Oceanian Poetic Collaborations

Prof. Dr. Lars Eckstein (Universität Potsdam)

Oceanian Poetic Collaborations intends to investigate different collaborative dimensions of poetic events across the Oceanian sea of islands. The project combines three integrated project streams: The first stream sets out to challenge text-based approaches to postcolonial poetry more generally by rethinking the ontology of poetic events. It studies Pacific Islander poetry by specifically attending to the sonic assemblages it sustains and creates between and across human, yet also more-than-human presences and the material world. The second project stream focusses on the collaborative politics of a new generation of Oceanian poets who seek new alliances to adress climate justice and decoloniasation, typically using new media outlets to disseminate video performances of their work. The third project stream, finally, meets the demand for a sustainable and curated archive of Oceanian poetry in new media formats, to be hosted by the University of Hawai’i. This archive shall also feature translations and educational material to engender more poetic collaborations across Oceania in the future.