Snakes in the House: Poiesis, Praxis, and Taksu in Balinese Arts and Religion

The importance of art and religion in Bali have been well documented, but the purpose of the arts in relation to religion is less clear. Two words—“art” and “religion”—seemingly simple in a Western context, become problematic when utilized to understand Balinese culture. The words obscure more than they illuminate. Instead, the cultural constructions that these words refer to should be examined in a Balinese context, including religious practice and pre- and postcolonial history. Western concepts of causality, praxis and poiesis, as well as the Balinese idea of taksu, can be helpful tools for exploring these complex relations. I propose that the telos (end or goal) of art in Bali is not poiesis, that is, not creative production or activity, as would commonly be the case in art of the Western tradition. Instead, the goal of “art” in Bali is praxis, or action. Art in Bali has the purpose of doing something, and art has measurable outcomes. And art is efficacious in so far as it has taksu, a Balinese concept comparable to virtuosity. In addition, a better understanding of the purpose of art in Bali can have a direct impact on student learning in university education, in particular the internationalization of higher education, teaching methodology, learning styles, and online education.