This course
will examine major works of Maoli (Indigenous) Pacific poetry from the early
nineteenth century to the present within historical and interpretive contexts.
Texts will be primarily written in or translated into English. We will begin
with traditional genres such as mele (chant and song) and how that changed
under the influence of western forms of literacy (i.e. reading and writing) in
the early 1800s. We will look at the
transition from oral tradition to written literature, as well as the shift from
indigenous languages to colonial ones (primarily English), paying attention to
both the interplay between these factors. We will then turn to contemporary
literature and examine how social/political history has shaped and influence
these modern works, and how it is reflected in them as well. Texts will include multimedia resources such
as audio CDs and video/DVD.
Some
questions we will examine include: What is Indigenous Pacific Poetry? What are
common themes in Indigenous Pacific poetry? How does it differ from indigenous
writing from other parts of the world? From western, colonial writing in the
Pacific? How does it engage settler colonialism within the region? What is the
state of indigenous Pacific writing in the 21st century?
Student
Learning Outcomes (SLOs): by the end of the course, students should be familiar
with key poets and texts, key terms in the study of Pacific poetry, be able to
read Pacific poetry as cultural, political, and historical productions as well
as literary one, be able to identify and apply indigenous and other relevant
critical theories to the reading of these texts, and develop more complex
understandings and critical reading of the dynamics of cultural translation
between the practices and aesthetic concerns of Pacific poetry in conversation
with other literatures.
Evaluative
methods: 2 shorter papers (5-6 pages), one longer research paper (8-10 pages),
a midterm, a final exam, an oral presentation, quizzes on reading, Laulima
discussion board posts.
Key
texts may include (this is not a final list):
Kamali,
Daren, Tales, Poems and Songs from the
Underwater World
Kihleng,
Emilighter, My Urohs
Marsh,
Selina, Fast Talkin’ P.I. (CD)
McDougall,
Nalani, The Salt Wind, Ka Makani Pa’akai
Perez,
Craig Santos, from Unincorporated
Territory
Simpson
Brown, Audrey, Passages in Between
I(s)lands
Sullivan,
Robert, Star Waka