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Resetting the focus of culture

Friday 15 November 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Art, Features

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Resetting the focus of culture
Te Peu Tupuna Māori Kūki 'Āirani participants were welcomed to Te Are Karioi Nui by a traditional pee (chant) delivered by Pastor Ngarima George. MELINA ETCHES/24111407

Te Maeva Nui, the Cook Islands elite and biggest performing arts festival has seen a shift in traditional performing arts risking the very authenticity that makes our traditions special.

Te Maeva Nui, the Cook Islands elite and biggest performing arts festival has seen a shift in traditional performing arts risking the very authenticity that makes our traditions special.


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Comments

Te Tuhi Kelly on 16/11/2024

I have video clips of the 1950's and earlier, they don't ura like that anymore. You are fighting against a growing tide of what's traditional (like beauty it's in the eyes of the beholder) and modernistic influences. Let's face it the culture is not the culture of our forefathers as evidenced by my introductory comments. The purists may harken back to a bygone period, but the audience expects the glamour, the glitz, the razzamatazz, the horse has bolted and the barn door is open. Our success has laso been our archilles heel. What is called culture is nothing of the sort, it is cultural entertainment and designed for the audience, designed to pit one against the other, if it was not designed to have a winner, why have prizes. We are damned if we do or damned if we don't.