From Missionising to Militourism: Anglo-American imperialism and the Pacific Imaginary
From 7-10th December 2009, The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities hosted a symposium and series of workshops exploring the confluence of American and British (neo)-colonialism in the Pacific, as represented in various forms of Pacific discourse (including literature, film, photography and ethnography). Where previous scholarship has tended to analyse British and US imperialism in the Pacific separately, this project brings together a group of leading scholars investigating the alliances and rivalries between these two colonial powers during the crucial transition period of the early twentieth century (and beyond). As well as exploring British and American imperialist representations of the Pacific, the symposium and workshops investigate indigenous Pacific responses to Anglo-American colonialism produced during and beyond the decolonisation period of the late twentieth century.
This interdisciplinary project is led by Dr Michelle Keown and Dr Andrew Taylor (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Mandy Treagus (University of Adelaide), in affiliation with the Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of St. Andrews. The project is funded by the British Academy and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
The organisers can be emailed at pacificcultures@yahoo.co.uk
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS:
Monday 7th December
Symposium, ‘From Missionising to Militourism: Anglo-American Imperialism and the Pacific Imaginary’
Venue: Seminar room, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, University of Edinburgh, Hope Park Square, Edinburgh EH8 9NW
10 am: Registration; tea/coffee
10.15 am: Welcome and introduction to the project (Dr Michelle Keown and Dr Andy Taylor, University of Edinburgh)
10.30am: Professor Paul Sharrad (University of Wollongong)
The Pacific writings of Robert Dean and Florence ‘Johnny’ Frisbie
11.15 am: Dr Teresia Teaiwa (Victoria University of Wellington)
Indigenous responses to US and British imperialism in the Pacific: the poetry and prose of Sia Figiel and Joseph Veramu
12 noon: lunch (a sandwich lunch will be provided at the conference venue)
1.30pm: Dr Mandy Treagus (University of Adelaide)
Anglo-American imperial relations in Pacific feature films
2.15pm: Dr Jeff Geiger (University of Essex)
Imperial Views: Kodachrome and Pacific tourism in the 1930s
3pm: Tea/coffee break
3.30pm: Dr Tony Crook (University of St. Andrews)
Anglo-American anthropology in the Pacific: Gregory Bateson, Margaret Mead and Reo Fortune in Sepik
3.45pm: Dr Adam Reed (University of St. Andrews)
Literary culture and ethnographic fieldwork in the Pacific
4.30pm: Close of symposium
Tuesday 8th December, 10am-12 noon:
Workshop on Western and Indigenous literary explorations of Anglo-American imperialism, led by Professor Paul Sharrad and Dr Teresia Teaiwa.
Wednesday 9th December, 10am-12 noon:
Workshop on Pacific anthropology since the Second World War, led by Dr Tony Crook and Dr Adam Reed.
Thursday 10th December, 10am-12 noon:
Workshop on film in the Pacific (exploring alliances and tensions between US and British imperial forces; Hollywood adaptations of British narratives; and indigenous responses to Anglo-American cultural imperialism), led by Dr Mandy Treagus.
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