Mira W.

Mira W.
Born Mira Widjaja (or Wong)
(1951-09-13)13 September 1951
Jakarta, Indonesia
Occupation Author
Language Indonesian
Nationality Indonesian
Genre Romance, Children's

Mira Widjaja (Wong), or Mira W. (b. 13 September 1951), is a highly popular Indonesian author. In spite of her background being from the Peranakan Chinese diaspora community, her work now reaches audiences from the entire country.[1] Her father, Othniel, was among the pioneers of the Indonesian movie industry. She writes in an accessible genre, and deals with topics such as romance, crime and hospital life.[2] She was a medical doctor before establishing herself as a writer.[3]

Biography

Mira was born in Jakarta on 13 September 1951 to film producer Othniel Widjaja and his wife; she is the youngest of five children. Her brother Willy Wilianto became a filmmaker like his father. While in elementary school, she took up writing, which garnered support from her teachers. One of her teachers sent a short story Mira had written to a children's magazine, where it was published. Mira's first short story submitted on her own, entitled "Benteng Kasih" ("Fortress of Love")[4][5] in Femina magazine in 1975, while she was attending medical school at Trisakti University. Her first novel, Dokter Nona Friska (Miss Friska's Doctor) was serialised in Dewi magazine in 1977; her second novel, Sepolos Cinta Dini (As Innocent as Puppy Love) soon followed. The following year, she published Cinta Tak Pernah Berhutang (Love has Never Been in Debt).[6]

After graduating from Trisakti in 1979, she became a lecturer of medicine at Prof. Moestopo University in Jakarta. Mira's most successful book, Di Sini Cinta Pertama Kali Bersemi (Here Love First Blossomed), was published in 1980.[6] She continues to produce works, drawing from writers such as Nh. Dini, Agatha Christie, Y. B. Mangunwijaya and Harold Robbins for inspiration.[4] Mira has been cited as an early inspiration for another ethnic Chinese Indonesian female writer, Clara Ng.[7]

Pseudonym

The pen name Mira W., which obscures the Chinese-Indonesian names Widjaja and Wong, has been described by literary critic Pamela Allen as hiding Mira's Chinese heritage to better match Indonesian culture. Another writer said to use a pseudonym in such a manner is Marga T.[8] This is due in part to illwill towards Chinese Indonesians during Suharto's New Order regime.[9]

Works and adaptations

As of 1995, Mira has published over 40 novels,[6] many of which have been cinematized, including Di Sini Cinta Pertama Kali Bersemi, Ketika Cinta Harus Memilih (When Love Must Choose) and Permainan Bulan Desember (Games in December).[3][10] In total she has contributed the story to twenty-three films, making her debut as screenwriter in 1973's Jauh di Mata, directed by her brother Willy.[11]

Themes

Mira's main characters are always women,[4] and the novels often show women suffering at the hands of men, as well as from their own internal conflicts.[12] Her works also deal with gender roles and stereotypes.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Suryadinata, Leo (1993). Chinese adaptation and diversity: essays on society and literature in Indonesia, Malaysia & Singapore. National University of Singapore Press. p. 91.
  2. ↑ Salmon, Claudine (1984). "Chinese Women Writers in Indonesia and their Views of Female Emancipation". Archipel. 28 (28): 149–171. doi:10.3406/arch.1984.1925.
  3. 1 2 Sumardjo, Jakob (2007). "The Indonesian popular novel and its audience". Newsletter. Indonesia Circle. School of Oriental & African Studies. 9 (25).
  4. 1 2 3 "Mira W: Penulis Spesialis Roman" [Mira W: Writer Specialising in Romance]. TokohIndonesia.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "Mira W". filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Konfiden Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 Suryadinata, Leo (1995), Prominent Indonesian Chinese: Biographical Sketches (3rd ed.), Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, pp. 222–223, ISBN 978-981-3055-04-9.
  7. ↑ "Clara Ng: Menulis Itu Seperti Jalan Pedang" [Clara Ng: Writing is Like the Way of the Sword]. Tempo (in Indonesian). 30 August 2010. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  8. ↑ Allen, Pamela. "Penghayatan Lintas Budaya: Pribumi Menyoroti Tionghoa dalam Sastra Indonesia" [Intercultural Relations: Native Indonesians Overpowering Ethnic Chinese in Indonesian Literature]. Susastra. Himpunan Sarjana-Kesusastraan Indonesia: 32.
  9. ↑ Allen, Pamela. "Penghayatan Lintas Budaya: Pribumi Menyoroti Tionghoa dalam Sastra Indonesia" [Intercultural Relations: Native Indonesians Overpowering Ethnic Chinese in Indonesian Literature]. Susastra: jurnal ilmu sastra dan budaya. Himpunan Sarjana-Kesusastraan Indonesia: 35.
  10. ↑ Emmerson, Donald K. (1999). Indonesia beyond Suharto: polity, economy, society, transition. M.E. Sharpe. p. 285.
  11. ↑ "Mira W | Filmografi" [Mira W | Filmography]. filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Konfiden Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  12. ↑ Napitupulu, Evi Yesifina Dumar (2011). Penderitaan Perempuan dalam Dua Novel Populer Indonesia (Kajian Kritik Sastra Feminis Liberalis Terhadap Karya Mira W) [Women in Two Popular Indonesian Novels (Liberalist-Feminist Critique of Two Novels by Mira W)] (B.A.) (in Indonesian). Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. p. 196. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  13. ↑ Napitupulu, Evi Yesifina Dumar (2011). Penderitaan Perempuan dalam Dua Novel Populer Indonesia (Kajian Kritik Sastra Feminis Liberalis Terhadap Karya Mira W) [Women in Two Popular Indonesian Novels (Liberalist-Feminist Critique of Two Novels by Mira W)] (B.A.) (in Indonesian). Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. p. 297. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
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