Historical accounts of the Pacific from both within and outside the region have illustrated the nature of Pacific Island cultures as Warrior Cultures: fearless, violent, confrontational, and skilled in the art of fighting and war-faring. But while Pacific Islanders still embody these warrior traits, the colonization of the Pacific has created a different kind of enemy to fight: poverty, drugs, homelessness, obesity, domestic violence, gang violence and a slew of other cultural, economic and social foes.
In this course, we will read a variety of literature (as well as music and film) that traces the making of what I contend represent the modern-day Pacific Island warrior: the single mother, the homeless teen, the battered wife, the broken family, the neglected son. The tentative reading list includes Albert Wendt’s Leaves of the Banyan Tree, Patricia Grace’s Baby No Eyes, Matthew Kaopio’s Up Among The Stars, and Alan Duff’s Once Were Warriors; with other essays, poems, songs and a couple films to supplement our reading.
While much of our reading does concentrate on works from within the Pacific region, our articulations of the “warrior,” I hope, will extend beyond the cultural and geographic scope of the pacific. Given the broad range of issues our readings will cover, it is my intention that this course, while appealing to those interested in the genre of Pacific literature, will also speak to those who share the same social and economic struggles.
*ALL readings will be provided through Laulima
*Assignments have not yet been finalized