Introduction

This introduction provides an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book demonstrates that alternative visions for Indonesia's media present and future are relevant not only to the media as such, but also to many other, media-related aspects of Indonesia's new democracy such as consumer behaviour, political education, media literacy, environmental awareness, health care, urban design and disaster relief. It then focuses on the relevance of media ecology, eco-aesthetics and Cultural Studies for the study and critique of contemporary trends in visual culture in Indonesia and beyond. The book shows how one important aspect of media ecology, media literacy has been promoted in the pioneering work of the late Indonesian cultural analyst Veven Sp. Wardhana. It also analyses concrete examples of media ecologies. The book focuses on the role of visual and other media in rethinking urban and semi-rural life and infrastructure.