tobacco

POST A: Designing in the Tobacco Landscape

~ Aisling Rudge ~ Leave a comment

Having visited Yogyakarta, it is evident that the culture of the city is fostered through the soul of creative art which can be seen all around. From street art, independent boutique stalls for designers and numerous galleries, Jogja is a place where creativity comes to life. “Central to the island’s artistic and intellectual heritage, Yogyakartais where the Javanese language is at its purest, the arts at their brightest and its traditions at their most visible.” (Lonely Planet, 2019). 

Street Art in Jogja, a glimpse into the creative landscape. Photograph by Aisling Rudge, 2019.

The first time I thought about the link between tobacco companies and the power that designers have, was when I was on a tour in Kali Code. My tour guide, Bayu, stopped to show us some art produced by students in the area. He said that each year the students are able to exhibit their work near Kali Code at an event sponsored by tobacco companies. This made me think of other ways that the tobacco industry has crept into the scenes of events, disguising itself as a friendly sponsor. 

My visit to Kali Code. Photograph by Aisling Rudge, 2019.

Such examples in the past have included the event Java Rockin’ Land, sponsored by Gudang Garam, an Indonesian cigarette company. The event also targeted school children, who “…are enticed to attend the event through special discounted ticket prices”. (SEATCA, 2010). The role of designers in helping to bring these sponsored events to life often include the creation of posters and advertisements that further the agenda of the tobacco companies. 

Still not having signed the WHO FCTC, Indonesia does not need to enforce measures for tobacco control. These measures for control include: “…ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship”. (Kin, Lian & Yoon, 2010). As a result, advertising and sponsorship by tobacco companies runs rampant throughout Indonesia, having a detrimental effect towards the tobacco cessation movement. A study on smoking behaviour showed that: “cigarette ads were perceived as encouraging youths to smoke”. (Dewi & Prabandari, 2016).

As designers, we can choose if we want to partake in furthering the power of the tobacco industry, or take a stand and say ‘no’.  American designer, Victor Papanek, notes that “social good and moral values are very important in a designer’s practice…”. (Savvina, 2016).

Whether it be through refusing roles that are associated with tobacco industries or through our own forms of self-expression such as street art, designers can choose how they want to influence the world around them.

‘Stop Smoking’. Photograph by Aisling Rudge, 2019.

References:

Dewi, A. & Prabandari Y. 2016, How do Indonesian youth perceive cigarette advertising? A cross-sectional study among Indonesian high school students, Global Health Action, vol. 9, viewed 23 December 2019, 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3402/gha.v9.30914

Java Rocking Land, 2010, Java Rockin’ Land, viewed 22 December 2019,

http://www.javarockingland.com/2010/

Kin, F., Lian, T. & Yoon, Y. 2010, How the Tobacco industry circumvented ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship: Observations from selected ASEAN countries, Asian Journal of WTO and International Health Law and Policy, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 449 – 466.

Lonely Planet, 2019, Yogyakarta, viewed 22 December 2019,

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/indonesia/java/yogyakarta

Savvina, O. 2016, Proceedings of the 2016 International Conference on Arts, Design and Contemporary Education, Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, vol. 2, viewed 23 December 2019,

https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/icadce-16/25858269 

Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, 2016, ASEAN Tobacco Control Resource Center, viewed 23 December 2019,

https://seatca.org/international-artists-performing-at-indonesian-tobacco-sponsored-rock-festival-despite-protest

Stakeholders at Tobacco Sponsored Music Events

~ rubylaxton ~ Leave a comment

The music scene in Yogyakarta is booming, and the tobacco industries who have a blatant yet denied obsession with youth advertising find this scene to be the perfect grounds to plant the seeds of their brand (Agato, AW, 2018). This includes various modes of advertising at the events through sponsorship which creates a complex relationship, as the companies are supporting the events with large payments. This helps them to exist and survive, yet markets dangerous products to the audience (Ketchell, 2018). Sponsorship usually looks like tobacco branding displayed on all festival/event posters, billboards and promo girls handing out free cigarettes. As well as online marketing in the form of website links and even through Instagram. Instagram is a problematic mode as there is no real way to bypass age restrictions, young people from all over the world are able to see the images and content through hashtags and links (Astuti, Assunta, & Freeman, 2018).

