Easter Island: Science contra Stereotypes

elective courses

Classroom

The aim of this online course is to acquaint the students with the basic knowledge about Easter Island (Rapa Nui), a South Pacific island being a Chilean colony. Apart from the introduction to the island's history and culture a special emphasis will be put on polemics with popular, stereotyped view of Rapa Nui and on presenting the scholarly approach to this subject.

Particular subjects:

1. Introduction. Eurocentric approach of early voyagers.

2. History of Easter Island: An outline/

3. Where are the Easter Islanders from?

4. Moai statues: What is their meaning and why are they overturned?

5. The "collapse theory": Is that true thet Easter Island's population contributed to its own downfall?

6. Easter Island and the media: A film by Nationa Geographic and its critique.

7. The Long Ears and the Short Ears: Were there tribal wars among them?

8. Cannibalism and other controversial cultural practices: What is the truth about them?

9. Who were the Bordman?

10. Easter Island in popular culture: Comics.

11. Easter Island in travel literature: Misconceptions.

12. Easter Island in travel literature: Faulty translations.

13. Easter Island in the eyes of the Rapanui people: A film by Leo Pakarati.

14. Current problems on Easter Island/

• chosen papers from the following magazines: „Rapa Nui Journal”, „Revista de Marina”, „Revista Pacífico”

• J. Diamond, Upadek. Dlaczego niektóre społeczeństwa upadły, a innym się udało, Prószyński i S-ka, Warszawa 2005 (1 rozdział)

• T. L. Hunt, Rethinking the Fall of Easter Island, American Scientist, IX-X 2006

• Z. Jakubowska[-Vorbrich], Odkryta przypadkiem, pojęta opacznie. Wyspa Wielkanocna w osiemnastowiecznych relacjach podróżników na tle rozważań o spotkaniu kultur, ISIiI UW – MHPRL, Warszawa 2013 (fragmenty)

• Z. Jakubowska[-Vorbrich], Still More to Discover. Easter Island in an Unknown Manuscript by the Forsters from the 18th Century / Wciąż odkrywana. Wyspa Wielkanocna w nieznanym rękopisie Forsterów z XVIII wieku, Muzeum Historii Polskiego Ruchu Ludowego, Instytut Studiów Iberyjskich i Iberoamerykańskich, Warszawa 2014

• Z. Jakubowska[-Vorbrich], „Wyspa Wielkanocna: egzystencja etni polinezyjskiej w ramach państwa chilijskiego” [w:] Społeczne problemy Ameryki Łacińskiej, Jacek Knopek, Michał Drgas [red.], Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, Toruń 2012, ss. 112–132

• Z. Jakubowska[-Vorbrich], „Aneksja Wyspy Wielkanocnej (Rapa Nui) przez Chile”, Nautologia, nr 152, 2015, ss. 43–50

• Z. Jakubowska-Vorbrich, „Legends and Traditions of Easter Island (Rapa Nui) and Problems of Their Translation”, w: Translation Landscapes – Internationale Schriften zur Übersetzungswissenschaft, Band 2, eds. Piotr Sulikowski, Anna Sulikowska, Emil Lesner, Verlag Dr. Kovač, 2018, ss. 361-384.

• Z. Jakubowska[-Vorbrich], „Dawne rolnictwo Wyspy Wielkanocnej. Polemiczne podejście do teorii upadku społeczeństwa”. Myśl Ludowa nr 8/2016, ss. 137–162

Upon graduation the student knows basic terminology, subject and fields of research covering the history and culture of Easter Island; the most important events and processes in the history of Easter Island and important aspects of its culture (K_W03; K_W06).

Upon graduation the student knows how to read and understand texts on the history and culture of Easter Island; present their views, opinions, discuss, present prepared issues on the history of Easter Island; identify different types of historical texts, place them in a general historical and cultural context, and analyze them using basic terminology related to historical studies; independently acquire knowledge and develop skills using appropriate sources and scholarly texts on history of Easter Island (source texts, monographic studies, etc.); write an essay using appropriate methods and appropriate sources of the historical studies; prepare oral presentations using appropriate methods and sources for the field of history; use basic theoretical approaches, research paradigms and concepts specific to the historical studies (K_U01; K_U02; K_U03; K_U04; K_U05; K_U06; K_U07).

Upon graduation the student is capable of critical assessment of their own knowledge and skills and understands the need for continuous improvement and development; planning and organizing work, developing their entrepreneurship, team collaboration and compliance with professional ethics; keeping informed about contemporary processes and phenomena occurring in the culture and historiography of Easter Island (K_K01; K_K02; K_K04).

What will be evaluated is the activity of the participants, including presentations that they shall prepare.

The course will end with a test. Its form (written or oral) and mode (online or not) will depend on the epidemiological situation.