Putri Prihatini
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putriprihatini.bsky.social
Putri Prihatini
@putriprihatini.bsky.social
1K followers 260 following 1.3K posts
I blog about Tolkien from Indonesia. Love folklore, books, movies. East Javanese living in East Borneo. She/Her. Banner by Amar Alfikar. I want Free Palestine and transphobes getting shat on by vengeful pigeons.

My blog: https://putri2wotan.wordpress.com/
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Putri Prihatini @putriprihatini.bsky.social · Nov 13
I made many threads that I love on X. Will take a while to move them here, so give me time💚 They include:

- Tolkien and folklore
- Favorite Tolkien's letters
- Folklore and culture esp. Southeast Asia
- Book recs by Palestinian authors
- Indonesian vintage LGBTQ zines
- Javanese cat manuscript
A bare-chested male dancer grimacing in pain as he is stabbing himself with a traditional blade (keris) during Barong Dance, with the Barong creature that resembles a giant lion with long teeth and adorned by golden crown and necklace looming behind him. Cover for My First and Only Love by Sahar Khalifeh. It is turquoise and depicts two Palestinian women in traditional dresses and headdresses picking olives. A cover art of Jaka zine, first edition, featuring an artwork of two Javanese male wayang puppet figures, side by side. There is a triangle-like structure that symbolizes a mountain in Javanese wayang performance.
putriprihatini.bsky.social
I switch between books depending on my mood! Currently, I'm moving between memoirs by a queer Muslim writer and a young Gazan journalist, and an Indonesian short story collection with friendship as a theme. They offer different experiences that I simply match with my mood of the day. #Booksky
A photo of three books on a blanket. One is titled Museum Teman Baik, one titled Hijab Butch Blues: a memoir, and one titled The Eyes of Gaza.
November 8, 2025 at 5:58 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
I sometimes need ambient music to focus on reading. My favorites so far are sape (the instrument of my birthplace, easy choice), Sundanese degung (best gamelan music style for reading), Tony Duncan's style of Native American flute, and my recent favorite: queer Palestinian oud player Clarissa Bitar.
A photo of a Dayak man holding a sape, a stringed instrument made of a bole of wood. The surface is filled with spiraling and vine-like carvings. The man wears a long necklace and long earrings adorned with bones and claws. There are tattoos similar to the carvings on his sape adorning his shoulders, upper arms, and chest. A photo of a degung gamelan group. Some sit and some stand behind a set of gamelan, hand drums, percussions in shapes of mini gongs, and metal xylophones. The players hold wooden puppets for traditional wayang golek or shadow puppetry. A photo of a Native American man with two long braids looking at the side, wearing a colorful roach headdress and beaded headbands, armbands, and bracelets. He wears a sleeveless blue vest with intricate embroideries and an embroidered apron. His hands hold a Native American flute made of dark wood. A photograph of Clarissa Bitar, a short-haired Palestinian, sitting on a rock with trees at the background, holding an oud stringed instrument with their left hand. They wear a beige shirt and white pair of pants.
November 8, 2025 at 11:25 AM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Debut novel of queer Malaysian writer Ong Chin Huat, observing Malaysian upper class society in an apartment building and secrets behind their seemingly perfect image. Despite somewhat rushed ending and some "tell" instead of "show", it's a fun read. Love the cover art by Chinmayee Samant! #Booksky
A photo of Harmony Heights novel by Ong Chin Huat. The book has a colorful cover with the image of a facade of an apartment building, with several large windows and balconies showing the tenants in various activities. The wall has an image of someone swimming in a swimming pool. The background color is orange but the illustrations of the apartment, the pool, and the tenants' rooms are colorful.
November 7, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Perang Obor ("torch war"), an annual post-harvest fire battle in Tegalsambi village, Central Java, is a part of purification and blessing ritual. Its folkloric origin story was a fight between villagers over sick cattle, resulting in a cleansing flame that healed the cattle. 1/2

#WyrdWednesday
A photo of several people hitting each other with flaming torches made of long coconut fronds, embers flying everywhere as spectators watch. A photo of several people hitting each other with flaming torches made of long coconut fronds, embers flying everywhere as spectators watch. A photo of two people ferociously hitting each other with flaming torches made of long coconut fronds, embers flying everywhere as spectators watch and take photos. A photo of two people hitting each other with flaming torches made of long coconut fronds, embers flying everywhere as spectators watch. One of them has their body almost covered by flames.
November 5, 2025 at 1:23 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Perang Obor ("torch war"), an annual post-harvest fire battle in Tegalsambi village, Central Java, is a part of purification and blessing ritual. Its folkloric origin story was a fight between villagers over sick cattle, resulting in a cleansing flame that healed the cattle. 1/2

