T he conversation in this book deals with the impact of modern life on Balinese society over the past 50 years. Eric Buvelot, journalist and 13 years editor of La Gazette de Bali, interviews Jean Couteau, an observer of Bali for over 40 years, author of many books, and national columnist for Kompas. They discuss changes from sexual behavior to religious practices, the engagement of Balinese with foreigners and other Indonesians, issues of tolerance, violence, economy, spirituality, cultural evolution, and the shift of mentality from myth to rational thinking. First published in French, this book was translated by Diana Darling, author of The Painted Alphabet, a classic novel of Bali.
Eric Buvelot is a senior reporter and writer residing in Bali since 1995. He started his carrier in France at the daily Libération where he stayed 10 years and learned the ropes of journalism. He has written hundreds of articles about Bali and Indonesia, in French or English, mostly for monthly Bali mag La Gazette de Bali, as chief editor for 13 years, but also for leading English language media outlets of Indonesia like The Jakarta Post, Indonesia Expat, Now Bali and the French language Le Banian. He launched the multilingual newspaper The Communities of Indonesia and the lifestyle magazine Saga.
Dr Jean Couteau is a multilingual writer who publishes extensively on a variety of genres and topics in French, English and Indonesian. A graduate of the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales and former lecturer at the Denpasar Institut Seni Indonesia, he is a reputed specialist on Balinese culture: Bali, 50 ans de Changements (2021), avec Eric Buvelot, Now Bali I (2005), Now Bali II (2008), Puri Lukisan (2000), Un Autre Temps: les Calendriers Tika de Bali (2004), Bali Inspires (2011), Time, Rites and Festivals in Bali (2013, with Georges Breguet), and Myth, Magic and Mystery in Bali (2018). He is presently best known in Indonesia for his Kolom Udar Rasa published in the Sunday cultural page of Kompas, which also published his Indonesiaku columns (2018). He is wellknown for his articles on Balinese culture published monthly in English in Now! Bali Magazine.
Diana Darling is the author of The Painted Alphabet, a classic novel of Bali.
"Bali, 50 Years is an exceptional book readable by all and dealing with the impact of fifty years of deep changes on Balinese society, culture, life and psyche. Jean Couteau, interviewed by Eric Buvelot, responds brilliantly to this important issue in a style accessible to all." Georges Breguet (Anthropologist, Museum consultant)
"Jean, your book with Eric is fascinating. The information is fragmented because of the rapid-fire questions, but the [interview method] enables you to deliver an extraordinary amount of knowledge: you have truly reflected on all aspects of Balinese life." Henri Chambert-Loir (Prof. Emeritus Ecole Française dExtrême-Orient)
"Go beyond the usual clichés by reading Jean Couteaus in-depth analysis of the tremendous transformations Bali has known these past five decades: society, religion, economy, womens rights, environment
Nothing published so far approaches it. And I love the conversation format: very dynamic." Cecile Collineau (Book reviewer, Le Petit Journal Jakarta)
"A unique insight into Bali written by two experts who have lived almost all their lives on the Island of the Gods, it will allow you a 360° trip into a society in full transformation, worth reading." Eva Peel (Singer & DJ Producer)
