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School
of Social & Cultural Studies
Albany Campus, AucklandSchool
News
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New Light on Hyde
A just-launched book of critical essays on Robin Hyde, author of the renowned novel The Godwits Fly and a prolific poet, political columnist, travel writer and war correspondent, reflects growing interest in a remarkable writer overlooked in her own lifetime, says its editor Dr Mary Paul.
Titled Lighted Windows, the collection of 12 essays by New Zealand and overseas literary scholars is the first book of critical essays on Hyde, who committed suicide in 1939, aged 33.
Mary argues in her introduction that Hyde’s “influential contemporaries were blind to the scope and variety of Hyde’s work and its mature development” because “it would have interrupted their version of a national literature”.
Hyde is described in the book as having had the most significant output of any New Zealand writer during the 1930s, yet was regarded as of minor interest for many decades after her death. The book extends and complements the reassessment of Hyde that has been taking place more recently, particularly the Marsden-funded project that Mary helped to initiate in 1999.
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Paganism in a Catholic Society
Most studies of contemporary western Paganism have been conducted in societies that are predominantly Protestant, but Assoc. Prof. Kathryn Rountree has shed a new light on the religion in her new book Crafting Contemporary Identities in a Catholic Society. When asked about her inspiration for writing the book, Prof. Rountree mentions her interest in what it would be like to be Pagan in a strongly Catholic society: “None of the Pagan scholarship I had come across at that stage had been based in a Catholic society”.
Having conducted research in Malta for more than three years, she gives us an in depth discussion of “the world of a small, hidden sub-culture in a strongly Roman Catholic society”. According to Prof. Rountree, the book “looks at what it is like being Pagan in this closely-knit, urban society where Catholicism has traditionally permeated every sphere of public and domestic, social and political life. Being Pagan in this context brings a different set of experiences based on a particular relationship to the dominant society, its norms and institutions”. By studying the religion in a predominantly Catholic society, Prof. Rountree has opened up new ground on studies of Paganism.[by Trisha Tan]
Crafting Contemporary Pagan Identities in a Catholic Society is available for purchase in hard-copy or as an e-book.
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Warm Winds of Change
Samoa is known for its beautiful beaches and wonderful holiday resorts, but to Professor Cluny Macpherson it is the perfect example to show the effects of globalisation within the larger pacific region. In his new book, Warm Winds of Change, co-written with La'avasa Macpherson, Prof. Macpherson talks about “the form, processes and impacts of globalisation on small states with dispersed populations”. Having spent a part of every year living in Samoa, he has become familiar with the country and its processes.
According to Prof. Macpherson, “Globalisation is not new to the Pacific: it has been occurring since the original settlers first entered and moved around in Oceania”. His book discusses globalisation within the larger pacific region and poses the question of how and why might its contemporary impact might differ from earlier periods. Even though the book doesn't cover the impact of the recent tsunami, Cluny and La'avasa have made the point “that natural disasters in Samoa have occurred regularly and that the global links with large Samoan communities abroad have lessened the impact of these because most families have people abroad on whom they can depend for assistance in these times”. Warm Winds of Change covers a vast amount of information about globalisation and its consequences. [by Trisha Tan]
ISBN 978 1 86940 445 1 Purchase this book
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Collector's Edition
Fans of Dr. Jack Ross, lecturer in Creative Writing at the Albany campus and author of three published novels, two books of short stories and several books of poems, will be delighted to know he has published a new chapbook of poems titled The Return of the Vanishing New Zealander. According to Jack, the limited edition collection works through the complexities of being a “'New Zealander' in an increasingly multi-cultural and polyglot country." He welcomes the changes in society, "whereas a lot of other people seem to see them as some kind of erosion of integrity and identity.”
The book is rather special as it is Jack's first hardback, a rarity amongst New Zealand publishers. It can be bought from Parsons Bookshop on Wellesley St in Auckland city. Jack would like to make special mention that Parsons are an amazing supporter of the local arts scene, and stock virtually every New Zealand author and artist, maverick or mainstream: “Go in there and spend some money!” Alternatively, the book can be ordered directly from the publisher at Kilmog Press [http://kilmogpress.blogspot.com/] in Dunedin, whose website also features a sample poem.
Congratulations Jack! And we will look forward to more published work in the future. [by Nga-Atawhainga Creagh]
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School Events | |
School Events
The School seminar series takes place weekly during the semester in t eh staff common room, Atrium Building third floor. The events are open to members of the public as well as Massey staff and students. If you'd like to present a seminar, Dr Graeme Macrae would be delighted to hear from you.
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