Putri Prihatini
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putriprihatini.bsky.social
Putri Prihatini
@putriprihatini.bsky.social
1.1K followers 270 following 1.4K 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.
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
In Palestinian folktale "The Green Bird", a woman murdered her stepson and served him at a wedding feast. With his sister's help, the boy transformed into a green bird and sang about his murder to the villagers.

The green bird is likely to be a Palestine sunbird (Cinnyris osea).

#WyrdWednesday
A photo of a Palestine sunbird hover above small clusters of purple flowers. The bird has iridescent green coat with brown wings. A calligraphy art that forms a flying Palestine sunbird. It consists of green and dark purple Arabic letters that form the Arabic name of the bird. Underneath the calligraphy art is an intricate tatreez pattern. A book titled Speak, Bird, Speak Again: Palestinian Arab Folktales, by Ibrahim Muhawi and Sharif Kanaana. The book cover is black with simplistic, abstract illustration of a bird. The book was photographed on a keffiyeh, surrounded by postcards. The photo of a page from the book Speak, Bird, Speak Again, which describes the part of The Green Bird story where the bird flew above the wedding guests and sang about its murder in a verse: "I am the green bird who graces this gathering! My stepmother slaughtered me, and my father devoured me. Only my kind sister (Allah shower mercy on her!) gathered up my bones and saved them in the urn of stone."
January 14, 2026 at 11:57 AM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
In Palestinian folktale "The Green Bird", a woman murdered her stepson and served him at a wedding feast. With his sister's help, the boy transformed into a green bird and sang about his murder to the villagers.

The green bird is likely to be a Palestine sunbird (Cinnyris osea).

#WyrdWednesday
A photo of a Palestine sunbird hover above small clusters of purple flowers. The bird has iridescent green coat with brown wings. A calligraphy art that forms a flying Palestine sunbird. It consists of green and dark purple Arabic letters that form the Arabic name of the bird. Underneath the calligraphy art is an intricate tatreez pattern. A book titled Speak, Bird, Speak Again: Palestinian Arab Folktales, by Ibrahim Muhawi and Sharif Kanaana. The book cover is black with simplistic, abstract illustration of a bird. The book was photographed on a keffiyeh, surrounded by postcards. The photo of a page from the book Speak, Bird, Speak Again, which describes the part of The Green Bird story where the bird flew above the wedding guests and sang about its murder in a verse: "I am the green bird who graces this gathering! My stepmother slaughtered me, and my father devoured me. Only my kind sister (Allah shower mercy on her!) gathered up my bones and saved them in the urn of stone."
January 14, 2026 at 11:57 AM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
To me, the Balinese tale of Manik Angkeran and Naga Besukih is still the best mirror for "dragon sickness" over treasure in The Hobbit. Here, gambler Manik Angkeran was blinded by greed and cut off the naga's gold-crusted tail, leading to a chain of events. 1/3

#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday
Illustration of Smaug by Tolkien, depicting a red dragon laying atop a pile of treasure in a cave. Photo of two naga statues adorning the gate of a temple in Bali.
January 13, 2026 at 2:36 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Anyone remember that lighthearted moment in "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" when the characters found breadfruit tree on an island and Ned Land became very excited about eating it? If Ned ever tasted my mom's sukun goreng (fried breadfruit), he would have kissed the ground she walked on.
A photo of slices of fried breadfruit that have light golden color, arranged on a white ceramic plate.
January 12, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
I love the mesmerizing storytelling in these Nigerian short stories. We follow various wayward characters who navigated the chaos of Lagos while spirits mingling among them: from a gay driver for an organ trafficking kingpin, to a trans housekeeper forming a sisterly bond with her employer. #Booksky
A photo of my hand holding a book titled Vagabonds! by Elogosha Osunde. The cover art is red with an illustration of a black man with skin so dark we could only see the eyes and the shadows of his nostrils, lips, and eyebrows.
January 11, 2026 at 2:55 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
I love the mesmerizing storytelling in these Nigerian short stories. We follow various wayward characters who navigated the chaos of Lagos while spirits mingling among them: from a gay driver for an organ trafficking kingpin, to a trans housekeeper forming a sisterly bond with her employer. #Booksky
A photo of my hand holding a book titled Vagabonds! by Elogosha Osunde. The cover art is red with an illustration of a black man with skin so dark we could only see the eyes and the shadows of his nostrils, lips, and eyebrows.
January 11, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Bedhaya Tunjung Anom, a court dance of Yogyakarta Sultanate (central region of Java), depicts Queen Suprabawati's estri/warrior maidens from all-female kingdom Galuh in ancient text "Serat Babad Sigaluh." Unlike similar dances, dancers carry guns beside bows, arrows, and spears. 1/4

