MAOR214: Aesthetics 3

Introduction

  • Opening remarks by Jess on the context of the lecture.

    • Introduction of Kirsty Dunn as a guest lecturer.

    • Kirsty's academic background and focus areas.

    • Overview of Kirsty's PhD in Māori animals and fiction writing.

Background on Māori Literature and Writing

  • Kirsty's introduction of her work on Māori literature.

    • Focus on the concept of whakapapa (genealogy) in reading Māori texts.

    • Examination of animal relations in Māori writing.

    • Roles of animals in Māori narratives:

    • Animals as kai (food).

    • Animals as tohu (signs).

    • Animals as kaitiaki (guardians).

    • Animals as tupuna (ancestors) and companions.

    • Exploration of human-animal relationships as stories.

Structure and Outline of the Lecture

  • Outline of session contents:

    • Class brainstorm on terms related to Māori writing.

    • Discussion of Tina Makariti’s piece “Māori Writing: Speaking with Two Mouths”.

    • Consideration of whakapapa in literature.

    • Exploration of perspectives on Māori writing from various critics and writers.

    • Reading and discussion of selected poems.

Terms and Categories in Māori Writing

Class Brainstorm

  • Initial discussion on key terms:

    • Meaning of "Māori"; considerations of normality and its implications.

    • Importance of acknowledging specificity in use of the term "Māori".

    • Discussion of what “writing” encompasses, including oral traditions.

    • Expansion on the meaning of “literature” and its hierarchical nature.

    • Consideration of inclusion/exclusion in the definitions of Māori writing and Māori literature.

  • Categories often associated with Māori writing:

    • Postcolonial literature, indigenous narratives, marginalized vs. mainstream literature.

    • Discussion on distinction between oral and literary forms.

    • Various labels and their implications in discussing Māori narratives.

Key Perspectives on Māori Literature

  • Insights from Tina Makariti on the genealogy of Māori literature.

  • Longstanding relationship between birds and storytelling

    • They are also treated as subjects rather than exclusively objects

  • The importance of recognizing non-linear literary traditions and connections.

    • Also challenging ‘first’ of European style of recording and noting literature, rather than building on one another like Maori

      • Evidenced by Tina Makereti concerning creativity coming from Te Kore, the chaos

        • p. 60 of Speaking With Two Mouths (2018)

  • Challenges associated with Western perspectives on Māori literature, emphasizing the need for expansive definitions.

Literature as a Means of Knowledge

  • Relationship between arts, storytelling, and knowledge systems.

  • The inherent mystery and multiplicity of meaning in Māori narratives.

  • Discussion of various forms of Māori literature:

    • Carving, weaving, tattooing, oral tradition, waiata, film, and other art forms as literary practices.

Terminology and Challenging it: ‘Maori’ Literature

  • Maori: normal, ordinary

    • Less specific

  • Writing: Text, language

    • Excludes other forms of expression

  • Literature: could argue its the same as writing or a more sophisticated form

  • Maori literature: separates it from mainstream literature, political

  • Post-colonial literature: suggests colonisation ended, puts writing in relation to other colonised groups

Case Studies in Māori Writing

Robert Sullivan and Talia Marshall

  • Engagement with Robert Sullivan’s poetry focusing on the metaphor of birds.

    • Tunui poem

      • Challenges what makes it Maori, and why is it being separated and ‘othered’

      • Also suggests that the world is Maori

  • The connections between birds and Māori storytelling.

    • Examination of a specific poem (e.g., “Review”) and its implications.

      • Robert Sullivan criticised for paying homage to other writers

        • Recognises how writers inspire and build upon one anothers works, creating of form of literary whakapapa

      • Hone Tuwhare Bird of Prayer also covers the topic, instead using a hawk

    • The significance of birds as symbols of history, creativity, and connection.

  • Discussion of Talia Marshall's essay on the poetry of New Zealand's birds.

    • Speaks of birds being eaten, then woven into a cloak to telk the story of ancestors

  • Exploration of the transformative role of birds in in Māori art and narratives.

  • Uncanny Tui

    • Artistic painting by Fiona

    • Looks like the back of a person

      • Potentially wearing a rangatira cloak

      • Metaphor for there being more than one way to look at something

    • In response to another one of her pieces, Tina Makereti, wrote a poem about it Black Milk

  • The Magpies

    • Denis Glover

      • Rise and fall of a couple living on a farm and the unceasing consistency of nature

    • Robert Sullivan

      • Reconfigures the energy and centres the call of the Tui and draws more attention to whakapapa, and references significant political events and censorship (land being taken, not given)

      • Centres the land before the couple arrived

        • Previous owners are told they sound like Magpies (likely because they speak another language)

          • Overtly gives credit to Glover as his inspiration

            • Sullivan pays homage to Glover’s work by granting it the same title

Art and Cultural Significance

Discussion of Prehistoric Māori Rock Art

  • Examination of a limestone rock art piece titled "Manu Nui".

    • Speculations about its meanings and implications.

    • Connections to whakapapa and hybridity in Māori narratives.

    • 200 years okld

    • Located on limestone shelter

    • Used charcoal, soot, and animal fat

Thematic Connections in Literature

Manual Connections to Māori Storytelling

  • Discussion of how birds symbolize various aspects of Māori culture and narrative.

  • Insights into the process of storytelling and historical context.

    • Examples from poetry that highlight the beauty and importance of oral tradition.

    • Reflection on perspectives of oral and written forms of expression in Māori communities.

    • Oral tradition is treated as a lesser literary form

  • Relevance of birds

    • Food

    • Exploration

    • Rere atu, taku manu (2002)

      • Historically, Maori newspapers often took their names from birds

      • Acknowledges birds with a whanaungatanga approach, recognising relationship

    • Whakatauki depicting birds

    • Similarities between bird cries and Maori cries or waiata

    • Clothing (storytelling through cloacks)

Summary and Implications for Future Discussions

  • Importance of integrating various forms of Māori narrative in discussions of literature.

  • The role of listeners and readers in interpreting and engaging with these texts.

  • Encouragement to explore the complexity and vibrancy of Māori writing further.

    • Reference to available resources and suggested readings.

Conclusion

  • Final thoughts and invitations for further inquiry and dialogue on the subject of Māori literature and writing.

  • Sharing of contact details for continued discussions.

Resources for Further Study

  • List of anthologies, articles, and other materials referenced in the lecture.

  • Suggestions for engaging with Māori literature in innovative ways.

  • Recommendations for upcoming courses and workshops related to Māori writing.