#WyrdWednesday
A photo of several people hitting each other with flaming torches made of long coconut fronds, embers flying everywhere as spectators watch. A photo of several people hitting each other with flaming torches made of long coconut fronds, embers flying everywhere as spectators watch. A photo of two people ferociously hitting each other with flaming torches made of long coconut fronds, embers flying everywhere as spectators watch and take photos. A photo of two people hitting each other with flaming torches made of long coconut fronds, embers flying everywhere as spectators watch. One of them has their body almost covered by flames.
November 5, 2025 at 1:23 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Just published: Wajah di Palestina ("faces in Palestine"), an essay collection written in Indonesian by senior Indonesian journalist, essayist, and poet Goenawan Mohamad.

Now 84 years old, Goenawan Mohamad wrote this book based on his repeated visits to Palestine since the early 1980s. #Booksky
A photo of a book titled Wajah di Palestina, an Indonesian sentence means faces in Palestine. The cover is white with a square on top filled with expressionist painting depicting a massacre of refugees in a refugee camp. Next to the book is a postcard with a picture of a dove carrying a red poppy and watermelon slices.
November 5, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
In a letter to Christopher Bretherton (16 July 1964), Tolkien mentioned a nightmare of a great wave, which he wrote in The Lost Road and Akallabêth. It reminds me of "smong verse" from Simeulue, Aceh, which teaches islanders what to do when smong (tsunami) comes. 1/2
#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday
A folk verse in Simeulue language and its English translation. It says: Enggel mon sao curito Inang maso semonan Manoknop sao fano Uwi lah da sesewan Unen ne alek linon Fesang bakat ne mali Manoknop sao hampong Tibo-tibo mawi Anga linon ne mali Uwek suruik sahuli Maheya mihawali Fano me singa tenggi Ede smong kahanne Turiang da nenekta Miredem teher ere Pesan dan navi da Listen to this tale Once upon a time A village drowned As it was told Starting with a quake Followed by a giant wave The land submerged It was so sudden If the quake was strong And the seawater receding Hurry and search for A higher land It is called smong The story of our ancestors Remember this The message and the lesson The smong verse, as recited in 2014 by Mohammad Riswan of Simeulue and transcribed by Ayat Karokaro for Mongabay Indonesia (translation by me) A photograph of The Lost Road and Other Writings: the final chapter in the history of Middle-earth, by JRR. Tolkien. The book is a paperback with a cover that depicts a handful of soldiers in armors and carrying spears and shields hiding behind rock formation near the ocean, observing a tall white tower.
November 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
In a letter to Christopher Bretherton (16 July 1964), Tolkien mentioned a nightmare of a great wave, which he wrote in The Lost Road and Akallabêth. It reminds me of "smong verse" from Simeulue, Aceh, which teaches islanders what to do when smong (tsunami) comes. 1/2
#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday
A folk verse in Simeulue language and its English translation. It says: Enggel mon sao curito Inang maso semonan Manoknop sao fano Uwi lah da sesewan Unen ne alek linon Fesang bakat ne mali Manoknop sao hampong Tibo-tibo mawi Anga linon ne mali Uwek suruik sahuli Maheya mihawali Fano me singa tenggi Ede smong kahanne Turiang da nenekta Miredem teher ere Pesan dan navi da Listen to this tale Once upon a time A village drowned As it was told Starting with a quake Followed by a giant wave The land submerged It was so sudden If the quake was strong And the seawater receding Hurry and search for A higher land It is called smong The story of our ancestors Remember this The message and the lesson The smong verse, as recited in 2014 by Mohammad Riswan of Simeulue and transcribed by Ayat Karokaro for Mongabay Indonesia (translation by me) A photograph of The Lost Road and Other Writings: the final chapter in the history of Middle-earth, by JRR. Tolkien. The book is a paperback with a cover that depicts a handful of soldiers in armors and carrying spears and shields hiding behind rock formation near the ocean, observing a tall white tower.
November 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Two glass paintings of gunungan (mountain-like structure used in wayang performance) by Rastika, an artist from Cirebon, West Java. Glass painting has a long history in Cirebon, with multiple influences in its style like Javanese, Chinese, and Islamic art.