Local and international artists play at these events and it can still be unclear as to how much the musicians themselves are involved with the tobacco companies. Many deny having known the event was sponsored by tobacco industry. Kelly Clarkson visited Indonesia for a festival in 2010 and sparked media outrage when it was discovered that the concert was sponsored by tobacco brand L.A Lights. Clarkson eventually dropped the sponsorship and we can speculate whether or not she really knew about the sponsorship in the first place or if it was dropped only due to media pressure.  Kelly Clarkson is not alone as many International and Australian bands still tour in Indonesia and frequent events which are sponsored by big tobacco (NBC Los Angeles 2010).

People like Kelly Clarkson are role models for many young people and they have an opportunity as creative culture makers to be a positive influence in this space. If large public figures are educated on the matter and have the power to say no to tobacco influence I their shows they have a way to positively influence their young audience. Almost all tobacco advertising plays on the ‘cool factor’ and if role models who young people define as cool, can be seen refusing the influence of tobacco this could be considered a form of design activism in the Yogyakarta region.

REFERENCES

Agato, Y. AW, T. 2018, ‘Asias Experimental Music Scene is About to Explode’ , Vice Indonesia, viewed 20 Dec 2019, <https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/mbyp4v/asias-experimental-music-scene-is-about-to-explode&gt;

Astuti, P., Assunta, M., & Freeman, B. (2018). Raising generation “A”: a case study of millennial tobacco company marketing in Indonesia. Tobacco Control, 27(e1), e41–e49. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2017-054131

Ellis, L. 2011, ‘Mormon Band Shuns Tobacco, Except in Indonesia’ Motherjones, viewed 20 Dec 2019, <https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/06/neon-trees-mormon-band-tobacco-java-rockinland/&gt;

Ketchell, E. 2018, ‘Tobacco company in Indonesia skirts regulation, uses music concerts and social media for marketing’ The Conversation, viewed 20 Dec 2019,  <https://theconversation.com/tobacco-company-in-indonesia-skirts-regulation-uses-music-concerts-and-social-media-for-marketing-93206&gt;

NBC Los Angeles, 2010, Kelly Clarkson Sparks Smoking Debate As Tobacco Company Sponsors Indonesian Concert, viewed 20 Dec 2019, https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/kelly_clarkson_sparks_smoking_debate_as_tobacco_company_sponsors_indonesian_concert/1892253/

Interview with Nursing Students

~ rubylaxton ~ Leave a comment

When walking around Jogja 2 nursing students Naila and Elma asked to interview us on HIV for their university project. In return we asked them some questions about their opinions on tobacco in Indonesia. It was great to hear a nuanced perspective which was from a young person who understood youth culture, as well as well health students who were highly educated on tobaccos’ effects on the body.

When I asked Naila what her opinion was on smoking she gave me a lengthy and well educated reply. She talked about the way that cigarette smoke makes up a large portion of the air pollution in Indonesia. It is the most important indoor air pollutant (Mangunnegoro and Sutoyo 1996). She also stated that passive smoking is more dangerous than active smoking. This shocked me and was something I hadn’t heard before. When I did some research later this checked out and I found that the smoke which hasn’t passed through the filter of the cigarette has more harmful chemicals than the smoke that the active smoker is inhaling (Cleveland Clinic 2017). Naila also said that 90% of tuberculosis cases in Indonesia are caused from smoking.

We then went on to talk about why people smoke in Indonesia. I wanted to know if people knew the risks or not. She said that they usually do, however people like her father have trouble quitting because they are already deeply addicted. Elma then told me that it took a big scare with lung disease in her family for everyone to stop smoking. None of them smoke anymore, however it is a concerning truth that it may take many smokers a brush with death to realise the reality of the health effects of tobacco.

When speaking about child smoking Naila said that the main reason kids smoke is by association. They see family and peers smoking and because they haven’t been educated about the risks yet they try it out. She called teens ‘labil’ which translates to unstable. Teen brains are much more likely to take risks, especially when around peers (Bessant, 2008). Naila believed that it’s perceived as ‘cool’ to smoke and some kids feel left out if they refuse.

