Hello scholars! We had such a fun time at our first ever
Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association (PAMLA) conference this past
weekend. We met (and witnessed) so many talented scholars this weekend.
Graduate
assistants Sofia and Ashley ready to check
scholars into the
conference
One of the key takeaways Ashley got from working at the
registration desk was seeing the diversity of people who attend academic
conferences. Scholars from many states and countries came to present on a
stunning variety of topics ranging from vampire studies to absurdist history.
Several families came to America’s Finest City for the weekend, with many a
child treated to a trip to the San Diego Zoo. Students and faculty came from
all over, from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to Vancouver Island
University. A young girl in the audience of Joseph Thomas and Michael Heyman’s
poetry reading delighted the crowd with her giggly additions to the
performance. Ashley was also thrilled to meet another person studying
Vietnamese American literature.
Thai Luong
presenting on A Different Pond by Phi Bao
The Asian American Literary and Cultural Studies sessions on
Thursday left Ashley dazzled. As a first-semester graduate student just
entering that field, this conference was her first time meeting fellow Asian
American literature scholars, and hearing their research left her
inspired.
She left with many topics of interest to research further: the effect of the
model minority myth on lived experience, Vietnamese American history and
literature, and the boundaries of what is defined as Asian American and
literature. She is determined to search for an area of focus of her own (food
is brilliant but taken) and to draw all the inspiration she can from the
admirable work of those trailblazing in her field.
Katherine Sciurba
presenting on White Flour by David LaMotte
Ashley also had the opportunity to attend the brilliant
Children’s Literature I panel. Katherine Sciurba, Assistant Professor in the
SDSU School of Teacher Education, opened with “March of the Coup Clutz Clowns:
The Clown as Figure of Resistance to White Supremacy in David LaMotte’s
White
Flour.” She analyzed LaMotte’s humorization of ostensible KKK members who
attempt to join a parade. It was fascinating to hear her perspective as an
instructor who focuses on the affective response of her students to the books
she reads, and the Q&A raised the question of empathizing with KKK members
and where the limit is. Dr. Sciurba argues that children are capable of
processing trauma in picture books because they might witness much worse on the
news and maybe even personally.
Linda Salem
presenting on Aruki Taro by Takei Takeo
Next, Linda Salem, the Children’s Literature Librarian at
SDSU, spoke about “Takei Takeo’s
Aruki Taro, Clara Breed, and Japanese
Illustrated Children’s Literature in Context.” She described the wonder she
felt finding this book and imagining the story, which she could only
extrapolate from the images. After getting the story translated, she began
extensively researching the history of children’s literature in Japan and
shared those findings with us. Salem’s role as a librarian requires much
communication with different organizations, such as the public library system
from which she obtained this rare book. Thank you to Linda Salem and all
librarians for making the study of rare literature possible!
Mary Galbraith
presenting about animals in 20th century novels
Children’s Literature Lecturer Mary Galbraith presented “The
Live Creature: Animal Presence and Inhabiting the World in 20th Century
Children’s Novels.” The talk drew upon many well-known novels, such as
The
Black Stallion and
The Call of the Wild, to explore how authors can
typify emotion and express nonverbal communication. Dr. Galbraith marveled at
how entire books can be written about animals that don’t communicate in words
but with their bodies. She described how “yes” and “no” are very deep in
physiology, spreading her arms and stepping forward to indicate “yes” and
withdrawing while pulling her arms to her chest to express “no”. As always, Dr.
Galbraith’s animated and yet casual style of speaking is engaging and
simplifies her very complex research.
Dr. Joseph Thomas
and Dr. Michael Heyman Reading
During “Children's
Poetry Today: A Creative Writing Reading”
Dr. Joseph Thomas and Dr. Michael Heyman had a poetry reading
together, entitled “Children's Poetry Today: A Creative Writing Reading: an
event in four chapters,” on Saturday. Joseph Thomas read from “‘Advice for
Children (NSFW)’ and Other Poems for Young People,” among other works. Joseph
Thomas and Michael Heyman have worked on many projects together over the years,
from collaborative poetry to being judges of The Lion and The Unicorn Poetry
Award.
Adults and children alike joined together to listen to these
brilliant poets and readers; at one point a child delightfully laughed at one
(or maybe more than one) poem, emphasizing the wide reach poetry can have. The
two did not write this show as a piece, but often worked through poems together
on the phone, showing the true organic creativity of their poetry. For Joseph
Thomas, although this reading is enjoyed by all, he states, “doing this for
children makes the physical important,” referring to their vibrant movements
and energy while performing.
Their reading was broken into four chapters. In the first
chapter, Joseph Thomas dedicated a poem he wrote in the intro to his late
father, and dedicated another poem to his beloved cats. Next, Michael Heyman
read his poem “Bish Boshed” a rhyme poem with arguably “nonsense” names which
he brought sense to with the rhythm and passion of his reading. Joseph Thomas
then read his own poem, “Nonsense Rhyme for Michael Heyman” following “A
Pomsense Poem” by Michael Heyman.
In the reading’s second chapter, Joseph Thomas read
eight lines from “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by British poet Alfred
Tennyson, otherwise known as “Lord Tennyson.” Michael Heyman followed with his
own poem, “The Chard of the Blighted Souffle.” Michael Heyman then read an
excerpt from “Warning to Children,” which Joseph Thomas argues is an
improvement to the original poem.
Dr. Joseph Thomas
and Michael Heyman Reading
Chapter three, entitled “Seasick Love Songs,” began with
“The Hummerhead Brill” by Michael Heyman. Joseph Thomas read his lighthearted
poem “The Fisherman,” a poem about a man in love with a creature neither a
fish, nor a human.
In the fourth and final chapter, “Rinnzekete bee bee nnz krr
müü?”, A.A. Mill’s “Now we are Six” was improved by Joseph Thomas’s poem “Six
We are Now.” Michael Heyman concluded with a stunning, dynamic rendition of
Kurt Schwitters’s “Ursonate”.
Dr. Joseph Thomas
and Michael Heyman waiting for
“Children's Poetry
Today: A Creative Writing Reading”
Watching these two perform was such a joy, but it truly felt
like watching one, with how in tune they were with each other’s every word and
movement. The audience, and the readers themselves, could be seen exchanging
smiles throughout the event. We were so lucky to be reminded of the creativity
and joy involved with writing and sharing poetry.
The full video of this event is linked here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBQOqxOgWoI
