Food Culture and Religion: Islam and Buddhism Perspective (by: Ulvia Z.)

Food is important part of religious observance and spiritual for many faiths such as Islam and Buddhism. The role of food in cultural practices and religious beliefs are complex and varies among individuals and communities. Understanding the role of food in cultural and religious practices is an important to show respect and to respond to the needs of people in religious communities. It’s also important to avoid assumptions about a person’s culture and beliefs.
The central of Muslim way of life is moderation in all things including eating and dietary habits. When doing according to the way of Allah, daily acts like eating are considered as form of worship. Islam applies the concept of Halal as main role of food to all areas of a person’s life and includes regulations surrounding food. Halal means lawful or permitted. All foods are allowed or Halal except for those that are considered harmful. Prohibited foods or other aspects of life are called Haram. The Haram foods include meat from carnivore animal such as pork, alcohol. Gelatin made from pork or other carnivore animals is forbidden, but some gelatin may be Halal. Muslim also has fasting period such as Ramadhan and the ninth day of Zulhijjah.

Differ from Islam role of food, the dietary rules of Buddhism, which is more of a life philosophy than a religious doctrine, depend on which branch of Buddhism is practiced and in what country. Most Buddhists choose to become vegetarian to avoid killing animals because Buddhists believe that Buddha cycled through various animal forms before attaining the form of a human being. But this is different with the concept of Halal-Haram in Islam. Buddhists also believes that violence or pain inflicted on others will rebound on us, hence the needs for a vegetarian lifestyle. Some of them also believe that a contributing cause of human aggression is violence against animals. Some Buddhists avoid meat and dairy products but the others only avoid beef. This is affected by cultural influences. Buddhist monks tend to fast in the afternoon. Buddhist monks and nuns are not allowed to cultivate, store or cook their own food. Instead, they must rely on ‘alms’, which are donations from believers. This sometimes includes meats, as monks and nuns are not allowed to ask for specific foods.

Korea at Glance: Movie, Clothing, Food (by: Ulvia Z.)

Part I: Korean Movies
During the last decade, Korea produced many movies and reached its success. Korean people have big interest in their own movies than Hollywood’s movies. In 2009, the amount of sold tickets of the big ten Korean movie is 42 millions, and the population of Korea is about 50 millions. Korea also has many international movie festivals:

• Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)
• Blue Dragon Film Awards
• Seoul independent Film Festival
• Golden Bell Film Festival
• The Pucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan)
• The Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF)
• The Women’s Film Festival in Seoul (WFFIS)
• The Chungmuro International Film Festival (CHIFFS)
• Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival (SICAF)
• The Green Film Festival in Seoul
• Mise-en-scene’s Genre Film Festival

Those show that Korean people have big interest and actively make and help Korean movies known internationally. By holding these festivals, Korean movies can be more widely known and shows that Korean movies also have quality like Hollywood movies.
Korea also has two organizations which actively contribute in its own movies. They are KOFA (Korean Film Archive) which established in 1974 and KOFIC (Korean Film Council) which established in 1973. KOFA is an organization which assembles, improves, and shows Korean movies and supporting documents. KOFA has Korean movie database that can be access by public. KOFIC has responsibility in promoting Korean movies worldwide. The government of Korea also contributes in its success, so not only the movie makers that have contribute in that success.


Part 2: Modern Hanbok (Korean Costume)

