Between Marginality and Marketability: Contesting Representations of Diasporic Pacific Identities

Calleja, Paloma Fresno

doi:10.35360/njes.350

“…In the case of second generation West Indian youth in Brooklyn, cultural identification interacts, and may even compete with identification along racial lines forming fusions and hybrids of identity. In similar ways to how Auckland has become a centre synonymous with the Pacific Island diaspora (Fresno-Calleja, 2016), or Matonge (Brussels) has become a synecdoche for the Congolese diaspora in Belgium (Swyngedouw & Swyngedouw, 2009), "West Indians in New York are just as attached to their identities as New Yorkers as they are to their identities as West Indians, and West Indians from Brooklyn attach even further significance to being from Brooklyn" (Richards, 2008, p. 269). Richards (2008) reports that most residents will use a "tripartite" (p. 277) framework to describe their identities, placing emphasis on Americanness, Blackness and West-Indianness, but with a sense of pride in being from Brooklyn specifically.…”

Section: Transnational Global Youth and Hybriditymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The articulation of diasporic identities can involve both the re-inscription of traditional identities, as well as the affiliation with contemporary and novel identities. (Fresno-Calleja, 2016;Gilroy, 1993a;Johnson, 2013;Johnson, 2007;Kavoori & Joseph, 2011;Mackley-Crump, 2015a, 2015bNurse, 1999;Richards, 2008;Roy, 2013). While the aforementioned longing for a past (Chacko & Menon, 2013) may drive performers to focus heavily on preserving tradition, another strand previously identified in research seeks for global identification and legitimization, shared and common media references, "condensed into the same gestures, the same ecstatic moment" (Gilroy, 1993a, p. 8).…”

Section: Performing Ethnic Identities At Cultural Festivalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Our dance is a celebration of the fabric of modern New Zealand”: Identity, Community, Solidarity and Citizenship at Youth Polyfests in Aotearoa New Zealand

Homolja¹

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One feature of the growing levels of cultural diversity in Aotearoa New Zealand has been the growth of cultural festivals. These originated primarily for Pacific groups to maintain and sustain cultural performance and traditions, but increasingly such festivals reflect the growing ethnic minority groups present in most of New Zealand’s large urban centres. Specific cultural festivals for school-aged young people are attended by thousands of young New Zealanders annually, yet to date have rarely been a feature of research. This study aimed to explore the role that cultural festivals may play in contributing to the identity, belonging and citizenship experiences of ethnic minority youth growing up in Aotearoa New Zealand. The thesis draws on ethnographic data obtained at three cultural festivals (Polyfests) for school-aged young people in 2018 (ASB Auckland Polyfest, Tu Tagata, Wellington and Northern Regional Polyfest, Porirua). Employing ethnographic participant observation, coupled with approaches drawn from ethnomusicology and dance ethnography, data collection included observation of speeches, public announcements and performances, dance moves and music, as well as on-the-fly discussions with festival performers and analysis of associated media (brochures, media reports, online articles). The festivals performances and their potential to enable spaces of possibility for identity-formation were analysed through Bhabha’s (1996) notion of ‘third-space’. The study drew attention to the way young performers strategically employed fusions of traditional and contemporary music and dance genres within their performances to articulate new ways of seeing themselves. These performances also served to maintain and validate ethnic and school-based identities, as well as to gain status and recognition by creating symbolic representations of the way that performers wished their cultural group to be viewed by audiences. Festival spaces also allowed cultural groups to consolidate homogenous (ethnic) solidarities as well as articulate new ways of seeing themselves as belonging through heterogenous (inter-ethnic) and school-based solidarities. The study underscores the significance of festival spaces as ‘counter-spaces’ in New Zealand society in which ethnic minority youth could experience (and create) identity-affirming, counter-hegemonic experiences outside of the dominant discourses frequently projected on them by White New Zealand.

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“…In the case of second generation West Indian youth in Brooklyn, cultural identification interacts, and may even compete with identification along racial lines forming fusions and hybrids of identity. In similar ways to how Auckland has become a centre synonymous with the Pacific Island diaspora (Fresno-Calleja, 2016), or Matonge (Brussels) has become a synecdoche for the Congolese diaspora in Belgium (Swyngedouw & Swyngedouw, 2009), "West Indians in New York are just as attached to their identities as New Yorkers as they are to their identities as West Indians, and West Indians from Brooklyn attach even further significance to being from Brooklyn" (Richards, 2008, p. 269). Richards (2008) reports that most residents will use a "tripartite" (p. 277) framework to describe their identities, placing emphasis on Americanness, Blackness and West-Indianness, but with a sense of pride in being from Brooklyn specifically.…”

Section: Transnational Global Youth and Hybriditymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The articulation of diasporic identities can involve both the re-inscription of traditional identities, as well as the affiliation with contemporary and novel identities. (Fresno-Calleja, 2016;Gilroy, 1993a;Johnson, 2013;Johnson, 2007;Kavoori & Joseph, 2011;Mackley-Crump, 2015a, 2015bNurse, 1999;Richards, 2008;Roy, 2013). While the aforementioned longing for a past (Chacko & Menon, 2013) may drive performers to focus heavily on preserving tradition, another strand previously identified in research seeks for global identification and legitimization, shared and common media references, "condensed into the same gestures, the same ecstatic moment" (Gilroy, 1993a, p. 8).…”