This interview shed light on some new facts I didn’t know about and solidified ideas we already had. Naila had some interesting facts about tobacco that she had learnt at university which we hadn’t heard before. As well as some important insight into youth tobacco culture.

REFERENCES

Bessant, J. 2008. Hard wired for risk: Neurological science,‘the adolescent brain’and developmental theory. Journal of Youth Studies, 11(3), pp.347-360.

Cleveland Clinic 2017, Second Hand Smoke Dangers, viewed 20 Dec 2019, <https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10644-secondhand-smoke-dangers&gt;

Mangunnegoro, H. and Sutoyo, D.K., 1996. Environmental and occupational lung diseases in Indonesia. Respirology, 1(2), pp.85-93.

Trichopoulos, D., Kalandidi, A., Sparros, L. and Macmahon, B., 1981. Lung cancer and passive smoking. International journal of cancer, 27(1), pp.1-4.

Post C: Pedicabs of Prawirotaman

~ claricetann ~ Leave a comment

“The becak (pedicab) is as much a motif and symbol of Indonesia as the silhouette of a wayang kulit puppet, or the smell of a clove cigarette.”

(Admintih, 2016).

The pedicab is an integral part of Yogyakarta’s traditional culture. Stemming from the tourism boom pre 1980s, it is “employed as an important marketing tool for cultural tourism in Yogyakarta” and is in fact banned from major Javanese cities – but there it is “tolerated by the authorities” (Smithies in Dahles, H. & Prabawa, T.S. 2013, p. 242). Most of these men live in villages outside of the city, often travelling back to their hometown via motorbike (the pedicab is parked in location) or even sleeping overnight in their pedicabs to provide late service to tourists. More than any other participants in the informal tourism sector of Yogyakarta, pedicab men remain strongly embedded in their village community, with their earnings flowing back to the community they come from (Dahles, H. & Prabawa, T.S. 2013). However, given my recent visit to Yogyakarta, it was clear that the pedicab has lost its prevalence and the interests of many.

Pedicabs with Money Changer Sponsorship (Tan, 2019).

I had the blessing of speaking to one of these pedicab drivers in Prawirotaman, an area that is rich with the integration of traditional culture and modern design. Adi Tama, a 38-year old pedicab driver, points the cause of this fall towards people’s preference for convenience. With apps such as Gojek and Grab, tourists are less inclined to choose the pedicab, even when the bicycle of the pedicab had been swapped out for a motorcycle. With this decline in customers, I inquired what Adi and his fellow drivers do to cope, to which he answered “we find sponsors… we have other work.” Adi himself has 3 other jobs, 2 of them in the tourism industry, and 1 as a mobile handyman in his hometown, and is sponsored by Money Changer (they receive monthly funds for bike repair and are given packs of cigarettes, and also meat every religious holiday). The sponsorship of cigarettes is what was concerning, as “tobacco is responsible for 4.2 million deaths every year, a figure that… is estimated to reach 8.4 million by 2020” (Minh, H.V., Ng, N., Wall, S. et. al 2005, p.1) with “most smokers [coming from] lower education and economy levels” (Barkina, T., Dewi, V. K., Isnaniah. & Kirana, R. 2014, p.2). With the stresses of a declining job market, the sponsorship tips of cigarettes and the busy lifestyle of a pedicab driver, it is no surprise that these men are at risk of a low chance of cessation.

On this note, Adi details his choice to be a pedicab driver was due to the fact that he and many others his age couldn’t afford further education. He’s had to learn English, German and Dutch from tourists. He’s grateful that with the new government established 5 years ago that his children can afford tertiary education, as “education is an important predictor of being a regular smoker. Men with less education tended to smoke regularly and cease less.” (Minh, H.V., Ng, N. Wall, S. et. al, 2005, p.6).

Although the pedicab is becoming scarcer on the roads of Yogyakarta, the gentlemen behind the cab are here to stay. When asked what his plans for the future is, Adi replied “I’m saving up, I’m saving up for something else, something better.”

