In contemporary Western society, theatre has become primarily a source of entertainment and sometimes of social criticism; its older function of articulating and instilling prevailing values is now performed by the mass media and specialized educational and propaganda institutions. In Indonesia, however, and elsewhere in Asia where mass media and educational facilities are less developed and private reading is not a widely established habit, popular drama still transmits sociopolitical ideals between the court (or city) and the countryside, and reinforces religious tradition. While some of its communicative role is now shared with movies and other new media, live theatre is still a vital and popular teacher.

In Java the Wayang Kulit, or shadow-puppet theatre, epitomizes the traditional Javanese world view; it has functioned as an art form, a religious rite, and a medium of instruction for more than a thousand years.