📷: Museum Wayang Jakarta, December 2024
Glass painting of gunungan with multicolor surface and intricate details of shapes on the surface like nagas, tigers, birds, trees, suns, and giants. Glass painting of gunungan with multicolor surface and intricate details of shapes on the surface like nagas, tigers, birds, trees, suns, and giants. A photograph of dalang or wayang kulit puppeteer, taken from behind him. He sits in front of a screen under the dim light, his hands holding two gunungan above his head. Two gunungan for wayang performance, made of hide and attached on two thin handles. They have intricate ornamenta of tigers, birds, trees, giants, nagas, and gates, dominated by golden, yellow, red, and black colors.
November 2, 2025 at 1:02 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
My first ever horror novel by trans author, "Tell Me I'm Worthless" is a haunted house tale where the insidious supernatural horror intertwined with the bleak, real-world one; rage bleeding from every page. A reflection on Rumfitt's experience facing organized, politicized transphobia. #Booksky
A photo of a book titled Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt. The cover is dark with the artwork of a dark haired girl, her face is covered with black paint wash except her eyes. There is an image of a dark, dilapidated house above her head. The book is surrounded by several bookmarkers with the images of a flute player, a dove, a rhino, a man and a water buffalo, a hand holding a book where plant grows from the pages, and a book reader who has leaves growing from her head and arms.
November 1, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Popular mountains in Java like Merapi (pictured), Lawu, Arjuna, Sindoro, and Salak are rich sources of haunting local folklore that urge climbers to be cautious and act respectfully. Among the most popular tales are disappearances around pasar setan, or "ghostly markets". 1/3 🧵

#WyrdWednesday 👻
A photograph of Mount Merapi, an active volcano, looming high above the city of Yogyakarta and Prambanan Temple. There is a volcanic smoke pillar emanating from the peak.
October 29, 2025 at 1:01 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Popular mountains in Java like Merapi (pictured), Lawu, Arjuna, Sindoro, and Salak are rich sources of haunting local folklore that urge climbers to be cautious and act respectfully. Among the most popular tales are disappearances around pasar setan, or "ghostly markets". 1/3 🧵

#WyrdWednesday 👻
A photograph of Mount Merapi, an active volcano, looming high above the city of Yogyakarta and Prambanan Temple. There is a volcanic smoke pillar emanating from the peak.
October 29, 2025 at 1:01 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
"Simply a delicate kin of a snowdrop" was how Tolkien described niphredil, small white flowers featured in Middle-earth legendarium, in a 1969 letter to Amy Ronald. They are associated with important themes in his stories, like hope and triumph over challenges. 🧵1/6

#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday
A cluster of snowdrops growing amidst the grasses, adorned by drops of dew.
October 28, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Since the main character, Isah, was raised by a batik artist for Yogyakarta palace, there were several classic Javanese batik motifs mentioned in this book. My favorite is Sekar Jagad ("flowers of the world"); multiple panels containing different patterns, a symbol of ultimate beauty. #Booksky
A book titled Lebih Putih Dariku, Indonesian for "whiter than me", by Dido Michielsen. The grey cover features a photo of two Javanese women wrapped in batik fabric. Near the book is my hand holding a cup with red tea and dried herbs. A collage of four panels depicting Sekar Jagad batik: a batik motif that consists of many asymmetrical panels and each has its own unique, multicolor patterns.
October 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Since the main character, Isah, was raised by a batik artist for Yogyakarta palace, there were several classic Javanese batik motifs mentioned in this book. My favorite is Sekar Jagad ("flowers of the world"); multiple panels containing different patterns, a symbol of ultimate beauty. #Booksky
A book titled Lebih Putih Dariku, Indonesian for "whiter than me", by Dido Michielsen. The grey cover features a photo of two Javanese women wrapped in batik fabric. Near the book is my hand holding a cup with red tea and dried herbs. A collage of four panels depicting Sekar Jagad batik: a batik motif that consists of many asymmetrical panels and each has its own unique, multicolor patterns.
October 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
A Balinese blawong, or a decorative stand to display keris (traditional dagger), also popular in Java. This one is shaped like Hanuman and was made of jackfruit wood.

At the bottom are ceremonial Balinese keris, the types that would be displayed proudly on a bawong.

📸: Museum Nasional Indonesia
A blawong, a keris display in a shape of a wooden Hanuman statue, a warrior in elaborate outfit with the head and tail of a monkey. His hands are curled, which are used to put keris blades. It is displayed behind a glass panel with a keris and its sheath. A blawong, a keris display in a shape of a wooden Hanuman statue, a warrior in elaborate outfit with the head and tail of a monkey. His hands are curled, which are used to put keris blades. A Balinese keris with shallow curves on its dark blade and ornate white handle in the shape of a deity. Its sheath has white handguard with ornate wooden body. A Balinese keris with shallow curves on its dark blade and ornate dark wooden handle in the shape of a deity. Its sheath has dark brown handguard with ornate wooden body.
October 25, 2025 at 1:47 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
A Balinese blawong, or a decorative stand to display keris (traditional dagger), also popular in Java. This one is shaped like Hanuman and was made of jackfruit wood.