References

Admintih, 2016, Becaks, the traditional transportation in Indonesia, topindonesiaholidays, viewed 20 December 2019, <http://blog.topindonesiaholidays.com/?p=4191&gt>.

Barkina, T., Dewi, V. K., Isnaniah. & Kirana, R. 2014, ‘ Smoking behavior and attitude towards cigarette warning labels among informal workers in Surabaya city – East Java, Indonesia’, Advances in Life Science and Technology, vol. 21, pp.1-2.

Dahles, H. & Prabawa, T.S. 2013, ‘The case of the pedicab drivers of Yogyakarta, Indonesia’, Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, vol. 26, no.3, p.242.

Minh, H.V., Ng, N., Wall, S. et. al 2005, ‘Smoking epidemics and socio-economic predictors of regular use and cessation: Findings Ffom WHO STEPS risk factor surveys in Vietnam and Indonesia’, The Internet Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 3, no. 1.

POST A: Designing for the next generation

~ brookedlm ~ Leave a comment

Design is a complex system often difficult to define. Design activism in particular gives shape to a cause in a way that’s easy to understand and embrace, acting as a sustained platform for change.(Miles, 2019) However, not all design can resolve issues, but instead unknowingly or purposefully contribute to them. In terms of Indonesia’s smoking epidemic, design is a vital tool effectively used to promote tobacco use, whether this be through the use of public space (billboards, banners outside shop fronts), social media and television campaigns, packaging or sponsorships and endorsements of major events. The tobacco industry has and continues to connect with designers and creative culture makers successfully, with the industry increasing their economic gain through their strategic and appealing advertising schemes targeting the youth; the next generation smokers.

Cigarette bunting on a Mosque, 1997, Photograph by Maraid O’Gorman

In Indonesia, particularly Yogyakarta the presence of smoking advertisements are everywhere. It is surprising when there is a lack of. In Reynolds ‘Tobacco Control’ she shares “…visiting the country in early 1997, I was appalled by the enormous amount of billboard and point-of-sale advertising, indigenous and multinational, so prolific it almost became a “natural” part of the Indonesian landscape.” (Reynolds, 1997)

Smoking Campaign, Borobudur, 2019 (own photo)

Fast forward 22 years later, I share in Reynolds experiences in the sense not much has changed. The lack of advertising control has enabled the tobacco industry to continue to thrive, with it living proof of how impactful design really is. With the rise of a technological era, the exposure of such design is more far-reaching than ever before, from streets to television screens, to the sponsoring of public events, social media and Youtube – media outlets that are more commonly used by Indonesia’s youth.

Gudang Garam’s GG Mild brand Youtube advertisement (2017) clearly advocates the ‘new generation’ as their audience, promoting creativity along side tobacco. Smoking continues to be promoted as a ‘social activity’ or something that is considered ‘cool’, using works by designers as an engaging technique.

Gudang Guram GG Mild Advertisement, 2017

In 2016, Global Health Action conducted a survey with high-school students to investigate how youth perceived cigarette advertising. This study revealed that cigarette ads were perceived as encouraging youths to smoke and that smoking status was consistently associated with perception of cigarette ads. (Global Health Action, 2016)

Not only is the imagery a key aspect of design, but so is placement. Banner design in particular is placed on store fronts in close proximity to schools as a subtle yet strategic method to appeal to youth. (Lamb, 2018)

L.A Bold Cigarette Billboard on Yogyakarta street, 2019, (own photo)
Clas Mild Silver cigarette advertisement on vehicle down Yogyakarta street, 2019, (own photo)

Across Indonesia, more design activism for anti-smoking initiatives is needed. Design is both the problem and the solution, and it effects everything. (Crosby, 2016)

Crosby, A. 2019, ‘Design Activism in an Indonesian Village’, MIT Design Issues, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 50-63, viewed 19 December 2019, < https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/desi_a_00549>.

Medicine Man, How does design affect our lives?, marketing agency, London, viewed 20th December 2019, <https://medicine-man.net/2017/11/07/how-does-design-effect-our-lives/>.