#WyrdWednesday
A photo of Bedhaya Tunjung Anom dancers perform a simultaneous hand choreography while flipping their ashes. They wear sleeveless batik dresses with red dancing sashes, hairbuns, and guns in their sashes. A photo of Bedhaya Tunjung Anom dancers raise their guns while standing in a row while their other hands were raised with their palms facing forward. They wear sleeveless batik dresses with red dancing sashes around their waists.
January 7, 2026 at 12:55 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Bedhaya Tunjung Anom, a court dance of Yogyakarta Sultanate (central region of Java), depicts Queen Suprabawati's estri/warrior maidens from all-female kingdom Galuh in ancient text "Serat Babad Sigaluh." Unlike similar dances, dancers carry guns beside bows, arrows, and spears. 1/4

#WyrdWednesday
A photo of Bedhaya Tunjung Anom dancers perform a simultaneous hand choreography while flipping their ashes. They wear sleeveless batik dresses with red dancing sashes, hairbuns, and guns in their sashes. A photo of Bedhaya Tunjung Anom dancers raise their guns while standing in a row while their other hands were raised with their palms facing forward. They wear sleeveless batik dresses with red dancing sashes around their waists.
January 7, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
For those starting the year in less than festive mood, consider Tolkien's New Year diary entry as an 18-year-old:

"Depressed and as much in dark as ever,... God help me. Feel weak and weary."

A thread on Tolkien's unpublished diary entries for #TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday 1/12
Close up of an empty page of a notebook, with a Lord of the Rings book on top of it. A vintage photograph of young J. R. R. Tolkien in three-piece suit, posing formally with one hand inside his pocket.
January 6, 2026 at 11:40 AM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
For those starting the year in less than festive mood, consider Tolkien's New Year diary entry as an 18-year-old:

"Depressed and as much in dark as ever,... God help me. Feel weak and weary."

A thread on Tolkien's unpublished diary entries for #TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday 1/12
Close up of an empty page of a notebook, with a Lord of the Rings book on top of it. A vintage photograph of young J. R. R. Tolkien in three-piece suit, posing formally with one hand inside his pocket.
January 6, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
brianitguy.bsky.social
Tolkien Sings The Blues, well sings (and reads) The Lord of The Rings. For me #Tolkien is the master storyteller. Tolkien for #TolkienTrewsday @timbolton.bsky.social
Tolkien Reads & Sings from The Lord of The Rings Caedmon LP Tolkien Reads & Sings from The Lord of The Rings Caedmon LP
January 6, 2026 at 7:37 AM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Downtown malls in my hometown always have either the most adorable or the most unhinged decorations. Capybara Christmas tree is the only one that I actually want to take home so far.
A photo of a Christmas tree created from small capybara plushies arranged in circular rows. They are surrounded by lights and there ia a star with small colorful lights on top. A close up from the capybara Christmas tree depicting to capybara plushies sleeping side by side, wrapped by a string of lights.
January 2, 2026 at 2:48 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Starting 2026 with the new Indonesian translation of Prof. Saskia Wieringa's "A Political Biography of the Indonesian Lesbian, Bisexual, and Trans Movement". Published by indie publisher Komunitas Bambu, the goal is to make Indonesian queer history resources more accessible. #Booksky
A book titled Lesbian, Biseksual, Trans: Sejarah Gerakan Politik di Indonesia by Saskia E. Wieringa. The cover is pink with an illustration of a woman in Javanese wayang orang dress: sleeveless top, batik skirt, long sash, fan-like crown, and bow and arrow. Next to the book is a coconut-shaped mug and a notebook with keffiyeh motif.
January 1, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
In Passiliran, an ancient burial rite for a newborn baby in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, "the end" for a baby means returning to the place of safety and comfort. A tarra tree served as the grave, symbolizing the return of the baby's soul into a safe womb, with the sap as milk. 🧵1/3

#WyrdWednesday
A photograph of the large trunk of a burial tree in Kambira, surrounded by bamboo fence. The trunk has dried palm fiber panels covering the holes for babies. A photograph of the large trunk of a burial tree in Kambira, surrounded by bamboo groves. The trunk has dried palm fiber panels covering the holes for babies.
December 31, 2025 at 2:18 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
In Passiliran, an ancient burial rite for a newborn baby in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, "the end" for a baby means returning to the place of safety and comfort. A tarra tree served as the grave, symbolizing the return of the baby's soul into a safe womb, with the sap as milk. 🧵1/3

#WyrdWednesday
A photograph of the large trunk of a burial tree in Kambira, surrounded by bamboo fence. The trunk has dried palm fiber panels covering the holes for babies. A photograph of the large trunk of a burial tree in Kambira, surrounded by bamboo groves. The trunk has dried palm fiber panels covering the holes for babies.
December 31, 2025 at 2:18 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
A map of Rohan, Gondor and Mordor with Tolkien's handwriting on the plot notes for The Lord of the Rings, Book V (1944). Tolkien made these notes to coordinate the plot with the map and the phases of the moon.

