Gejolak Darah Kawaii : A Documentary Screening and Discussion

Last December, Lensa Massa FIB UI from the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Indonesia (UI), in co-operation with MbahJan666krik (those dudes and gals who bring us #Bingo0202) held a documentary screening about AKB48. Entitled “Gejolak Darah Kawaii UI” or “The Kawaii Turmoil of UI”, the event took place in 9th Building, Room 9305, Faculty of Humanity, UI. The docummentary was “The History of AKB48 ~Kin Sma Special~” from the TV Show Kin Sma.

The audience members were not only AKB48 fans from the University of Indonesia, but also from neighbouring college, such as Gunadarma University. The audience was pretty much already familiar with AKB48 and/or JKT48.

After the screening, there was a small discussion session. While the discussion itself was intended to be just a small coffee break talk, ended up as a good and depth discussion between the fans. The fans were engaging themselves in some issues like the business strategy of Akimoto Yasushi, the connection of JKT48/AKB48 and Indonesian/Japan relationship, and the psychology aspects of idoling. Eventhough some of the issues were rather controversial , the fans could held what I called “a healthy discussion” : a serious talk with some jokes here and there to lighten up the mood.

After the discussion was over, there was some quiz with AKB48 CDs as prizes. Then, there was a group shot session.

I personally think that this is a good and healthy event. Rather than engaging ourselves in the so-called fan-wars or any other unhealthy ways of idoling, these kind of healthy discussions remind us that we don’t need to be pathetic to make idoling as a hobby, instead we can discuss it in a scientific yet interesting point of view.

Interview with @MBAHJAN666KRIK

JKT48Stuff: So, what are the reason for MbahDjan666krik to cooperate with Lensa Massa FIB UI to held public screening and discussion of the AKB48 KIN SMA Special?

@MBAHJAN666KRIK: actually we’ve held BIN666O tribute event before. then, at that time I ask the other “Why don’t we also held a screening event? AKB48 screening event at my campus, because it looks like there many people who like AKB48 and might as well use it as gathering event for those with same interest. That’s the first reason why we held this event. then I try to find an organization within my campus that could help, turns out, Lensa Massa from FIB UI are interested in the idea since some of their members are a fan of AKB48. You could say that we’re just curious how many fans of AKB48 are there in UI & what kind of discussions they’ll gotten into when gathered.

JKT48Stuff: So, what are your opinion about the course of the discussions, since there’s various disciplines of sciences that are used to discuss & explain the topic

@MBAHJAN666KRIK: that’s one thing that i’m really not expecting, since even though we’re in a college, i don’t think the discussion would be as heavy as that, like social perception, geopolitics, and so on. I’m really happy, cause I feel impressed knowing that AKB48 could also be discussed scientifically not just as a mere fans. We’re not just simply like them, but we also knew why we like them.

JKT48Stuff: Among many other documentary of AKB, why did you choose KINSMA special?

@MBAHJAN666KRIK: We’re debating which documentary that we’re going to show between two titles, KINSMA special & AKB: To be continued, the one which talk about behind the scene of every AKB48 concert. But we finally choose KINSMA because it tells about the history of AKB in chronological order, so that, for those who’re new to AKB48 could follow and understand their story from the beginning.

JKT48Stuff: After this screening, is there any chance that you will held another event like this?

@MBAHJAN666KRIK: I really want to do that, especially after seeing the positive acceptance from the campus civitas academica. I actually want to spread this among those who actually don’t know & don’t like AKB48. But, it’s kind of hard to that in the first try. Before, we even discussed whether we should held this in a bigger place or not, but for the first time, we think this should be enough. another student organization also agree to held another event like this, since AKB48 had many documentaries. I even also ask the student body whether they dare to held AKB concert screening or not, and they said fine. So, who knows?

JKT48Stuff: What did you hope after this screening event? especially for this fandom

@MBAHJAN666KRIK: I hope that those who join this event could spread their experience in this event and influence other people to become interested in AKB48. Show them that AKB48 not only just for fun, but you could also learn many serious knowledge from the entity known as AKB48.

Interview with @LensaMassaFIBUI

JKT48Stuff: So, what are the reason fo Lensa Masa to held this screening event

@LensaMassaFIBUI: It is all starting from the girlband phenomenon in the recent years which then followed by JKT48 & it’s fans phenomenon, but many people don’t know why they like them and what do they like from them. Because our photography & cinematography activity are focused in mass culture, we wanted to discuss this scientifically especially as a college students. You could see from before, many other attendants are using various kind of science discipline to explain it.

JKT48Stuff: So, you actually are not a fans of AKB, per se?

@LensaMassaFIBUI: Honestly, no, I’m not a fan of them. but as an academics, we have to try to understand this social & cultural phenomenon.

JKT48Stuff: So, after saw those documentary and joined the discussion, what are your impression about 48groups, be it AKB 48 or JKT48?

@LensaMassaFIBUI: First are about the general stigma that AKB48 is a form of women exploitation, or even children exploitation. But, if you see it from this KINSMA special documentary, you could see that this phenomenon itself came from the girls own desire to reach their dreams to become an idol. And they work from nothing, it’s one of many things that we should have learn from them, all of those fighting spirit and the will to never give up. I don’t know yet about JKT48, but 8 years of hard work from AKB48 members finally shows itself.

JKT48Stuff: Do you have anything to say about AKB48 or this fandom?

@LensaMassaFIBUI: For first, they should keep their 48groups identity and never lose it, even if there’s always something new in the business. then, for a critics, they’re still young, they should’ve also prioritize their education. maybe they should have waited until higher education level before joining idol groups.

JKT48Stuff: In the future, will you held another similar event?

@LensaMassaFIBUI: Maybe we will held another thing like this, but only for something like this documentaries which held many moral & social value that we should set example of.