At the bottom are ceremonial Balinese keris, the types that would be displayed proudly on a bawong.

📸: Museum Nasional Indonesia
A blawong, a keris display in a shape of a wooden Hanuman statue, a warrior in elaborate outfit with the head and tail of a monkey. His hands are curled, which are used to put keris blades. It is displayed behind a glass panel with a keris and its sheath. A blawong, a keris display in a shape of a wooden Hanuman statue, a warrior in elaborate outfit with the head and tail of a monkey. His hands are curled, which are used to put keris blades. A Balinese keris with shallow curves on its dark blade and ornate white handle in the shape of a deity. Its sheath has white handguard with ornate wooden body. A Balinese keris with shallow curves on its dark blade and ornate dark wooden handle in the shape of a deity. Its sheath has dark brown handguard with ornate wooden body.
October 25, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Favorite terms from "The Queer Arab Glossary", a book on queer slangs gathered by contributors from various Arab/Arabic-speaking countries, plus personal writings about being queer with multifaceted (and often politicized) identities.

Purchased at Jakarta indie bookshop Transit Bookstore. #Booksky
A photo of my hand holding a book titled The Queer Arab Glossary: Edited by Marwan Kaabour, foreword by Rabih Alameddine and Illustrations by Haitham Haddad. The book cover is light blue with the title in black font and there is the Arabic version of the title in salmon pink. There are erotic illustrations such as birds with penis heads and a sex toy with a hand on the spring. A page depicting the word Kahina, its Arabic text, and the meaning: High priestess, an established, older gay mother who enjoys respect and stature in the community. Mostly used among lesbians but also sometimes by gay men. A page depicting the word Lubya, its Arabic text, and the meaning: cowpea/white bean, used by the younger generation in the LGBTQ+ community to refer to each other. A page depicting the word Nas al-Dunya, its Arabic text, and the meaning: Worldly folks, an oblique term for queer/LGBTQ+ people who enjoy living life to the fullest with all its pleasures.
October 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Favorite terms from "The Queer Arab Glossary", a book on queer slangs gathered by contributors from various Arab/Arabic-speaking countries, plus personal writings about being queer with multifaceted (and often politicized) identities.

Purchased at Jakarta indie bookshop Transit Bookstore. #Booksky
A photo of my hand holding a book titled The Queer Arab Glossary: Edited by Marwan Kaabour, foreword by Rabih Alameddine and Illustrations by Haitham Haddad. The book cover is light blue with the title in black font and there is the Arabic version of the title in salmon pink. There are erotic illustrations such as birds with penis heads and a sex toy with a hand on the spring. A page depicting the word Kahina, its Arabic text, and the meaning: High priestess, an established, older gay mother who enjoys respect and stature in the community. Mostly used among lesbians but also sometimes by gay men. A page depicting the word Lubya, its Arabic text, and the meaning: cowpea/white bean, used by the younger generation in the LGBTQ+ community to refer to each other. A page depicting the word Nas al-Dunya, its Arabic text, and the meaning: Worldly folks, an oblique term for queer/LGBTQ+ people who enjoy living life to the fullest with all its pleasures.
October 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Old video, but if you go to the mall with your mom, get ready to record a kolintang group rehearsal if she demands it.

He sung an old favorite keroncong tune Bengawan Solo by Gesang. Anyone watching Wong Kar-Wai's In the Mood for Love or Kurosawa's Stray Dog/The Quiet Duel might recognize the tune!
October 23, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
The most recognizable part of folk dance Reog Ponorogo from East Java is "Dadak Merak", giant masks with tiger heads and peacock feathers, worn by strong dancers. Its popular folkloric origin story is a princess who requested a two-headed animal as a gift from her suitor. 1/4

