PACIFIC VOICES: Screen Industries and Culture in the Pacific

Abstract

The verbal, visual and cultural landscape of the Pacific Ocean, its Islands and people are supremely rich, varied and complex, with a diversity of Polynesian and Melanesian traditions and art, mixed with European and Asian influences. There have been a number of undertakings and projects to conserve, appraise and build narratives around this cultural abundance and heritage. This paper addresses the question: 'What educational research, frameworks and learnings can best capture and enhance this landscape, its indigenous voices, story telling and cultural signatures through the agency of film and screen media in a Pacific community context? While not providing a defined framework for action, the paper brings into focus some factors for consideration in any future program of cooperation with the Pacific Islands to assist them in building screen industries, screen education and screen culture.