As part of the WGS Assemblages symposium (see my earlier post), I also will be doing a performative interaction with the audience over the course of an hour and 15 minutes. There will be many things happening in the room, so I anticipate an ebb and flow of people. I thought I would use the opportunity to try out a performance experiment idea I've had for awhile, based on Walis Nokan's poem, "Chinese Animal Zodiac for Aborigines."
My performative idea is to be a "fortune-teller." Ideally I would have a semi-enclosed space, but probably the set-up will be two chairs with a small table in between. I would interact with one person at a time. I'll ask the audience what their zodiac sign is (I thought I'd put one of those cheesy Chinese restaurant place-mats down in case people don't know), then read them the section of Nokan's poem that corresponds to their sign. I'm imagining sitting in front of a pile of rocks, with little scrolls for each section of the poem labeled "rat," "sheep," "dragon," etc sticking out of the rocks. I would unfurl each scroll and read that part of the poem to the person. I would end by giving them a little card or flyer, kind of like Christian proselytizers give out. On one side there would be the relevant section of Nokan's poem, along with a bio, and on the other side, I would put one of my letters to a lost aboriginal ancestor (or excerpts thereof) and a bio that explains my mixed heritage and gives a little insight into the colonial history, but from a personal standpoint. I would like to include Nokan's entire poem, but I think it would be too long.
Here is Nokan's poem:
My performative idea is to be a "fortune-teller." Ideally I would have a semi-enclosed space, but probably the set-up will be two chairs with a small table in between. I would interact with one person at a time. I'll ask the audience what their zodiac sign is (I thought I'd put one of those cheesy Chinese restaurant place-mats down in case people don't know), then read them the section of Nokan's poem that corresponds to their sign. I'm imagining sitting in front of a pile of rocks, with little scrolls for each section of the poem labeled "rat," "sheep," "dragon," etc sticking out of the rocks. I would unfurl each scroll and read that part of the poem to the person. I would end by giving them a little card or flyer, kind of like Christian proselytizers give out. On one side there would be the relevant section of Nokan's poem, along with a bio, and on the other side, I would put one of my letters to a lost aboriginal ancestor (or excerpts thereof) and a bio that explains my mixed heritage and gives a little insight into the colonial history, but from a personal standpoint. I would like to include Nokan's entire poem, but I think it would be too long.
Here is Nokan's poem:
Here's an example of a restaurant placemat I might use:
Questions:
(1) Should I have a sign announcing my fortune-telling? If so, what should it say? I was thinking of something like: "FORTUNE-TELLING: Chinese Animal Zodiac for Aborigines."
(2) Should I white-out or redact (black-out) the fortunes that are already on the placemat?
(3) How should I read the poem? Should I read it from the position of an indigenous person, as it is written, from the position of a colonizer who is surprised and/or offended at what the fortune says, in the mode of an exotic Orientalist new age fortune-teller and/or charlatan? Should my tone be sincere, theatrical/performative, flat, etc? Should I try a mixture of performative styles corresponding to the various identities and stereotypes being invoked?
(4) Along similar lines to (3), what should I wear? Something "neutral" (ie western androgynous), something "Chinese," something "indigenous," something hippie-like? A friend suggested having a different hat or head-covering for each character. Would that be too much?
(5) I'm thinking of slightly rewriting parts of the translation to make it work better as English poetry. However, I don't quite understand the "Dragon" section. What do you think the "myth" refers to? The "hand that unravels"? In the "Rabbit" section, what do you think the "ripples that attempt to flee" mean?
Here are some quick, off-the-cuff responses since I know you are in a hurry:
ReplyDelete1) Should I have a sign announcing my fortune-telling? If so, what should it say? I was thinking of something like: "FORTUNE-TELLING: Chinese Animal Zodiac for Aborigines."
That sounds good, though I find the second part hard for my brain to wrap around.
What about something like “FORTUNE-TELLING: Chinese Aboriginal Zodiac Readings”
Or perhaps with some kind of warning as the subheading like “CHINESE ABORIGINAL ZODIAC READINGS: for avoiding the gigantic baton of those in power”
(2) Should I white-out or redact (black-out) the fortunes that are already on the placemat?
