Young, Modern, and Tjabul

Abstract This article examines the cultural politics of obscenity ( tjabul ) in 1950s’ Indonesia, a decade marked by ideological flux, technological transformation, and contested visions of modernity. Drawing on archival materials from periodicals such as Star Weekly , Wanita , and Harian Rakjat , it explores how obscenity was defined, debated, and regulated across literary, visual, and political domains. Through interconnected case studies within literary and popular scenes, the article reveals how affective expressions were used to police bodies, regulate media, and shape national identity. Engaging with Sara Ahmed’s theory of the politics of emotions, it argues that tjabul was not a fixed category but rather a performative discourse shaped by colonial legacies, gendered anxieties, and postcolonial aspirations. The article situates obscenity within broader debates on artistic freedom, women’s visibility, and cultural sovereignty, showing how the media became both a moral compass and a battlefield of beliefs in a nation still defining itself.