- The Tolkien Estate Ltd; Bodleian Library

#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday
A crude drawing of a map drawn with pencil, with grid boxes on top of it. Above the map is Tolkien's handwritten text that describes the scene where Gandalf and Pippin rode to Minas Tirith.
December 30, 2025 at 1:43 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Made this for my IG where I mostly post things book-related. I only shared the relatively recent titles of these 9 Palestinian Christian authors, but you should check out their other works too! (Mitri Raheb, Munther Isaac, and Naim Ateek, for example, have written tons of books). 1/3 #Booksky
A Christmas-themed slide with texts that say "Books by Palestinian Christian Authors" (list by Putri Prihatini). Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, and the Genocide in Gaza (2025). Lutheran Pastor Munther Isaac, who is based in the West Bank, combined his theology knowledge and daily experiences to challenges Western Christians' uncritical embrace of Zionist theology and politics, which supports the continuation of a colonial project with nineteenth-century roots Decolonizing Palestine: The Land, The People, The Bible (2023). The newest book by pastor, theologian, and founder of Dar al-Kalima University, Mitri Raheb. He challenges the weaponization of biblical texts to support colonialism and occupation, which essentially benefits anyone who seeks to subjugate Palestinian identity, including Palestinian Christians. Call and Commitment: A Journey of Faith from Nakba to Palestinian Liberation Theology (2023). Palestinian Anglican priest Naim Ateek described how his lifetime experiences witnessing the displacement and oppression toward Palestinian people had led him to have a resonant journey of faith. It shaped him into one of the leading campaigners of Palestinian liberation theology.
December 27, 2025 at 8:09 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 💚

🎨: Holy Family in an Olive Grove, Palestinian Family, and two versions of Mother and Child by Sliman Mansour (b. 1947), a Palestinian artist who uses traditional motif and textile in his works; one of the pioneers of art for liberation movement in Palestine.
A painting of Mary, Joseph, and child Jesus in traditional Palestinian robes and dresses, decorated with colorful embroideries. There are halos behind their heads and Jesus wears a keffiyeh around his neck. There are olive trees and rock wall behind them. A painting of Mary, Joseph, and child Jesus in traditional Palestinian robes and dresses, decorated with colorful embroideries. There are halos behind their heads and Jesus wears a keffiyeh around his neck. A painting of Mary wearing a red headscarf and blue Palestinian dress decorated with colorful chest panel embroideries. She holds baby Jesus wrapped in keffiyeh with the image of Jerusalem behind her. There are halos behind their heads. A painting of Mary wearing a white robe and blue Palestinian dress decorated with colorful chest panel embroideries. She holds baby Jesus wrapped in her white robe, with the image of Jerusalem behind her.
December 25, 2025 at 1:12 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Ganjuran, a Catholic Church in Bantul, Yogyakarta, central region of Java, is known for Javanese-influenced designs, such as the Joglo architecture (ornate wooden house), a main shrine resembling ancient temple, wayang figures as angels, and its style of Eucharistic procession. 1/3