Nichter, M., Padmawati, S., Prabandari, Y., Ng, N., Danardono, M. & Nichter, M. 2009, ‘Reading culture from tobacco advertisements in Indonesia,’ Tobacco Control, vol. 18, no. 2, viewed 20th December 2019, < https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/18/2/98 >.

Reynolds, C. 1999, Tobacco advertising in Indonesia: “the defining characteristics for success”, viewed 20th December 2019, <https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/8/1/85.short&gt;.

Yayi P., Arika, D 2016, US National Library of Medicine, How do Indonesian youth perceive cigarette advertising? A cross-sectional study among Indonesian high school students viewed on 20th Dec 2019,<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5005365/>

POST A: Two parties using design to their advantage

~ brandon13234644 ~ Leave a comment

As designers, we hold far more responsibility than ever in this digital world where technology is relied on. A designer has the power to control how a space can be more hospitable and the way the general population consumes context (Role of design in society, chapter 1).

In Indonesia, the tobacco industry has used design to their advantage in order to boost tobacco consumerism. A tobacco company giant that has been notorious in pushing their kretek products to men through heavy graphics is ‘PT Gudang Garam’. In their graphics, they depict masculine men and this notion of masculinity has been further supported by their infamous slogan ‘Kretekeknya lelaki’, meaning ‘man’s cigarette’. This has been successful as more than 62% of their men smoke and 90% of are kretek smokers (Tobacco control, 2009). This graphic design as a form of advertising to a large demographic is dangerous in a country like Indonesia as it has not signed with the ‘WHO-FCTC’ (WHO, 2015) which means mainstream tobacco advertising coverage is still prevalent. So why are the deaths of these men ignored? The tobacco industry is one of the largest source of government revenue (Tobacco control, 2009) and with the backing of the government, the industry thrives.

Masculine graphic advertisement by Gudang Garam. Catherine Reynolds, 1999, Tobacco advertising in Indonesia: “the defining characteristics for success”, viewed 20 December 2019, https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/8/1/85

The continuous use of political power and design, Gudang Garam held a rock competition in 2007 and a rock festival called Rockinland in 2011. These festivals were again targeted at males, as all of their graphic promotional materials depicted rock symbols which were masculine. Apart from that, Rockinland’s lineup were male rockstars to further portray this lifestyle of ruggedness. Similarly, the Jakarta open which was a male’s tennis event was also sponsored by the tobacco industry. Drawing considerations starting from as simple as masculine graphics to enlisting only male stars ultimately is clever design as each element is cohesively attractive to their male target market.

A graphic poster showcasing Rockin’land’s male dominated lineup. Cranberriesworld, 2011, ‘Rockinland festival lineup’, viewed 20 December 2019, http://cranberriesworld.com/live/concerts/java-rockinland-festival-2011-2011-07-23/.

A communal organisation however, has used this design formula to advocate for a more sustainable future. ‘Kartel Awul Yogyarkata’ holds events targeted at youths, predominately males with their primary focus on encouraging them to trade and sell used clothing. The events are generally held at the few skateparks alongside local punk bands in order to appeal to this demographic. Similarly, they advertise graphically through their cult online presence. Although these events do not have primary involvement with tobacco, they do have anti-smoking zones in the larger areas of these events such as the foodcourt and the thrift stalls which can discourage general smoking there.

A band playing at the Kartel Awul YG event I attended, 2019.
stakeholder map and chain to vaguely show the relationship both parties share with government and people of Indonesia, 2019.

Catherine Reynolds, 1999, Tobacco advertising in Indonesia: “the defining characteristics for success”, viewed 20 December 2019, https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/8/1/85

Cranberriesworld, 2011, ‘Rockinland festival lineup’, viewed 20 December 2019, http://cranberriesworld.com/live/concerts/java-rockinland-festival-2011-2011-07-23/.

Mimi Nitcher, 2009, ‘Reading culture from tobacco advertisements in Indonesia ‘, tobaccocontrol, viewed 20 December 2019, https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/18/2/98.

SEATCA, 2010, ‘International artists performing at Indonesian tobacco-sponsored rock festival despite protests’, viewed 20 December 2019, https://seatca.org/international-artists-performing-at-indonesian-tobacco-sponsored-rock-festival-despite-protests/.