Hanbok is Korean traditional clothe that has unique characters and patterns. Before western things had influenced Korea, Korean people wore Hanbok in their daily life. But nowadays Korean people wear Hanbok only in special events or ceremonies such as new years, thanksgiving, wedding, etc. Today Koreans wear diverse varieties of clothing such as suits, jackets, T-shirts, jeans, dress, and other items mostly from the West.
Koreans in old days wore white Hanbok. It was natural color and represented the purity of Korean way of thinking. As time passed by, Koreans began to wear the primary colors of red, blue, and yellow. In general Hanbok consist of 2 parts, it is small tops called jeogori and long skirts called chima for women and men wore jeogori and pants called baji. In Korean traditional societies, design of Hanbok reflected people’s gender, profession, and social status.
Hanbok are beautiful, but they are uncomfortable if worn in everyday live. As western influence entered Korea at the end of the Joseon Period, Hanbok began to disappear from Korean daily life and today Hanbok is worn for special occasions. However, these days, a modern version of Hanbok is gaining in popularity. This is because Koreans are beginning to realize the importance of traditions. The aesthetics of the traditional Hanbok can still be found in the modified modern Hanbok. The thing that made traditional Hanbok uncomfortable for the modern style has been modified for convenience and comfort.
Korean designers also contributed in making of modern Hanbok. Three of Korean designers that have made some design for modern Hanbok are Lee Shin-woo (Icinoo), Sol Yoon-hyong, Lee Young-hee. Lee Shin-woo designed Hanbok made from machine made cotton and make modern Hanbok in soft color that reflected color of sky. Lee Youg-hee designed modern Hanbok by combine the aesthetics of west and east, she has made Hanbok that consist of pants and vest for women. That vest refers to Korean traditional vest called baeja. Sol Yoon-hyong designed modern Hanbok by designing ‘you can see’ blouse and still maintain traditional patterns and strong colors.
Today, in traditional markets or shops in Korea, many simply and modern Hanboks are sold there. There is kind of modern Hanbok such as long dress, it’s very simple to wear. Hanbok is one of Korean prides.

Part 3: Korean Food: Kimchi Today

Among Korean life essentials, fool is where most traditions still thrive. Korean traditional food not only remains part of the modern Korean diet, but some of it is becoming internationally known. The basic of Korean food is certain to include rice, broth, and Kimchi. We also can find various soups and pot stews.
The most Korean represented food is Kimchi, Kimchi is a fermented food made by marinating cabbage, radish or cucumber in salt. Then mixing it with red pepper, garlic, green onion, ginger, and pickled seafood. In the past, people were unable to eat vegetables in winter, so they made Kimchi to store vegetables. There are many types of Kimchi and in general, Kimchi refers to the Cabbage Kimchi.
Kimchi is used to make various foods such as Kimchi Stew, Kimchi Fried Rice, Kimchi Pancakes, Kimchi Buns and more. Recently, a hamburger with Kimchi called ‘Kimchi Burger’ was introduced and children and teenagers like it very much. There are other western foods that combine with Kimchi, they are Kimchi Pizza, Kimchi Spaghetti, Kimchi Sandwich. It shows that though Koreans enjoy the western food, they still maintain the traditional things and their own culture. Koreans like Kimchi so much that they feel emptiness when Kimchi is missing from a meal. Kimchi is now liked not only by Koreans but by foreigners, which makes it a world-wide food.

Ramadhan Food Culture in Aceh ( by. Zahrani B)

Ramadhan food culture in Aceh is quiet unique. When ramadhan comes fasting people never be afraid about food to break a fast. They just need to go to any mosque they can reach and a plate of hot and spicy porridge will be served.

When ramadhan comes in Aceh men who live near by mosque come together in a mosque to prepare amount of food to break a fast. Usually they cook an earthen cooking pot of hot and spicy rice porridge called "bubur kanji rumbi". Bubur kanji rumbi seems like "bubur ayam" in Java but consists of more spice with 2 or 3 kinds of stocks; shrimp, chicken and beef stock. The content is also little bit different. Bubur ayam has a lot of topping but bubur kanji rumbi almost has no topping just spreaded by fried onion.

Bubur kanji rumbi only cooked and served by men without woman at all. Usually at 03.00 p.m they have been in mosque and prepare the foodstuff. Then at 04.00 p.m they start cooking. It take so much time, they use firewood to cook it in a big earthen cooking pot in order to serve to anyone who wants to break their fast in mosque. Then bubur kanji rumbi is ready to served at 06.00 p.m since breaking a fast time is 06.30 p.m in Aceh.

Korea today : From The View of It’s Film Industry

Korea today : From The View of It’s Film Industry

Type      : Summary

Source : Korea Saat ini : Dilihat dari perkembangan Film Nasionalnya (Suray Agung Nugroho)

Korea already have a data about their film industry since year 2000.  It is different from Indonesia that still does not have data transpiration. In  latest 5 year, every year Korean film’s viewer are about 40 million people while the population of Koreans is 48,5 million people (CIA worldfact, 2004 census) and 50 film are launched every year in average. It indicates that films had become a national commodity and the Korean people itself like their national product.

