Big is Better - the Importance of Status to the Balinese
As countries and cultures ‘develop’ (I like to think of it as ‘capitalize and homogenize’), people start to place increasing value on material possessions and how they reflect their place in society. Bali, with all its frequent and colourful ceremonies and rituals, is the perfect playground for ‘big kids’ to show off what they’ve got, securing their place in the pecking order. The size of these possessions is a key status issue here: the bigger your vehicle, house, temple, ceremony, even children demonstrate this. We’ve seen this same rat-race in developed countries.
When choosing a mode of transport, most Balinese families would opt for the ‘elbow room’ of a Toyota Land Cruiser rather than the practicality of a Suzuki Karimun, even though only the latter can fit down the island’s tiny roads and alleyways. A Karimun, however, doesn’t quite make that ‘I have the dollars and am go-internasional’ statement though does it?
With the onslaught of multi-national fast food ‘nasties’ and 24-hour stores in Bali, larger houses are needed to accommodate a new generation of fatties: the ‘Buddha’ babies that are so doted upon here - as in most Asian societies, big children shows you have big money to spend on them and their food.
I read in a local tabloid recently that some spiritual leaders are concerned with the Balinese loss of understanding in their Hindu belief system and philosophy that is sacrificed for a focus on ritual and endless ceremonies. Certainly ceremonies seem to be getting more frequent, and bigger. Balinese I talk to say that if the cash is there, people will opt for a more ‘pumped up’ ceremony because this is not only more pious, but shows other households or communities (and tourists) that you are prosperous.
Another thing that is getting bigger in Bali is real estate, and with the dollar signs flashing most Balinese are wanting a piece of the pie - but at what cost? More next issue on the destructive nature of real estate greed.
Vaughan Hatch has immersed himself with Balinese culture, living with locals in Bali since 1997. He speaks fluent Indonesian and Balinese, and is unashamedly addicted to playing gamelan. A linguistic, archaeology and publishing graduate, he works for indOKiwi ‘linguistic and cultural solutions’ in Sanur. Email him on contact@indokiwibali.com or call (0361) 8427030 for further queries.