World health organisation, 2015, ‘Tobacco control in Indonesia’, WHO, viewed 20 December 2019, https://www.who.int/tobacco/about/partners/bloomberg/idn/en/.

POST A: Designers and Creative Culture Makers Role in Society

~ jauwjasmine ~ Leave a comment

Designers play a huge role in the success of tobacco industry in Indonesia. Everything from branding, packaging, advertisement and others are created by designers to promote specific brand of cigarette. Designers and creative culture makers can take part positively to be an agent of change to break the culture of smoking with their talents through design activism. Design activism is an act of using our talents to create a good positive impacts that can inspire and educate others. 

Stakeholders map

The tobacco industry is one of the leading industry in world, Indonesia is the second largest cigarette market in the world (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids 2017). Designers and creative makers takes part in the success of the tobacco industry in Indonesia in the form of advertisement that designers make to advertise smoking cigarette that are advertise visibly saturates in Indonesia (Reynolds 1999), murals about smoking as well as entrepreneurs that accept cigarettes company as their sponsorship for their events play a huge role in the enablement of the tobacco industry. One of the many example is in 2008 PM International/Sampoerna one of the biggest cigarette brand in Indonesia, sponsored US singer Alicia Keys’ concert in Jakarta, Indonesia (Stanton et al. 2010). Designers and creative culture makers can be an ethical influence and an agent for change through design activism to tackle the culture of smoking in Indonesia by creating positive advertisement and rejecting offer to work in the tobacco related company. Creative culture can also participate in this change by not inviting cigarette company to sponsor their events or participate in the events that are sponsored by cigarette company. 

There are still some barriers that designers and creative culture makers face when influencing change such as economic factor, since getting sponsorship for an event can be quite tough but because the tobacco/cigarette industry is one of the most biggest industry in Indonesia, it is easier to approach them to ask for sponsorship than other companies. Tobacco companies has been established since long time ago in Indonesia that makes them have a strong relationship with the government, moreover they are one of the largest tax revenue in Indonesia, influencing changes around tobacco industry might be harder because of the relationships they have with the officials.

A group of people posing for a photo Description automatically generated

PT Gudang Garam Tbk one of the biggest cigarette production company in Indonesia sponsored an English rock band on 2012 to perform at Yogyakarta (wowkeren 2012). 

Resources:

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids 2017, The Toll of Tobacco in Indonesia, viewed 18 December 2019, <https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/problem/toll-global/asia/indonesia&gt&gt;.

Reynolds, C. 1999, Tobacco advertising in Indonesia: “the defining characteristics for success”, viewed 18 December 2019, <https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/8/1/85.short&gt;.

Stanton, C. R., Chu, A., Collin, J., Glants, S. A. 2011, Promoting tobacco through the international language of dance music: British American Tobacco and the Ministry of Sound, viewed 18 December 2019, <https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/21/1/21/476917&gt;.

Wowkeren 2012, Grup Band Beraliran British Rock Akan Memulai Konser 18 Februari Di Jakarta, Disusul Tiga Kota Lainnya Yakni Surabaya, Yogyakarta Dan Bali, viewed 18 December 2019, <https://www.wowkeren.com/berita/tampil/00016847.html&gt;.

POST C: The involvement of tobacco within the subcultures of Jogja

~ brandon13234644 ~ Leave a comment

During my visit to Jogja, I had crossed paths with youths at the local events I had attended. Having already known that Indonesia is recognised as the fastest growing cigarette consumer worldwide (Joy de Beyer and Ayda A. Yurekli, 2000), I was interested in the hierarchal value that tobacco had within these environments. I decided to follow up on two individuals whom I had met at these events after to gain a more in-depth understanding of how smoking is affecting youths behind these culture as a whole.

The first individual, is 20-year-old Zulfian. Zulfian has been smoking since high school which started at the first punk show he had attended and blamed both the high prevalence of smoking at these shows and also the social stigma that smoking is associated with amongst men. He considers himself a regretful smoker as he is aware of the dangers of smoking and thus, hopes for a future where tobacco is more considered in education. Although Zulfian is amongst the 70.5% of men who are current smokers (WHO, 2017), he does not completely blame punk for his tobacco consumerism but wishes there were other alternatives other than smoking when attending these shows.

