Crop circles: Old and new myths in the making

Crop circles: Old and new myths in the making

Al Makin, Yogyakarta | Fri, 02/04/2011 10:23 AM | Opinion, The Jakarta Post

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Yogyakarta, with a population diverse in ethnicities, faiths, and cultures, is a miniature Indonesia. You may also argue that other cities feature the same characteristics as those of Yogyakarta.

Accepted. Whereas people come to Jakarta, and perhaps also to Surabaya, Medan and other cities, to seek jobs or pursue careers, Yogyakarta’s reputation rests in its excellent universities. But do not misunderstand what Yogyakarta really is.

Yogyakarta is a supernatural city. Likewise, Indonesia is not a real country, but a paranormal entity. Without understanding magic, myth and the supernatural, you will never understand Yogyakarta or Indonesia.

This sultanate city, like Indonesia, is filled with rumors, gossip and mythologies. People do not see reality directly as it is. Rather, they imagine things beyond reality. The truth is not what you see, but what you can imagine.

The volcanic eruption of Mount Merapi, which devastated some parts of northern Yogyakarta, is understood not merely as a natural phenomena. There is belief that the angry spiritual world sparked Merapi’s fury. Many pinpoint that the sinful conduct of people caused the punishment which befell Yogyakarta.

Similarly, Gayus is perceived not just as a man who was sentenced to seven years in prison due to his role in tax fraud. People believe that bigger fish, or players even more clever than Gayus were at fault.

The case of Gayus is not what it appears. There are more untold true stories behind the stories revealed by the media.

People do not see things as they seem. They imagine something much more intricate. The figure of Gayus becomes a myth, sensationalized by tales about how he escaped from jail and flew to Bali, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. Like it or not, people theorize to what extent they can imagine.

Gayus has already become a myth.

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