In a land far, far away: writing (in) French Polynesia

Abstract

This article approaches, from a historical perspective, the contemporary literature of French Polynesia and the themes that are particular to it, a consequence of the complex relationship between the region and France. The first text about Tahiti dates back to the 18th century when the explorer Antoine de Bougainville disembarked on the island. The publication of his diary in 1771 marks the origin of a myth that promises, to this day, the possibility of an earthly paradise. Over the years, the Tahitian mirage was consolidated, eventually assimilating the 118 islands that make up French Polynesia and overcoming the singularities of each one of them. However, with the onset of 193 atomic detonations in the region (carried out by the French government between 1966 and 1996), the environment became conducive to the birth of the movement aimed at restoring ancestral languages and cultures. Instead of stories written by foreign authors about French Polynesia, native writers decided to take control of the narrative, which proposes to reflect the Mā’ohi identity as it exists within the context of living under the rule of France. Today, this literary body, more substantial and prominent as the cultural revolution grew in scope, is regarded by academics as the youngest in the world. If books in print still face intellectual prejudices and high costs, the internet has created copious opportunities for publishing online, allowing local authors to transcend the insularity that has limited them for centuries.

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Original in English.