Photographs I took of smoke clouds from smokers and attendees smoking at the punk show, 2019.

My other candidate Za however, is a member of a sculpture making society that do not condone smoking at their events. Being a foreign student from Portugal, she was aware of the Indonesian tobacco industry prior to her move. Initially, this did not phase her as she was originally a social smoker but her views on smoking shifted after joining the sculpture society through her Jogja university. Before her involvement within the society, Z stated that she continued to smoke socially despite fellow classmates advising her that female smokers are frowned upon in Indonesian society. This is no surprise as a study in 2007 showed that only as little as 3% of women smoked (Mimi Nitchter, 2007). The events organised by her society promotes sustainability through showcasing works made from organic and natural resources. She felt the need to quit as a whole because smoking did not align with her society’s motif for advocating a greener society as it causes pollution.

Photo of Za’s works at a event her society had which promotes sculptures and fabrics made from reusable and organic materials.

Ultimately, although the relationship that tobacco has within these two groups differ, I understand that this could be bias perspectives as these opinions derive from two minority sub cultures in which are highly niche.

Joy de Beyer, Ayda A. Yurekli, 2006, ‘Curbing the Tobacco Epidemic in
Indonesia’, viewed 20 December 2019, <http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.552.952&rep=rep1&type=pdf>.

Mimi Nichter, S Padmawati, M Danardono, N Ng, Y Prabandari, Mark Nichter, 2009, tobaccocontrol, viewed 19 December 2019, <https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/18/2/98.short>.

Nawi Ng, L. Weinehall, A. Öhman, 2007, ‘‘If I don’t smoke, I’m not a real man’—Indonesian teenage boys’ views about smoking ‘ pages 794-804, academic, viewed 19 December 2019, <https://academic.oup.com/her/article/22/6/794/640787>.

World health organisation, 2019, ‘‘WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2019 ‘, WHO, viewed 19 December 2019, <https://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/idn.pdf>

POST C: Sitting down with Dhohri

~ brookedlm ~ Leave a comment

After months of research, I finally witnessed Indonesia’s tobacco culture first-hand, after recently returning from a two week adventure to Java, Indonesia. From vivid billboards and consistent banner displays of tobacco advertising to the tourist attraction of Malioboro Street, covered with smokers who continue to contribute to the existing second-hand smoke within the area. The problem of tobacco in Indonesia is certainly one that is wicked and complex. I sat down with Dhohri, a Yogyakarta local and staff member at the hotel Jogja Village Inn to gain more insight on the issue and a supposed “way of life.”

I first met Dhohri when going out for lunch to Jogja Village Inn’s ‘Secang Bistro’ with a bunch of other individuals also on the university studio. His welcoming and friendly nature created an inviting presence and was a reflection of the kind-spirited and hospitable Indonesian folk I had already met across my travels. Shocked by the number of young tourists in front of him, he was interested in knowing about our visit to Yogyakarta. When I responded with “a project on tobacco” he looked in confusion and asked “why would you come to Indonesia to study tobacco?” After explaining how tobacco is a huge issue in Indonesia and our motive was to create design ideas that implement anti-smoking, he agreed that the majority of Indonesians are smokers and continued to add that “smoking pollutes the air”, highlighting smoking’s affect on others. To date, there are about 66 million active smokers and approximately 90 million passive smokers. (Afifa, 2019) Vital Strategies powerful campaign #SuaraTanpaRokok (Voices without Cigarettes) included a video of the recently deceased spokesman Pak Topo, who targeted smokers stating “I’m not a smoker. There are no smokers in my family. I also lead a healthy lifestyle… Maybe one of the causes [of my lung cancer] was that I’m a passive smoker…” (Topo, 2018)

