- Djenar Maesa Ayu
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Djenar Maesa Ayu Born January 14, 1973
JakartaLanguage Indonesian Genres Fiction Djenar Maesa Ayu (born in Jakarta, Indonesia on 14 January 1973), also known as Nay,[1] is an Indonesian novelist, short story writer, actress, screenwriter, and filmmaker. She is also a mother and grandmother.[2] Her work has variously been described as "provocative and lurid", and unique and brave.[2]
Contents
Life and work
The daughter of film director Sjuman Djaya and actress Tuti Kirana, Djenar Maesa Ayu began writing while studying at elementary school.[1] After graduation, Djenar worked as a television presenter for a short time before beginning to write professionally.[1]
Djenar's first book was a compilation of eleven short stories under the title Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet! (They say I'm a Monkey), written in 2001 and published the following year. In 2003, one year after it was published, Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet was one of ten books nominated for the Khatulisitwa Literary Award.[1] The book has since been translated into English by Michael N. Garcia of Cornell University, with the English translation being launched, along with Nayla, her first novel, during the 2005 Ubud literary festival.[3] Her second book, Jangan Main-Main (dengan Kelaminmu) (Don't Play (with Your Genitals)), also a compilation of eleven short stories, was nominated for the Khatulistiwa Literary Award in 2004.[1] Nayla, was published in 2005, followed by Cerita Pendek Tentang Cerita Cinta Pendek (Short Stories about Short Stories), published in 2006.[1]
Several of Djenar's short stories have been published in Indonesian newspapers, including Kompas and Republika, as well as in magazines such as Cosmopolitan Indonesia and Djakarta! Best Short Story awards have been awarded to two of her short stories, namely Menyusu Ayah (Breastfeeding Father) in 2002 and Waktu Nayla (Nayla's Time) in 2003.[1] The latter work was compiled, together with Asmoro, in an anthology of Kompas selected short stories.[1]
Djenar's short story collection 1 Perempuan, 14 Laki-laki (1 Woman, 14 Men), so called because it consists of 14 stories co-written with 14 men, was launched on her 38th birthday on 14 January 2011.[2] The work was inspired by a successful collaboration Djenar had previously had with the author Agus Noor, which had resulted in the short story Kunang-kunang Dalam Bir (Fireflies in a Glass of Beer), which was published in Kompas.[2] She is currently working on a new novel, Ranjang (Bed), the plot of which was inspired by stories from the Petualangan Celana Dalam (The Undergarment Adventures), a short story collection by another of her collaborators, Nugroho Suksmanto.[2]
In 2008 Djenar debuted as film director with the release of the film version of Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet!.[4] This film is based on two short stories from the collection: Lintah (Leech) and Melukis Jendela (Painting the Window).[4] Djenar also acts, and has appeared in a number of Indonesian films.[5]
Selected works
Short story collections
- Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet (They Say I'm a Monkey), 2001
- Jangan Main-Main (dengan Kelaminmu) (Don't play (with your sex)), 2003
- Cerita Pendek Tentang Cerita Cinta Pendek(A Short story about a Story of Short Love), 2006
- 1 Perempuan, 14 Laki-laki (1 Woman, 14 Men), 2011
Novels
- Nayla, 2005
Filmography
- Boneka dari Indiana (Doll from Indiana)1990
- Koper (The Lost Suitcase) 2006
- Cinta Setaman 2008
- Dikejar Setan (Overtaken by Satan) 2009
- Melodi (Melody) 2010
- Purple Love (2011)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "The Biography of Djenar Maesa Ayu". http://digilib.petra.ac.id/viewer.php?page=1&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&qual=high&fname=/jiunkpe/s1/sing/2008/jiunkpe-ns-s1-2008-11404018-9493-im_monkey-appendices.pdf. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "Djenar takes on 14 men in new short story anthology". The Jakarta Post. 23 January 2011. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/01/23/djenar-takes-14-men-new-short-story-anthology.html. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
- ^ "No monkey business". The Jakarta Post. 16 October 2005. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2005/10/16/no-monkey-business.html. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
- ^ a b "Djenar shows her big-screen talent". [AsiaViews.org]. 21 December 2010. http://www.asiaviews.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10282:featuresalias616&catid=5:features&Itemid=27. Retrieved 01 November 2011.
- ^ "Djenar Maesa Ayu". The Jakarta Post. 28 October 2008. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/10/28/djenar-maesa-ayu.html. Retrieved 01 November 2011.
External links
Categories:- 1973 births
- Living people
- People from Jakarta
- Indonesian writers
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