BOOK CLUB: "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad

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JakCre and JakFri is THE biggest, most active, and most inclusive MeetUp community in Jakarta… and we invite you to join us for this BOOK CLUB of "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad!

Everyone is always welcome to join our events. Our community is all about creating authentic in-person connections in this urban jungle.

Come as you are... it’s the best version of yourself.

ABOUT THE EVENT
The idea is very simple: we will meet and discuss the book. Everyone will receive a copy of the book as PDF beforehand for free (which we kindly ask not to share with everyone - this is a book discussion for educational purposes). Please reach out to the host to receive your free PDF and feel free to ask any question in the discussion section of the event page.

Everyone is encouraged to read the short book (in English, about 170 pages) beforehand to participate to the discussion. Coming without having read the book is possible, but it's just half the fun.

The host will give a short introduction about the book and guide through the discussion, which will be very informal and fun. Everyone is encouraged to share their thoughts and ask questions to the group. This event is introvert friendly! No one will be put on the spot or forced to speak. Just join and share your passion for literature, no matter how much you read.

This is a dream event for anyone who wishes to take a deep dive into literature and have a fun, social lunch time.

About the book
The scramble for profit-driven colonialism and the horrors it conjured upon the world is a dark part of our civilization, one that we must not obscure but shed constructive light upon in developing a deeper understanding of human nature and the evils we ourselves are capable of. In this novel about a journey into the depths of the Congo river, Joseph Conrad, through the character Marlow, presents us with the sailor's descent into moral ambiguity as he's tasked with the retrieval of Kurtz, a highly regarded ivory trader gone rogue having established himself as the "God" of a local tribe.

Adapted into the blockbuster and Oscar-nominated movie "Apocalypse Now" (1979) taking place in Vietnam, the book received worldwide acclaim, distaste, criticism (i.e. Conrad's portrayal of Africans), and has become a profound research subject yielding polarizing views over countless aspects of the book, and the author himself.

Join us for a discussion that aims to discuss the horrors of colonialism, the cases for and against it, the archetypal journey into our soul's underworld, and the intricacies of geopolitics all wrapped up in a cutting narrative.

What pushed Kurtz into becoming both a God and a monster? All we can say for now is, “The horror! The horror!”

Discover more about the book on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4900.Heart_of_Darkness

We have had several Book Clubs before! Take a look at these past events:

• BOOK CLUB: "We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin (May 2025)
• BOOK CLUB: "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield (Apr 2025)
• BOOK CLUB: "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor E. Frankl (Feb 2025)
• BOOK CLUB 🍄: "Let's become fungal" by Yasmine Ostendorf-Rodríguez (Sept 2024)
• BOOK CLUB 🍄: Short stories about fungi by various authors (Aug 2023)
• BOOK CLUB 🍄: "Entangled Life" by Merlin Sheldrake (Mar 2023)

ABOUT THE VENUE
Mattea Social Space is a spacious and modern coffee and eatery. Located at the heart of Blok M, it's very accessible by bus and MRT. Take a look at their IG here: https://www.instagram.com/mattea.socialspace/

There are numerous large tables at the venue. Very likely that we will head to the 2nd floor where there are many large table. Either way, the location of our table will be posted on the day. Please purchase a beverage or food from the venue to support the business.

ABOUT THE HOST
Your host for this event, Ben, is a literature enthusiast eager to learn not only from texts but also from fellow readers' interpretations and personal experiences. He will guide everyone through the discussion for a memorable book club event.

HOW TO REGISTER TO THE EVENT?
To register, just click “Attend”! There are a few simple rules

• We kindly ask attendees who cannot manage to join to update RSVP at least 24 h before the event as a courtesy to other attendees and event organisers.
• Be on time! We want to start the discussion together.
• People in the waitlist cannot attend, and are encouraged to check a few hours before the event if they got a spot
• Repeated no-show (3X) without updating RSVP will be removed from the group.
• Attendees who bring a +1 are responsible to make sure that the guest understands and agrees to our rule of respect and inclusivity

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

WE HAVE A MEMBERSHIP FEE. HOW DOES IT WORK?
Our community has a membership fee of 300k IDR valid for 365 days after payment. Membership fee is offered with a promo discount to new members and first-timers, who can become members for 220k IDR/year. First-timers can decide to attend one event for free and see if they like becoming part of this community.

Membership to both Jakarta Friends and Jakarta Creatives is offered for only 390k IDR/year. Membership gives access to all events plus exclusive perks available only to paying members, like for example our Give Away Birthday Celebrations with lucky draw (Sept 2024) or FREE pasta cooking (and eating 😉) workshop (Nov 2024) or Museum visits with FREE GUIDED TOURS (Sept 2024). To many events, attendees can bring a +1 for free.

First-timers can decide to attend one event for free and see if they like becoming part of this community. Membership can be paid on the spot (cash/bank transfer/Gopay). Text Corrado (+62 89211 489 3580) if you have any questions about membership.

To all members we guarantee to keep organizing plenty of events. You will receive a full refund if the group closes down, or if there’s no event happening in three months.

In the past 2 years we have organised up to 2-3 events per week. That is, with a membership of only about 25k IDR/month you can attend up to 5-10 events! We guarantee to keep organising plenty of events. You will receive a full refund if the group closes down, or if there’s no event happening in three months.

THE RULES OF OUR COMMUNITY
Our communities are:

• Jakarta Friends: https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends
• Jakarta Creatives: https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/

Members often participate in events of both groups. Over the past two years we held over 200 events with over 2,000 attendees. Attendees rate our events very positively and give wonderful feedback.
We value diversity and inclusivity, respect and authenticity. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination of any kinds.

• You are invited to join our WhatsApp group where we announce our events regularly. We have several chats dedicated to in-person attendees to avoid spam and trolls.
• Feel free to tag us on Instagram, and we will repost! We are @jakarta.friends.creatives
• For questions about the event, please post a comment in the event page