contributions of Ernst Jansz and Sjoerd Sijsma

Dissenting Voices aims to explore how critical thinking regarding the colonial context in the Dutch East Indies has evolved by analyzing various voices of protest. The publication is a result of a process of co-creation and combines close reading of criticism with an analysis of the ways it was channeled and the audience it aimed to reach. Artistic contributions in the form of music and film have been added to reflect on and present new forms of protest.

An outline of the content as presented in the menu is shown below. For a discussion on the publication please see the review & comments section. Feel free to share your thoughts.

Introduction

Introductory analysis by Maartje Janse and Anne-Lot Hoek in which they argue for a tradition of colonial criticism in the Netherlands, one that includes the voices of many ‘forgotten critics’ whose lives and criticism are the subject of this article.

This section also includes a multimedia slider that presents an overview of the publication, which highlights the various steps and outcomes of the co-creation process.

Process & Reflections

Two reflective texts setting out the perspectives of the authors on their positions in academic research and research journalism. Maartje Janse reflects on the process of co-creation which led to this publication. Anne-Lot Hoek sets out her position as a research journalist and how she got engaged in the topic of colonialism in Indonesia.

Nineteenth-Century Criticism

A short biographical sketch of nineteenth-century critic Willem Bosch by Maartje Janse, and two artistic contributions that gave new voice to his criticism. Musician Ernst Jansz composed 'The Ballad of Sarina and Kromo' and filmmaker Sjoerd Sijsma added a layer of visual analysis and made a video pamphlet.

Twentieth-Century Criticism

Three biographical sketches of forgotten critics of the colonial regime in the twentieth century by Anne-Lot Hoek. Sutan Sjahrir (the first prime minister of Indonesia), Siebe Lijftogt (Dutch civil servant stationed at Bali), and Rachmad Koesoemobroto (a nationalist who lived in the Netherlands and later returned to Indonesia).

Historical Debate

Two texts by Anne-Lot Hoek in which she situates the historical debate and the role of research after Indonesian independence. In 'Cees Fasseur and his critics' she deals with the exclusion of dissenting voices and sources by leading Dutch historians. 'The way foward' serves as an epilogue and portrays ways forward to better understand colonial legacy.

Reviews & Comments

Debate section with information on the peer-review process, including the peer-review forms, and comments received after publication. Advisory Board member Henk Molenaar added a reflection on the publication 'An embodied, multivocal story of a tradition of protest'.

About

Information about the authors, bibliographic details and a complete list of references.