Course syllabus

 

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Kia ora, Malo e lelei, Talofa lava, Kia orana, Ni sa bula vinaka, Fakaaloha lahi atu,

Aloha, Taloha ni, Mauri, Halo olaketa and warm Pacific greetings!

 Image result for Judith Kunzlé cook island drummers

Welcome to PACIFIC 110 – Introduction to Pacific Music and Dance

2018, Semester 1 (15.0 points)

PACIFIC 110 is an introduction to the world of music and dance within the Pacific, with a specific focus on Polynesia. Overtime, Pacific music and dance has transformed and continues to with the influence of colonisation, Christianity, modernisation, commercialisation, commodification and migration.

“There is no music without dance”.

This course will raise student awareness around cultural heritage and seeks to empower students of the importance of preserving and sustaining Pacific music and dance within the home island and diaspora. Pacific music and dance are not just presentational, but are mediums that provide a platform through which traditions, customs, values and beliefs are shared, expressed and reinforced.

 

Course Aims

Students will experience theoretical and practical classes which will help develop their introductory knowledge and understanding of the histories, cultural significance and social function(s) of Pacific music and dance by exploring cultural practices/protocols, mythology, rituals, genealogy (whakapapa, mo’oku’ahau, gafa) and identity (Maoritanga, fa’asinomaga).

 

The Centre for Pacific Studies

The Centre is one of the global leaders in Pacific Studies. It is in the University of Auckland’s focal point for researching and teaching the Pacific. The Centre coordinates and organises the University’s scholarly engagement with the Pacific, as well as its engagement with Pasifika peoples in New Zealand.

Our Fale Pasifika is the symbol of our identity as Pacific students and staff of the University of Auckland.

It is our home for ceremonies, a place for dialogue, for teaching and learning about the islands of the Pacific. It is also the second largest structure of its kind in the world, and is part of the wider Centre for Pacific Studies

 

 

Meet the teaching team

Course Convener/Professional Teaching Fellow

Natalie Leitulagi Toevai

ntoe321@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Office hours: By appointment

Office location: Tbc

Natalie Leitulagi Toevai has completed a Master of Arts in Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland. Aside from work and study, Natalie is a passionate dancer for the all-female Pacific contemporary group, Ura Tabu Pacific Dance Company where she has performed at various community and corporate events such as Tempo Festival of Dance, Cult Couture, Oceanic Performance Biennial, Pacific Dance Choreographic Lab and the annual Pasifika Festival.

Dance has also taken Natalie across Aotearoa and back home to Samoa for the Teuila Festival, Hong Kong to represent Samoa at the Asia-World Expo and Hawai'i with the PIPA 3rd year students for the bi-annual Kamau Pono Festival.

Over the years, Natalie has been a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Pacific Studies and is excited to see what God has instore for 2018!

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Dr Tarisi Vunidilo

tarisi.vunidilo@auckland.ac.nz

Office hours: By appointment

Office location: Tbc

Tarisi Vunidilo completed her PhD in Pacific Studies on the topic "iYau Vakaviti-Fijian Treasures, Cultural Rights and Repatriation of Cultural Materials from International Museums" at the University of Auckland. She has published two books and several articles about Fijian pottery, language and archaeology.

Tarisi was also Programs Advisor for Creative New Zealand (2007-2009), Collection Manager of Pacific Collection at Te Papapa Museum (2001-2003) and Head of the Archaeology Department (1997-2000) in Fiji. 

Apart from teaching, Tarisi is also a Fijian dance choreographer, song composer and dancer. She is also a volunteer Secretary-General for the Pacific Islands Museums Association (PIMA) and works between her office in Port Vila, Vanuatu and Auckland. 

Pacific, Indigenous Studies and Global Studies Librarian

Judy Taligalu McFall-McCaffery

j.mcfall@auckland.ac.nz

Office hours: Tuesday 10-12noon in Pacific Studies or by appointment in the General Library.

