Ana Mustamin (52) is challenging the future. In the wave of transformation as printed media move to digital platforms, she publishes a printed magazine, called Majas.
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By Nasrullah Nara
·5 minutes read
Kompas/Nikson Sinaga
Ana Mustamin
Ana Mustamin (52) is challenging the future. In the wave of transformation as printed media move to digital platforms, she publishes a printed magazine, called Majas. As a literary publication, Majas has a specific audience.
How did this come about? She said literature was basically a culture of creation and reading based on letters that have traveled through a cultural journey of centuries. "Literature is attached to writing, if necessary handwriting," she said.
This notion has seen Ana fall in love with literature at a young age. When her career in the financial services industry peaked as she was named one of the directors of a company, Ana felt there was something missing in her life. In her "alienation", Ana closely observed the dynamics of literature in the country. After retiring from her company, Ana turned to literature. She "struggled" to provide a space of expression for writers and artists.
After two years of publication, Majas magazine has built its track record in the world of authorship. As the editor in chief, Ana positions Majas as a literary and lifestyle magazine with the motto "literature for all".
She established this magazine in collaborating with four fellow writers, namely Kurnia Effendi, Agnes Majestika, Kurniawan Junaedhie and Valent Mustamin.
They work without pay. The magazine is like an oasis amid the scarcity of literary media in the country. With their work, the volunteers are carrying the flame of literature, so that it will not dim in the digital revolution.
Remarkably, Majas is published in printed form when the printed media is on the verge of extinction. "There is plenty digital literary media, but for many writers, there is an element of pride and satisfaction when their work is published in print, "Ana said in Jakarta on Wednesday (07/08/2020).
Her goal is to publish literary media but with the appearance of a lifestyle magazine. "So that literature becomes part of our lifestyle," Ana said.
This determination is a response of sorts to the lack of public appreciation for literature in the country. Ana is of the opinion that the people’s understanding of literary works is low, which is worsened by the appearance of literary media as visually unattractive.
Capital
This unfavorable environment for the literary world has not discouraged Ana. She tried to raise funds through crowdfunding involving prospective readers of the magazine, with subscription payments used as the readers’ investment in the magazine. Unfortunately, this method did not work smoothly. The funds received were too small to meet the production costs and the payment of the writers.
Kompas
Ana Mustamin
Yet Ana did not give up. "We then got an injection of funds from a cultural institution. Hopefully it will be sustainable, "Ana said.
As a quarterly publication that carries literature and lifestyle content, the first edition was published in November 2018 with a luxurious look of 100 glossy pages. The layout looked cool yet serious, and fresh. The front cover carried the picture of Sha Ine Febriyanti, a popular artist who played Nyai Ontosoroh in the movie Bumi Manusia.
In this latest edition (May-July 2020), the quality of the content, physical appearance and number of pages is consistent. This edition was published amid the growing uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The editorial team consist of no more than five people who work from home. The sources were interviewed at their respective homes, including Djenar Maesa Ayu, a novelist and actress whose face adorns the front cover.
She wants the literary magazines not only to be “consumed” by writers or certain people but also read by company executives, academics and professionals who are interested in literature.
Virtual communication is a necessity. Reviewing this unusual work atmosphere, Majas brushed aside the impression that it is just a regular magazine, as the publication also provides "vitamin" for the soul and mind, "because not all vitamins can be obtained from food and pharmaceutical products," said Ana. She wants the literary magazines not only to be “consumed” by writers or certain people but also read by company executives, academics and professionals who are interested in literature.
Without salary
The magazine is published in such a way so that it deserves to be placed on the desks of business executives, in airport lounges, even in five-star hotels. Ana\'s "crazy" work is not without scorn. Some call her crazy for working against the current. Ana even agrees with this notion. The other four co-founders also agree. For the sake of the love of literature, they work without pay. "Who is willing to pay us? We often subsidize the magazine from our own pocket, "Ana said.
Kompas
Ana Mustamim
However, despite such difficulties, the magazine has been published regularly with good quality both of its content and appearance for two some years since its establishment. The fees for the writers are paid on time. This magazine uses an independent curator to judge which works are suitable to be published. It is no secret that the writers are quite segmented. Each has its own community. Every mainstream media also has their own "taste", according to their editorial policy. The content of the magazine is not based on the tastes of Ana and her team, but on the tastes of the curators. As the curators change in each edition, it is difficult to guess what Majas\'s "taste" will be in each subsequent edition.
The appointment of a curator is not arbitrary. Only those who have a good track record in the literary world can be appointed as curators, such as Adek Alwi, Yanusa Nugroho, Agus Noor, Warih Wisatsana, Nirwan Dewanto and Damhuri Muhammad.
Ana Mustamin
Born:Bone, South Sulawesi, 4 July 1968
Education:
S-1 Communication at Hasanuddin University (1990)
- S-2 Communication University of Indonesia (1999)
Bibliography:
- “Tukang Bunga dan Burung Gagak” (Florists and Crows/Short Story Collection, 2010)
- “Kitab Radja & Ratu Alit” (The Book of Radja & Ratu Alit/Poetry Anthology, 2011)