                There are 5 other facts about Korean films industry. First, since there are numerous film community either online or offline by now, lots of movie festival were held by government or private agent. In example, The Pusan Film International, Seoul International Cartoon and Animation festival, and so on. It means that film industry grow actively in Korea.

                Second, in first half 21 century Cineplex businesses were dominated by big financial capital holder. But in second half century it is getting more balance. Moreover after the Megabox Cineplex already shared with foreign investor. It is a role model for Indonesia whish till today the Cineplex businesses are owned by the big financial capital holder.

Third, Korea still prefer to showing more Korean film products more than American Films. But lately it is not  that strict anymore, so that American film still can grow and popular in Korea.

Fourth, as like what happened in Hollywood film industry, a strike that held by script writer who felt the low fee for their work which indicated the low appreciation disappointed the workers. But since 2008 there is already an agreement which tied the producer and other film-maker crew. So, there is already a standard of payment for each workers position.

Fifth, 2 film institution KOFA ( Korean Film Archive) and KOFIC (Korean Film Council) are established in Korea. Each institution has its own responsibility in film industry. KOFA is ordered to arrange Korean movie database which can be easily to be accessed. While KOFIC duty is promotes the films.

From the five facts above it all are the step to fasten the film industry. As the palli-palli culture (hurry-hurry culture) already rooted in Korean mindset, so the Korean wants everything to be fast and quick, it reflected in their development. 

related article click Here

Lotteria vs Mc Donald's : Burger vs Burger

First established in Japan in September 1972. Lotteria is considered to be a follower of McDonald's. Both sell similar burgers, such as hamburgers, cheese burgers, teriyaki burgers, and so on. Their Shrimp burger is popular and is an original burger of Lotteria, first made in 1977.

Lotteria in South Korea was founded on October 25, 1979, and was part of an expansion of the Lotte Group that included the founding or acquisition of other food-related divisions, including Lotte Chilsung Beverage, Lotte Samkang, and Lotte Ham & Milk. Lotteria became the number one fast food restaurant, boasting a 45 percent market share in 2001 (compared to 20.1 percent for McDonald's). Lotteria achieved this success in part by introducing lines of Koreanized fast foods including its now signature kimchi burger, and strikes most initial visitors as a Korean version of most Western-style fast food restaurants with some local additions. The imitation, with "cleanness, the bright interior, the Western pop music as an audio background," is designed to create "the impression of a 'small piece of America in the middle of Korea'". This strategy resulted in growth rates of 10 percent in 2006 and 16 percent in 2007; by 2009, Lotteria had 920 outlets. (Wikipedia.org)

                As Korean government campaign  a slogan for its visit year program “where you can eat delicious food and stay healthy”, Lotteria provide this company with a healthy looking too. From removing trans fat from its Fries menu until rye bread burger that only have 350 calories.

                Today is an era when everyone can not resist the fast food appeal. It served fast, crispy, spicy, fast safety hunger and catches right to everyone appetite. In Korea Mc Donald’s does exist but if you hit the search button in your Google searching the Korean Burger keyword, Lotteria is the most appearing answer.

                Koreans are very partisan consumer, preferring their own grown home versions over the flashier, established American or any other foreign import. Korean movies out sell imported Hollywood blockbusters. Wal-Mart in Korea has fails over the similar E-Mart. So it is not a surprise when Lotteria is the major Burger joint in Korea. Korea is one of two country where Mc Donald’s is not a market leader of burger beside French. Moreover, in Korea Lotteria grows bigger than in Japan, Where it firstly established.

                Korean Lotteria offers menu that similar with non-fast food menu like in traditional Korean restaurant. Start from Kimchi Burger, Bulgogi burger to Zzang (짱) burger type. The Zzang Burgers are actually the buns-less burgers but replaced with round of rice ‘buns’.  Also, if you are not the typical who like onion rings or squid fries you can choose Phat-Bing-Soo (a shaved ice –but in Lotteria is replaced with soft ice cream like Mc Donald’s soft ice cream- and loaded with tteok –korean rice cake-, red beans and mix fruit around it).