Section: Performing Ethnic Identities At Cultural Festivalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Our dance is a celebration of the fabric of modern New Zealand”: Identity, Community, Solidarity and Citizenship at Youth Polyfests in Aotearoa New Zealand

Homolja¹

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

One feature of the growing levels of cultural diversity in Aotearoa New Zealand has been the growth of cultural festivals. These originated primarily for Pacific groups to maintain and sustain cultural performance and traditions, but increasingly such festivals reflect the growing ethnic minority groups present in most of New Zealand’s large urban centres. Specific cultural festivals for school-aged young people are attended by thousands of young New Zealanders annually, yet to date have rarely been a feature of research. This study aimed to explore the role that cultural festivals may play in contributing to the identity, belonging and citizenship experiences of ethnic minority youth growing up in Aotearoa New Zealand. The thesis draws on ethnographic data obtained at three cultural festivals (Polyfests) for school-aged young people in 2018 (ASB Auckland Polyfest, Tu Tagata, Wellington and Northern Regional Polyfest, Porirua). Employing ethnographic participant observation, coupled with approaches drawn from ethnomusicology and dance ethnography, data collection included observation of speeches, public announcements and performances, dance moves and music, as well as on-the-fly discussions with festival performers and analysis of associated media (brochures, media reports, online articles). The festivals performances and their potential to enable spaces of possibility for identity-formation were analysed through Bhabha’s (1996) notion of ‘third-space’. The study drew attention to the way young performers strategically employed fusions of traditional and contemporary music and dance genres within their performances to articulate new ways of seeing themselves. These performances also served to maintain and validate ethnic and school-based identities, as well as to gain status and recognition by creating symbolic representations of the way that performers wished their cultural group to be viewed by audiences. Festival spaces also allowed cultural groups to consolidate homogenous (ethnic) solidarities as well as articulate new ways of seeing themselves as belonging through heterogenous (inter-ethnic) and school-based solidarities. The study underscores the significance of festival spaces as ‘counter-spaces’ in New Zealand society in which ethnic minority youth could experience (and create) identity-affirming, counter-hegemonic experiences outside of the dominant discourses frequently projected on them by White New Zealand.

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“…The rapid growth of the Pacific population in New Zealand over the years has contributed many positive influences to building a multicultural New Zealand (Fresno-Calleja, 2016). However, it is also important to note the many challenges that have been highlighted for Pacific people within the educational setting.…”

Section: Pacific People In New Zealandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tama Samoa Stories: Experiences and Perceptions of Identity, Belonging and Future Aspirations at Secondary School

Rimoni¹

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This thesis investigates the experiences of twelve strong, articulate and thoughtful tama Samoa (Samoan boys) through their participation in secondary schools and lives outside the classroom and through the stories of others. The study looked at how the students enacted their identities as Samoans, as learners and as young men who are anticipating the future. The study is premised on the view that Pacific identities are fluid, diverse, multi-dimensional and include a range of different perspectives relating to social class, ethnicity, culture and gender. Such a view of identity as complex is not generally taken into consideration in the literature on educational success and achievement of Pacific students in New Zealand. The study employed a phenomenological qualitative design, using focus groups and semi-structured interviews by talanoa (conversations). As the study involved a group of indigenous tama Samoa, the Samoan fa’afaletui method was used. Participants were a group of twelve tama Samoa in three Wellington secondary schools and their twelve nominated persons. The study found that there are key aspects to making the experiences of tama Samoa positive and successful within the secondary school. These include acknowledging tama Samoa and their multiple identities while attending secondary school; supporting the development of a sense of belonging through everyday interactions with peers and teachers, and affirming the belief by tama Samoa that secondary school socialisation serves to help them make future decisions. This study argues that the experiences of tama Samoa are deeply embedded within wider social, economic and political trends. Indeed, their “voices” are shaped in part by these broader forces that construct and represent them as being historically “disadvantaged” and socio-economically “underserved.” Further, this study advocates for the diverse voices of tama Samoa, along with their experiences, stories, hopes, aspirations and dreams to be brought to light and placed alongside the official accounts of Pacific “disadvantage” to enable more balanced critical discourses taking place. It is hoped that this study will offer further insights into the experiences of tama Samoa in the New Zealand secondary school context, from which valuable knowledge is derived to inform and support schools in improving the New Zealand secondary school experiences of Samoan adolescent boys.

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Between Marginality and Marketability: Contesting Representations of Diasporic Pacific Identities

Cited by 6 publications

References 10 publications

“Our dance is a celebration of the fabric of modern New Zealand”: Identity, Community, Solidarity and Citizenship at Youth Polyfests in Aotearoa New Zealand

“Our dance is a celebration of the fabric of modern New Zealand”: Identity, Community, Solidarity and Citizenship at Youth Polyfests in Aotearoa New Zealand

“Our dance is a celebration of the fabric of modern New Zealand”: Identity, Community, Solidarity and Citizenship at Youth Polyfests in Aotearoa New Zealand

Tama Samoa Stories: Experiences and Perceptions of Identity, Belonging and Future Aspirations at Secondary School

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