Abstract
Challenging the dichotomy of collective tradition versus individual creativity, the papers in this special issue explore the dynamics of creative intersubjectivity in diverse performance contexts from Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific. In this Introduction, we situate these contributions within the wider discussion of the social meaning, location, and organisation of the creative process, arguing for an anthropological approach that affirms the vital role of intersubjective relationships among performers, their audiences, and the wider socio-cultural context of performance. Furthermore, we emphasise the embodied as well as the discursive dimension of this creative intersubjectivity, an approach also affirmed by the papers that follow. By bringing together research into a range of music and dance forms from the Asia-Pacific, including modern, hybrid and more traditional performance styles, we aim to provide a distinct regional perspective on the creative process and its role in the reconfiguration of social relationships and social values.