                The Lotteria outlets performs the outlook which similar with café atmosphere, a cozy place where you can get wi-fi and other wireless satisfaction (Koreans are crazy for wireless things).  The difference with Mc Donald’s is you can still find a long line of queue. Many of Lotteria burgers varians are not readily made to serve. Possibly because the policy requires all food to be disposed off after 10 minutes of being cooked.

               

                On the other hand, Mc Donald’s has a standard with its racing time. Well-known worldwide that Mc Donald’s needs to be served fast and no long standing line. Mc D’s is racing in a minute or even seconds. As we can see in past year Indonesia,  some of big Mc D’s outlet even put mini sand-watch in the cashier counter, but mostly are not useful, only symbolic.

                How the foreigners (especially the American) comparing Lotteria and Mc D’s when they visit Korea? Bulgogi Burger is a variant of burger that available both in Lotteria and Mc D’s. First Impression comes from the wrapping. The commonly using of light burger wrapper perfectly wrap  the Lotterias’ up, while excess sauce of the bulgogi spilled out wetting the buns and paper. More, the taste of both burgers are not strikingly different, but lettuce is more put in Lotteria’s. For several people, the tomato slice in Lotteria’s is a bit big and not good for the taste, so the put out the tomato and enjoy the thicker bulgogi patty that lotteria’s have than Mc D’s. Probably this thicker patty is liked by most Korean and some foreigners. But for some American its patty is too greasy and noth as crispy as the Mc D’s’.  

                But Mc D’s is popular with its crispy French fries and none of the fast food franchise chains can beat it. Even The fries from Lotteria is soggy. For Americans, Lotteria portion is bit little than the Mc D’s have. Like the seafood burger which contain small pieces of squid. But, Mc D’s burgers are cheaper than Lotteria’s.

                In other aspects Lotteria really show its attention to the recycling aspect off. 

Source: Wikipedia, numerous article from Google

Recent Indonesia and Korea Government System: in Culture Perspective

Recent Indonesia and Korea Government System:

in Culture Perspective

Yutsa Z.Ula / 07.254514.SA.13944

While Korea combining its Confucianism with the western way of liberation and democracy, Confucian democracy was born. In Confucianism taught family is the model of organization. In Korean way using democracy as the way ruling the country, religion –Confucianism and Buddhism- still influence the democracy itself. Since the deeply rooted tradition cannot be easily removed and do the pure liberal-democracy.

The same in Indonesia today. The 2 period chose in a row, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) who has a background grew in Javanese culture. Lately, SBY is criticized about his leadership as which using the Javanese way of decision making in the framework of the western style democracy. 

An old article from Ben Anderson definitely explains how different western democracy and old way of Javanese system is. According to Ben, Javanese system not only different but definitely the opposite of the western democracy which become the base of political idea development.

Javanese believe that a power of control is concrete, homogeny and no need to doubt the legitimacy. And the power can be seen through an abstract thing. Like a legend that told Ken Dedes would born kings who later reign in Java soil just because her legs shine and other king’s legend. This is exactly contrast with the western idea which said that everyone could be a ruler if he/she has passed several political selection. Still remain in our mind, right when SBY had chose, his name was related by some paranormal to Jayabaya’s prognosis.

 Moreover in Javanese political ideology task sharing is not available. The King is the one who must be followed. Seen from Hamengku Buwono (yang memangku semesta/ lapping universe) and Paku Alam in Yogyakarta, Pakubuwono and Mangkunegara in Solo. Paku or Mangku (lap) is an idiom that indicates like lapping a little child, it only can be done by one person. (ANALISIS : Politik Jawa SBY by Bayu Dardias- Jurusan Ilmu Pemerintahan, Fisipol UGM lecturer).

Interestingly based on the historical records most reasons of the collapse of Javanese kingdoms is a betrayal from the insiders of the kingdom itself. And if we look today’s political situation the conflict that happened in presidential Government are mostly caused by the insiders. Like the Century bank case which bail Vice-President Boediono out. In addition, in this latest 3 months, politic observers see President SBY has shows clearly how afraid and doubtful he is. And many of them criticizes him about his lateness, inconsistence and doubtful as how the ancient Javanese Kings did in past centuries.