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
PAMLA 2019 was a blast, and we look forward to PAMLA 2020, which will be held in Las Vegas. Thank you for the generosity of all involved!
-(AN) & (SS)
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