“It is with profound gratitude to our ancestors, atua and spiritual teachers that we have survived to (help) tell the tale.” —Caroline Sinavaiana and J. Kēhaulani Kauanui, Women Writing Oceania (2008)
Across the oceanic Pacific, indigenous women have played important roles in movements for political sovereignty from colonial powers, personal autonomy for women’s rights, and have also been quite active in the production of literary arts, “birthing the nation” in literal and figurative ways. In fact, the intersection between arts (culture) and politics, the personal as the political, as the “piko” (navel, center, in extension, the foundation) of indigenous (maoli) women’s writing of Moana Nui (Oceania, or the Pacific). Issues surrounding our ‘āina (land), ‘ohana (family), and mana wahine (female empowerment) mourning the losses and expressing anguish and rage with sexual, national, and political oppression are as inexorably intertwined as the need to celebrate the beauty and wonder of our culture and environment, bearing witness of our times for future generations.
This course explores a range of works of modern Indigenous Pacific women poets from the later decades of the twentieth century to the present within the interpretive contexts of literature, culture, gender and politics. Texts will be primarily written in or translated into English. Throughout the course we will examine how poetry by Indigenous Pacific women writers reflects, embodies and continues the literary, artistic, performative and political resistance to settler colonialism and is a positive (re-) generation of indigenous ethnic and national cultures and identities across the Pacific.
Some of the questions we will examine include: How do we study indigenous Pacific women’s poetry? What is its’ cultural, literary, and political “piko”? What do we know about traditional indigenous women’s poetry? How does it influence, shape, or inform modern indigenous Pacific women’s poetry? Who are the major figures in the genre? What kinds of contributions have they made to the genre of poetry? To literary arts? To the cultures they reflect and embody? What are major metaphors and themes? Is there a commonality across the Pacific? What are the contributing factors to Maoli women focusing on these themes? Are they similar to or different from Maoli men’s writing? Indigenous women’s writing from other parts of the world? How does Maoli women’s poetry differ from western, colonial, or “mainstream” women’s poetry? How does Maoli women’s writing exemplify feminism? How is, according to indigenous Pacific women writers, a different kind of feminism from mainstream feminism? What have been the effects of colonization on indigenous Pacific people, and how is that reflected in or expressed in our women’s poetry? What are the contemporary issues in Pacific poetry? What can indigenous Pacific women’s poetry teach us? What can it (and does it) contribute to the world?
No prior knowledge of indigenous Pacific languages or cultures is required, although students with such backgrounds are encouraged to utilize their skills and knowledge throughout the course in class discussions, course papers, and other assignments. As students who study French or Japanese literatures, for example, should have some basic knowledge of these languages (and cultures) as related to these literatures, students should expect to develop a working knowledge of vocabulary relevant to the readings and discussion throughout the semester.
Course Requirements:
- Class participation through regular attendance and in-class discussions
- 2 short papers (5 pages), a longer research paper (10-12 pages); possible creative option
- An oral (group) presentation on a topic relevant to the course
- “Experience art” by attending at least one literary, cultural, or community event during the semester that is relevant to the overall course theme
- A mid-term and a final exam.
Primary readings (draft list, may be updated when classes start):
- Kileng, Emelihter. My Urohs.
- Marsh, Selina Tusitala. Fast Talkin’ PI (book and audio CD).
- Perez Wendt, Mahealani. Uluhaimalama.
- Taylor, Grace Teuila. Afakasi Speaks.
- Teaiwa, Teresia, I Can See Fiji (audio CD)
- A course reader