Our Pacific Librarian is Judy Taligalu McFall-McCaffery. With over 30 years experience in Pacific research information management, her current project with Pacific Studies involves enhancement of successful student academic and information literacy skills at university. Attend her research tutorials, and follow-up with her on assignment research queries, referencing and information needs. 

https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/profile/j-mcfall

 

Lecture and Tutorial Information

Lectures

Room

 

Monday 12pm – 1pm

 105S-039 (Clock Tower South)

 

Tuesday 12pm – 1pm

 104-G54 (Old Choral Hall)

 

Tutorials

Room

Library Tutorial

(Week 6, Wed 18 April)

T01: Wednesday 9am – 10am

 201N-211 (Human Sciences)

 315-433 (Kate Edgar Information Commons)

T02: Wednesday 10am – 11am

 114-G13 (Commerce A)

 315-433 (Kate Edgar Information Commons)

T03: Wednesday 8am – 9am

 104-G07 (Old Choral Hall)

 315-433 (Kate Edgar Information Commons)

T06: Wednesday 12pm – 1pm

 206-216 (Arts 1)

 315-433 (Kate Edgar Information Commons)

(Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online)

 

Course expectations

Attendance - It is expected that you will attend all lectures and tutorials. For further information please see the Pacific Studies Late Policy.

Fa’aaloalo/Faka'apa'apa/Respect - Respect each other.  Respect the instructor, and the institution.  Respect the knowledge we are developing and learning.  Respect other cultures and ways of being and doing.  Honour the work of your colleagues, support them in their learning, and contribute to the learning of others and yourself.

Preparation - Be prepared.  Being prepared for class is an essential part of research, learning and teaching.  Being unprepared prevents you from learning; it also inhibits the work of others, and the class, and prevents your full development as a student in the course. 

Knowledge - Universities exist to teach, and to research.  In Pacific Studies we teach and research Pacific peoples, communities and places, knowledge that has at times been neglected or maligned, or which in many cases has only recently been recognized by academic scholars.  Our communities and people hold this knowledge dear, value it deeply, and we expect our students to do the same.

 

Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. 

Deadlines for essays and assignments, and set times for test taking and presentations, are strictly observed in Pacific Studies.  This policy is to ensure fairness amongst students, and to promote key learning skills such as preparation, planning and timeliness. For further information please see the Pacific Studies Late Policy.pdf

 

Our Pasifika counsellor, Sarah Va'afusuaga McRobie is also available for drop-in sessions in on Wednesdays in room 108 at Pacific Studies.

Date Time Location
21 March 2018 10.30AM to 12.30PM Room 108, Fale Pasifika
28 March 2018 10.30AM to 12.30PM Room 108, Fale Pasifika
18 April 2018 10.30AM to 12.30PM Room 108, Fale Pasifika
02 May 2018 10.30AM to 12.30PM Room 108, Fale Pasifika
09 May 2018 10.30AM to 12.30PM Room 108, Fale Pasifika
16 May 2018 10.30AM to 12.30PM Room 108, Fale Pasifika

 

Talanoa

"Talanoa can be referred to as a conversation, a talk, an exchange of ideas or thinking, whether formal or informal. It is...[usually] carried out face-to-face" (Vaioleti, 2006).

We will be using the Piazza platform as our online talanoa tool.  Rather than sending emails to your instructors you are encouraged to use Piazza for all class-related discussions.  You can use it to ask questions about course content, assessments, lectures etc and you can do this anonymously.

Please sign up to Piazza as soon as possible by going to: Online Talanoa Sign Up

For access after sign up you can find Piazza in the left hand menu of Canvas.

 

Libraries and Learning Services

Ensure APA referencing is used for your assignments. See Referencite or QuickCite for further assistance. For any queries regarding IT services and support, see IT essentials. Although we have a library tutorial session which will focus on targeted to your chosen essay questions, we highly encourage you to take advantage of the additional services available to assist you with succesful research and writing skills by visiting some of the following links:

 

Vaka Moana

Vaka Moana is Pacific Studies' undergradaute academic enhancement programme that is tailored to your assessments.  It offers workshops specifically targeted to your Pacific Studies courses as well as other services that will enhance your experience at University.  Schedule TBC.

 

Academic Conduct

The University’s Statement on Plagiarism

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence.   The work that a student submits for grading must be the student’s work, reflecting his or her learning.  Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the world-wide web.  A student’s assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms.  Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review. For more detailed information, see the University's guidelines at Academic Integrity and Copyright and Academic Conduct

The course information is subject to change.

 

Course summary:

Date Details Due