Yes! I’m personally slightly more drawn to the redact…
Redact feels more like an act of resistance. An awareness of what is there but a purposeful repositioning.
White out seems more of an ignoring or an attempt to erase (which is impossible considering the wide distribution of this stuff)
(3) How should I read the poem? Should I read it from the position of an indigenous person, as it is written, from the position of a colonizer who is surprised and/or offended at what the fortune says, in the mode of an exotic Orientalist new age fortune-teller and/or charlatan? Should my tone be sincere, theatrical/performative, flat, etc? Should I try a mixture of performative styles corresponding to the various identities and stereotypes being invoked?
When I read the poem I felt sincerity however for being performed, I feel it would have to be tinged with different purposes/feelings (perhaps this is what you mean by different identities and stereotypes being evoked?) Like for the rat, acting fearful and looking around, but for the ox being weary etc.
On the other hand, for a Western audience I could totally imagine being the stereotypical new age fortune teller/charlatan, since this would play into the expectations of what might be said vs what is really said. It would certainly be more fun/funny. Especially if you hammed it up.
But perhaps one of the other choices better serves the overall purpose of your work?
Yay, thanks so much for your responses! Quick question about the sign -- I can't say "Chinese Aboriginal Zodiac Readings" because it sounds like the aborigines are Chinese, whereas they're (we're?) Austronesian. How about either "FORTUNE-TELLING: Chinese zodiac readings for aborigines" or "Chinese Zodiac Readings" with "Chinese" crossed out and replaced by "Aboriginal"? I like the rewriting of the latter but it's not quite accurate (because the zodiac is still Chinese; it's not an indigenous zodiac)...
DeleteThe first works better thought it's still a lot. I like the crossing out in the second, especially if you're going to redact the placemat. It feels like you're re-situating who we think people are...but if you're worried about accuracy, stick to the first :-)
Delete(4) Along similar lines to (3), what should I wear? Something "neutral" (ie western androgynous), something "Chinese," something "indigenous," something hippie-like? A friend suggested having a different hat or head-covering for each character. Would that be too much?
ReplyDeleteIf your reading is sincere, I’m not sure…perhaps something indigenous mixed with Chinese/western (I’m guessing indigenous folk don't actually wear just indigenous cloths and besides it might be weird for you to totally “represent” an indigenous person).
If you're reading as the orientalist, than perhaps hippie like.
Or what ever you choose your reading to be it can reflect that.
(5) I'm thinking of slightly rewriting parts of the translation to make it work better as English poetry. However, I don't quite understand the "Dragon" section. What do you think the "myth" refers to? The "hand that unravels"? In the "Rabbit" section, what do you think the "ripples that attempt to flee" mean?
Dragon
Perhaps the dragon is the myth of the Chinese empire? The hand that unravels could be the indigenous? I’m not sold on that because all the other animals seem to be from indigenous perspectives…
So maybe it's the opposite, the dragon is the myth of the indigenous and the hand that unravels is the colonial forces.
Rabbit
Perhaps the well of ripples are tears
That attempt to flee or cry.
Or the well of ripples could be the unfathomable number of indigenous (prey) that the rabbit (or author) has seen/knows who are trapped or attempt to flee their trap.
I can't wait to hear how this goes! I really like your letter or fragments of it on the other side. Perhaps even though you can't include all the animals, you include at least the rat plus whichever one the person is? I only say that because the rat carries the very clear perspective of the underdog and is a good intro to realizing that it is a more oppositional point of view.
(1) Should I have a sign announcing my fortune-telling? If so, what should it say? I was thinking of something like: "FORTUNE-TELLING: Chinese Animal Zodiac for Aborigines."
ReplyDelete"FORTUNE-TELLING: Chinese zodiac readings for aborigines"
I like this sign title. Feels accurate…right?? Did the poet write these 'zodiac sign' readings from the perspective of the Chinese for Aboriginal folks?