#WyrdWednesday
The exterior of Ganjuran Church, with triangular roof style called Limasan, green and gold supporting pillars, and semi-open church interior. The yard has a cobblestone floor with several trees. An Eucharistic procession in front of the outdoor shrine at Ganjuran Church. Everyone in the procession wears traditional Javanese tunic, blangkon or caps, and batik sarongs. One of them carries a large traditional parasol to protect the procession leader. The high altar of Ganjuran Church, with image of fire above the pulpit surrounded by gold, red, and green carvings. Two angels in wayang style are depicted sitting with their hands clasped in front of their chests and their heads bowed in supplication. The main shrine in Ganjuran Church yard. It is shaped like Hindu temple made of volcanic stone, with tiered roofs and a mini altar with Javanese-style Jesus statue inside.
December 24, 2025 at 2:24 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
A collection of Biblical paintings by Balinese artist, I Wayan Turun, painted in 1957. Each painting, depicting the Nativity scene, the Miraculous Feeding, the Agony in the Garden, and the Ascension, incorporated Balinese traditional fabric, rural scenes, flora, and architectures.
A painting of Nativity scene depicting Mary, Joseph, and the Three Wisemen as Balinese villagers in Balinese clothing. Baby Jesus was placed in a cot made of woven bamboo. A painting of miraculous feeding depicting Jesus as a humble Balinese man wrapped in a checkered Balinese sarong, holding a basket full of food. He is looking up to the sky, surrounded by disciples and people painted as Balinese rural folks. A painting of Jesus as a humble Balinese man wrapped in checkered Balinese sarong. He was sitting in a beautiful garden in front of a pond, his palms together. Three disciples slept next to him. A painting of the Ascension when Jesus as Balinese man floated to the sky, this time wrapped in white cloth. His disciples sat in a circle below, joining their palms together and bowing their heads. They were surrounded by rural Balinese view with Mount Agung behind.
December 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
putriprihatini.bsky.social
"Arjuna Menyusui" (Arjuna Breastfeeding), a 1979 painting by Indonesian artist Hendra Gunawan, depicts a backstage area where an actor who played Arjuna (the epitome of an ideal man) was breastfeeding her baby. A reflection on duality of life, strength, and life of the working class.

#WyrdWednesday
A modern painting depicting a colorful, chaotic, crowded backstage area where actors of Javanese wayang wong are busy fixing their makeup and getting ready for the next scene. Children are sleeping between them. A female actor in the costume of knight Arjuna was sitting on a chair, breastfeeding a baby.
December 17, 2025 at 2:44 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
"Arjuna Menyusui" (Arjuna Breastfeeding), a 1979 painting by Indonesian artist Hendra Gunawan, depicts a backstage area where an actor who played Arjuna (the epitome of an ideal man) was breastfeeding her baby. A reflection on duality of life, strength, and life of the working class.

#WyrdWednesday
A modern painting depicting a colorful, chaotic, crowded backstage area where actors of Javanese wayang wong are busy fixing their makeup and getting ready for the next scene. Children are sleeping between them. A female actor in the costume of knight Arjuna was sitting on a chair, breastfeeding a baby.
December 17, 2025 at 2:44 PM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
This picture of Polar Bear and penguins came from Tolkien's Christmas letter for Priscilla (1940), mentioning children displaced by war. Tolkien, as Father Christmas, said that penguins visited his North Pole home but didn't help much, yet he still welcomed them.

#TolkienTrewsday #TolkienTuesday
A simple drawing by Tolkien depicting a Polar Bear standing on two feet, flanked by four penguins (two on each side). They did a funny dancing with the Arctic sea and icebergs behind them.
December 16, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Putri Prihatini
brianitguy.bsky.social
Hospitality for #TolkienTrewsday 2 views of 2 places I'd like to stay Beorn's Hall & The House of Tom Bombadil. A stay at Yule-Tide with Beorn & any time with Bombadil (although his songs would limit my stay) Wonderful art by #JoanWyatt @miriamellis.bsky.social & #Tolkien colourised by H E Riddett
Beorn's Hall by Tolkien colourised by H E Riddett Yule-Tide at Beorn's by Mriam Ellis Tom Bombadil & Goldberry by Joan Wyatt "Wake Now, My Merry Friends!" by Miriam Ellis
December 16, 2025 at 7:41 AM
putriprihatini.bsky.social
Today is the birthday of Transit Bookstore, the diverse Jakarta indie bookshop where I usually buy English books (pictured: my bounty). They had a little party and reading club today. I've been shopping more from indie bookshops in Indonesia these days and I want to keep supporting them. #Booksky
A photo of a pile of books on top of a keffiyeh. They are, from top to bottom: A Thing of Fun by Ong Thiam Chin, Harmony Heights by Ong Chin Huat, Evil Eye by Etaf Rum, The Blue between Sky and Water by Susan Abulhawa, Nearly All the Men in lagos are Mad by Damilare Kuku, Marriage and Mutton Cutty by M. Shanmughalingam, Rebels, Traitors, Peacemakers by Shivaji Das and Yolanda Yu, The Queer Arab Glossary by Marwan Kaabour, They Fell Like Stars from the Sky by Sheikha Helawy, Perfect Victims by Mohammed El-Kurd, The Eyes of Gaza by Plestia Alaqad, In My Mother's Footsteps by Mona Hajjar Halaby, Sumud by Halasa and Elgrably, Gaza: The Story of a Genocide, Forest of Nouse by Mosab Abu Toha, We Are Not Numbers by Ahmed Alnaouq and Pam Bailey.
December 13, 2025 at 2:24 PM