#WyrdWednesday
A close up of a Dadak Merak mask in Reog Ponorogo troupe. The mask features a tiger's head with large teeth. On top of it is a giant fan-like peacock feather arrangement. The feathers were arranged around a large oanel with two lion figures, Indonesia's country mascot shaped like a garuda bird, and embroidered "PONOROGO" text. The underside of the peacock feather "fan" has thick red and yellow fringes. The peak of a Reog Ponorogo performance on a sandy field. Two dancers wearing ferocious Dadak Merak masks are facing the dancer who plays King Kelana Sewandana in a battle. A Reog Ponorogo troupe performing on a field surrounded by trees. There are seven dancers wearing giant Dadak Merak masks, standing in two rows. A photograph of a Reog Ponorogo performance with two dancers wearing Dadak Merak masks. A bare-chested dancer shows a fire performance by blowing a torch with his mouth to create a giant flame.
October 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
The most recognizable part of folk dance Reog Ponorogo from East Java is "Dadak Merak", giant masks with tiger heads and peacock feathers, worn by strong dancers. Its popular folkloric origin story is a princess who requested a two-headed animal as a gift from her suitor. 1/4

#WyrdWednesday
A close up of a Dadak Merak mask in Reog Ponorogo troupe. The mask features a tiger's head with large teeth. On top of it is a giant fan-like peacock feather arrangement. The feathers were arranged around a large oanel with two lion figures, Indonesia's country mascot shaped like a garuda bird, and embroidered "PONOROGO" text. The underside of the peacock feather "fan" has thick red and yellow fringes. The peak of a Reog Ponorogo performance on a sandy field. Two dancers wearing ferocious Dadak Merak masks are facing the dancer who plays King Kelana Sewandana in a battle. A Reog Ponorogo troupe performing on a field surrounded by trees. There are seven dancers wearing giant Dadak Merak masks, standing in two rows. A photograph of a Reog Ponorogo performance with two dancers wearing Dadak Merak masks. A bare-chested dancer shows a fire performance by blowing a torch with his mouth to create a giant flame.
October 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
In The Lay of Leithian, Tolkien described how Huan the Hound know the healing herbs to help the wounded Beren. This knowledge of healing herbs and roots was comparable to other canines: the dogs of Gula, the Mesopotamian goddess of medicine. 1/4

#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday
🎨: Maria Awsejkowa
"Then Huan came and bore a leaf, of all the herbs of healing chief, that evergreen in woodland glade there grew with broad and hoary blade. The powers of all grasses Huan knew, who wide did forest-paths pursue." J.R.R. Tolkien: The Lay of Leithian, canto 10 A painting of Luthien, an Elf woman with dark hair, riding on the back of Huan, a large hound, as it runs across a field of tall grass in the evening.
October 21, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
An article from Indonesian TEMPO magazine (12 April 1986) depicting a group of trans women led by Myrna, a local trans activist, protesting blood donor discrimination in front of the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Division on Kramat Raya Road, Jakarta.

📷: from the collection of Queer Indonesia Archive
A scanned image of main article of Tempo, 12 April 1986, with the title Korban AIDS dan Protes Waria (AIDS Victims and Trans Protest). The photo depicts a group of Indonesian trans women gathered in front of Divisi Transfusi Darah (Blood Transfusion Division) at Indonesian Red Cross office in Jakarta. The article was written in Indonesian. The summary is as follows: a group of trans women gathered to protest blood donor discrimination toward "homosexual people" during AIDS scare. The protest was led by a trans woman named Myrna, who expressed disappointment following the statement of dr. Masri Rustam, the head of Unit Four, who said that homosexual people are barred from donating blood for fear of transmitting AIDS. He even planned to enforce it by taking the blood discrimination proposal to other units. Myrna said that she and fellow trans people had planned to organize a blood donor initiative. She and her friends faced further discrimination at home because of AIDS scare.
October 20, 2025 at 2:35 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
An article from Indonesian TEMPO magazine (12 April 1986) depicting a group of trans women led by Myrna, a local trans activist, protesting blood donor discrimination in front of the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Division on Kramat Raya Road, Jakarta.

📷: from the collection of Queer Indonesia Archive
A scanned image of main article of Tempo, 12 April 1986, with the title Korban AIDS dan Protes Waria (AIDS Victims and Trans Protest). The photo depicts a group of Indonesian trans women gathered in front of Divisi Transfusi Darah (Blood Transfusion Division) at Indonesian Red Cross office in Jakarta. The article was written in Indonesian. The summary is as follows: a group of trans women gathered to protest blood donor discrimination toward "homosexual people" during AIDS scare. The protest was led by a trans woman named Myrna, who expressed disappointment following the statement of dr. Masri Rustam, the head of Unit Four, who said that homosexual people are barred from donating blood for fear of transmitting AIDS. He even planned to enforce it by taking the blood discrimination proposal to other units. Myrna said that she and fellow trans people had planned to organize a blood donor initiative. She and her friends faced further discrimination at home because of AIDS scare.
October 20, 2025 at 2:35 PM