The Tales of Tusitala: Robert Louis Stevenson in the Pacific

Robert Louis Stevenson lived in Samoa from 1890 until his death in 1894 and visited the islands of Hawai'i in 1889 and in 1893. This talk brings together Pacific researchers and artists in a panel discussion to explore the life and legacy of Stevenson in Samoa. This will include a special screening of a documentary film Tales of Tusitala made by young Samoan filmmakers.

This talk and screening is part of the Pitt Rivers Museum's Late Night celebrations around the themes of aloha and storytelling. In Samoa, Stevenson was known as Tusitala or the teller of tales. The talk coincides with the Revisiting Robert Louis Stevenson in the Pacific installation currently on display at the Pitt Rivers Museum and created in collaboration with the Remediating Stevenson project based in Edinburgh.

About the Speakers:

Michelle Keown is Professor of Pacific and Postcolonial Literature at the University of Edinburgh. She is author/editor of various books focused on imperialism and indigeneity in the Pacific. Keown is the Principal Investigator for the Remediating Stevenson project.

Dr Keao NeSmith is of Native Hawaiian and Scottish descent, born on the island of Kaua'i in the Hawaiian Kingdom. He has translated several books into Hawaiian. As part of the Remediating Stevenson project, NeSmith has written new poetry and has translated works from English into Samoan.

Solomon Enos is a Native Hawaiian artist from Makaha Valley, O'ahu. He works across a range of media including oil painting, book illustration, murals and game design. As part of the Remediating Stevenson project, Enos has produced graphic adaptations of Stevenson's works.

Dan Lin is a visual storyteller with extensive experience working in film and photography across the Pacific Islands region. He and editor Nick Stone mentored National University of Sāmoa student interns during the filming and post-production editing of the Remediating Stevenson project documentary film Tales of Tusitala.

Nick Stone is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School and has worked as a freelance filmmaker and editor for almost 20 years. His work includes everything from national advertising campaigns to independent films and documentaries. His strengths in storytelling and an ear for sound have won him awards. He continues to pursue new ideas, new projects and new ways of telling a story.

NB. This talk is part of the ALOHA Late Night event at Pitt Rivers Museum. Free but need to book Late Night ticket for entry to talk. This ticket will give you entry to the rest of the Late Night event, as well as the talk.