SPACLALS: regional writings

Press, 9 May 1981, Page 17

SPACLALS: regional writings

Peter Simpson, of the Department <>i English at the University of Canterbury, introduces a group of articles and reviews which discuss recent writing from the South Pacific region. Dr Simpson is convenor of a conference of writers at the university next week.

The University of Canterbury is the venue next week for the first conference devoted exclusively to the literatures of the Commonwealth to be held in New Zealand. The conference is organised by the South Pacific Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies (SPACLALS) and the theme is "New Zealand, the Pacific and the Commonwealth: nationalism, regionalism and internationalism in post-colonial literatures.” Although the members of SPA- ? CLALS are concerned with the “new literatures in English” round the world. ' the emphasis of this conference is largely on the countries of the South Pacific region: New Zealand. Australia. Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. SPACLALS. established in 1975. is one of several regional branches of an international body for the study of Commonwealth literature that has been oper- - ating since the mid-sixties. There are . other regional branches in Europe. Can- it ada, the West Indies, India and Africa. " The regions combine for international conferences every three years, most recently in Suva. Fiji in 1980, as well as holding regional conferences. The South Pacific region is a microcosm of the phenomenon of Commonwealth literature, in that it contains . within it instances of the two main sorts of literature found within the Commonwealth. First, there are the literatures of former British colonies such as Australia and New Zealand — countries with majority populations of European origin whose literatures are the consequence of the gradual adaptation of European patterns to a Pacific environment. Over more than a century both countries have developed vigorous and diversified literary traditions, largely independent of their colonial origins.

Second, there are the much more recent literatures in English of the indigenous peoples of the region — part of a world-

wide phenomenon in which formerly colonised peoples have acquired the language of their colonisers for the expression of their common experience of cultural dispossession and re-emergence. This condition is shared by recently independent nations such as Papua New Guinea. Western Samoa and Fiji, and by the indigenous minorities within countries such as Australia and New’ Zealand. The upsurge of literary activity among Aboriginals, Maoris and Pacific’islanders in the last two decades has parallels round the

world, especially in Africa and the Caribbean.

During the five days of the conference scholars from throughout the region (many of them university teachers) will deliver papers on many aspects of the region's literatures. Among the writers whose work will be discussed are James K. Baxter. Janet Frame. Bruce Dawe. Patrick White. Judith Wright. Frank Sargeson. and Ronald Hugh Morrieson. The conference will also be attended by about a dozen invited writers who will participate in discussions and readings, some of which will be open to the public. The writers attending from Australia will include Tom Shapcott, a widely published poet and anthologist, author of "Shabbvtown Calendar” and many other book's; Colin Johnson, an Aboriginal novelist; Barry Hill, a novelist and short story writer (author of "Near the Refinery’ ); and two dramatists Steve Sewell and Alma de Groen (a former New Zealander, author of “Going Home” a play about expatriate Australians in Canada).'Writers coming from Papua New Guinea will be Jack Lahui. a poet and editor, and NoraVagi Brash, author of "Which Way, Big Man?” and other plays. From the Pacific 'nations will be Subramani. an editor and short-story writer from Fiji, and Albert Wendt from .’Western Samoa. Wendt, the best known writer from the Papific, is the author of several novels including "Sons for the Return Home” (the recent film of which will be shown at the conference) and “Leaves of the Banyan Tree,” winner of the last Wattie Award. He will give the opening address at the conference. The New Zealand writers attending the conference will include David Mitchell, Vincent O’Sullivan, Hone Tuwhare, and lan Wedde. Many of these writers will take part in public readings to be held in the Students Association building on Monday night and Thursday night.