The Year of Voting Frequently: Politics and Artists in Indonesia’s 2004 Elections

The Year of Voting Frequently examines the period of time throughout 2004, when 147 million Indonesians chose their first directly elected president and national and regional legislative candidates. Unlike polls under former near-dictator Suharto, many rural and urban citizens engaged in genuine vigorous political activity. Performance was unusually prominent. Politicians performed as artists, artists performed as politicians, politicians appeared with popular artists, and many touring troupes encouraged Indonesians to vote. The Year of Voting Frequently examines the role of the performing arts in politics.