(2) Should I white-out or redact (black-out) the fortunes that are already on the placemat?
I like the black-out idea. Maybe even a partial redact.
(3) How should I read the poem? Should I read it from the position of an indigenous person, as it is written, from the position of a colonizer who is surprised and/or offended at what the fortune says, in the mode of an exotic Orientalist new age fortune-teller and/or charlatan? Should my tone be sincere, theatrical/performative, flat, etc? Should I try a mixture of performative styles corresponding to the various identities and stereotypes being invoked?
I feel like maybe a mix depending on the person in front of you and your intuition? This seems like something that will be clearer once you try it out. Have you tried it out on anyone? There is a part of me that wants some "sincerity" in it whatever that means ;-)
(4) Along similar lines to (3), what should I wear? Something "neutral" (ie western androgynous), something "Chinese," something "indigenous," something hippie-like? A friend suggested having a different hat or head-covering for each character. Would that be too much?
I don't know about too much. But maybe there is a slow morphing of costume/character from beginning of installation to the end of it. Somehow the costume that you wore in the video that you made where you are reciting the speech of the plains Aboriginal people is coming up for me. And then maybe a morphing of costume slowly over time could be interesting depending on what you feel your character would morph into because of history, time, context, feeling etc.
(5) I'm thinking of slightly rewriting parts of the translation to make it work better as English poetry. However, I don't quite understand the "Dragon" section. What do you think the "myth" refers to? The "hand that unravels"? In the "Rabbit" section, what do you think the "ripples that attempt to flee" mean?
"Myth" - I totally hinduified and thought that it was like maya/illusion.
"Hand that unravels" - colonial power
"ripples that attempt to flee" - hmmm….those who are affected/oppressed by colonial forces trying to flee, find freedom, escape…?
Here's Babli's feedback:
ReplyDelete(1) Should I have a sign announcing my fortune-telling? If so, what should it say? I was thinking of something like: "FORTUNE-TELLING: Chinese Animal Zodiac for Aborigines."
I like your suggestions that you put in response to Shy's comment: either
"FORTUNE-TELLING: Chinese zodiac readings for aborigines"
OR "Chinese Zodiac Readings" with Chinese crosse out and replaced by Aboriginal
(2) Should I white-out or redact (black-out) the fortunes that are already on the placemat?
black out or partial black out. Possibly incorporating it in the performance while you are reading the Aboriginal poem?
(3) How should I read the poem? Should I read it from the position of an indigenous person, as it is written, from the position of a colonizer who is surprised and/or offended at what the fortune says, in the mode of an exotic Orientalist new age fortune-teller and/or charlatan? Should my tone be sincere, theatrical/performative, flat, etc? Should I try a mixture of performative styles corresponding to the various identities and stereotypes being invoked?
I don't know if it would be confusing to change the performance depending on the text (and the identities invoked in it) - i.e. perform the content of the poem to some extend. I think maybe the fortune teller should more react to the person they are talking to, rather than the text. It somehow feel drawn to a sincere performance- but then again this is only from my imagination. And sincere maybe is closest to your own position, which is somewhat ambiguous.
(4) Along similar lines to (3), what should I wear? Something "neutral" (ie western androgynous), something "Chinese," something "indigenous," something hippie-like? A friend suggested having a different hat or head-covering for each character. Would that be too much?
I could imagine you changing. I don't know quite when. In reaction to the person your are reading to? Or before you invite them to sit with you? I could imagine clothes that you have- a mix of elements, but possibly a few accessories that highlight or heighten one or the other element more at specific times.
(5) I'm thinking of slightly rewriting parts of the translation to make it work better as English poetry. However, I don't quite understand the "Dragon" section. What do you think the "myth" refers to? The "hand that unravels"? In the "Rabbit" section, what do you think the "ripples that attempt to flee" mean?
"Myth" I am frankly confused as well- I am thinking an indigenous myth/story/telling of the past?
"Hand that unravels" - that which threatens the myth of the indigenous
"ripples that attempt to flee" impulses that want to escape the fatigue in the eyes - as well as all that causes this fatigue