Preparation and Research

Research
Extensive research was carried out with regard to the range and popularity of comics in Indonesia, the production, including the creative production and publication of comics, the market, the content and the means by which comics impart information and messages, and the various styles of comics sold and read in Indonesia.

Curriculum rebuilding
Curriculum content was developed, utilised early research results to define the 'problem' in terms of existing stereotypes, parent and peer pressure, and media messages and their impact on inter-ethnic violence and conflict, and the 'solution' in terms of how the comic stories and characters would demonstrate tolerant relationships, tolerant language, dialogue about difference, and ways to intervene in conflict. The curriculum documents serve to firmly clarify to all involved that the publication is a professionally-developed educational series, and is used as an ongoing reference for the Comic Book Programme team, the research team, and the creative team for promotion of conflict transformation and pluralism concept with comic to teenagers between the ages of 12-15, with a minimum of primary school education, in conflict areas, and with a propensity to engage in violence.

Pilot Testing of 3 editions (audience research - curriculum and story design) Research was carried out to gain a better understanding of the attitudes and behaviour of teenagers (the target audience of the comic books) towards different ethnic groups, as well as their media habits, particularly in relation to comics. The research was carried out through focus group discussions with children from target groups in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, and in Jakarta.

The recommendations of the research report included:

• The target group for the comic book should be more specific



• Ethnic stereotyping is very strong amongst the target group, but that group exclusivity did not always necessarily flow from that stereotyping



• Group or gang identity is very strong amongst the target group



• Children preferred comics along gender (-stereotyped) lines, for example boys choosing action and girls choosing romance comics



• The target group as defined likes comics, but actually has little access to them because of their cost

The implications of the research for the design of the comic books were discussed in detail and referred to during the process of developing the comic stories. The researchers themselves continue to be involved in the ongoing process of developing the comics.

Creative Team Workshop
A workshop was held designed to build and develop a creative team consisting of conceptors, writers, illustrators and layout persons, with additional training on conflict transformation methods, messages, and techniques used to translate these messages into comics. The workshop facilitators were Leif Packalen, Director of World Comics, an organization specialising in educational comic production and training, from Finland, and Vanessa Johanson, Country Director of Common Ground Indonesia.

In addition to the creative teams comprised of story-writer, illustrator, inker, and editor, there were a number of other participants who enriched the workshop, including eight representatives of the target audience from Kalimantan and Jakarta, and two members of the expert team specialising in women's and cultural studies, publishing and comic history.