In my conversation with Dhohri, I continued to ask him about his personal lifestyle. I learnt that he was a non-smoker and had a wife and two children. His 15 year old son also does not smoke because he attends an “educated and international school,” further implying that ones education and socioeconomic status correlates to the odds of smoking. A 2018 study has shown that adolescents in the poorest quintile had more than twice the odds of smoking compared with adolescents from the richest quintile (Global Health Action, 2018) When questioned as to why he doesn’t smoke he responded that “it is not healthy” and mentioned that Indonesians are ill informed of the health impacts. However, he went on to add that “smoking is a tradition…it is a way of life…many do it socially.” Laughing in response to my question of what could we could do to change the smoking scene, he said “it is too difficult to change…”

Dhohri in his element at Jogja Village Inn, 2019

Afifa, N., 2019, ‘Secondhand Smoke Is Much More Than Just a Smelly Nuisance’, Jakarta Globe, Jakarta, viewed 19th December 2019, <https://jakartaglobe.id/context/secondhand-smoke-is-much-more-than-just-a-smelly-nuisance>.

Cahya, G., 2019, ”I’m a passive smoker’: Sutopo leaves powerful warning against smoking before death’, The Jakarta Post, viewed 19th December 2019, <https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/07/09/im-a-passive-smoker-sutopo-leaves-powerful-warning-against-smoking-before-death.html>.

Kusumawardani,N., Tarigan, I., Schlotheuber, A., 2018, ‘Socio-economic, demographic and geographic correlates of cigarette smoking among Indonesian adolescents: results from the 2013 Indonesian Basic Health Research (RISKESDAS) survey’, Global Health Action, vol.11, viewed 19th December 2019,<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5990951/>.

#Post.A The connection between designer and tobbaco industry

~ Xiaoling Cai (Serena) ~ Leave a comment

Designers have played a relevant role in the tobacco industry in Indonesia. Especially in tobacco packaging and advertising have become a dominant position. According to Lian(2010), Philip Morris mentioned “The primary job of the package and advertising is to create a desire to purchase and try”,which clarified the designer’s direction for tobacco companies.That means tobacco companies will be deemed to cigarette packaging an integral part of the marketing strategy. There are a lots of tobacco adverting in Yogyakarta such as the advertising of Dunhill cigarette brand showing the high technology and modern city to attract people attention. Another example is the television advertising of L.A brand, which the slogan is’ I lead the pack, I rule the world’ showing the man’s power to attract smoker to buy the cigarette. According to Unreported world (2012), a teenager called Fuad said he start to smoking is because the ads attract him. He feel like smoking is pretty cool while he saw the advertising on the television.

Dunhill television advertising

Moreover, package designer alway use bright colors and trendy flavors logo to attract smokers, such as tea flavor and cappuccino flavors shown on the package(Lian 2010). The tobacco package designer in order to reach the aim of attract people to purchase the cigarettes. They was design some of the commemorative pack showing the popularity of international sporting events such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which is flags of top competitors are depicted on the packaging. Djarum cigarettes company also win some customer by introducing 12 limited edition pack design feature native to South Africa(Lian 2010). 

2010 FIFA World Cup Package of Djarum

 

2010 FIFA World cup package with animal and football of Djarum.

Furthermore, there are no point to convincing the statement of the tobacco companies deny their advertising targets is under 18 year old is right. Because the themes of tobacco advertising that are likely to be very attractive to young people, such as humor, adventure, cool, bravery and success. According to Macfie(2019), The health warning on the package does not change the smoker behavior in Indonesia. As Surjanto Yasaputera who is work at a cigarette manufacturer in Jakarta said ‘ the health warning does not have a significant impact of sales after the country have implement it. And it it not getting attention of smoker. 

IMG_1078

Reference lists:

Lian. Y. T. 2010, Are we to believe the package has no ROLE?, Abuse of the pack to promote cigarettes in the region, Southeast Asia tobacco control alliance, Bangkok, pp.1-pp.15.

Macfie, N. 2019, Indonesia rolls out graphic health warnings on cigarette packs,The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles, Sydney, viewed 19 December 2019, <https://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-cigarettes/indonesia-rolls-out-graphic-health-warnings-on-cigarette-packs-idUSKBN0EZ0K220140624&gt;.

Unreported world 2012, Indonesia’s tobacco children, viewed 19 December 2019, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsUAAw2qLB8&t=1091s&gt;.