select portfolio - research publications

 

Pacific studies JOURNAL special issue 2021 - ‘Atamai-Loto, Moe Faka’ofa’ofa-Aonga: Tongan Tā-Vā Time-Space Philosophy of Mind-Heart and Beauty-Utility’

Lear, Adriana Māhanga (Pā’utu-‘O-Vava’u-Lahi), Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai, Sione L. Vaka, and Tēvita O. Ka’ili (Maui-TāVā-He-Akó) (eds.) 2021, ‘‘Atamai-Loto, Moe Faka’ofa’ofa-Aonga: Tongan Tā-Vā Time-Space Philosophy of Mind-Heart and Beauty-Utility”, Pacific Studies Special Issue 44, no. 1/2 (October 2021), Lāie, Hawai’i.

  • Lear, Adriana Māhanga (Pā’utu-‘O-Vava’u-Lahi), Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai, Sione L. Vaka, and Tēvita O. Ka’ili (Maui-TāVā-He-Akó) 2021, ‘Tā-Vā, ‘‘Atamai-Loto, Moe Faka’ofa’ofa-Aonga: Toward an Indigenous Tongan Tā-Vā Time-Space Philosophy of Mind-Heart and Beauty-Utility’, Pacific Studies Special Issue 44, no. 1/2 (October 2021), pp. 1-11.

  • Lear, Adriana Māhanga (Pā’utu-‘O-Vava’u-Lahi), Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai, Sione L. Vaka, Tēvita O. Ka’ili (Maui-TāVā-He-Akó), and ‘Ōkusitino Māhina (Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu) 2021, ‘Sino, ‘Ilo, Moe Ongo: Body, Knowing, and Feeling’, Pacific Studies Special Issue 44, no. 1/2 (October 2021), pp. 12-94.

  • Lear, Adriana Māhanga (Pā’utu-‘O-Vava’u-Lahi), Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai, Sione L. Vaka, Tēvita O. Ka’ili (Maui-TāVā-He-Akó), and ‘Ōkusitino Māhina (Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu) 2021, ‘Tongan Hoa: Inseparable Yet Indispensable Pairs/Binaries’, Pacific Studies Special Issue 44, no. 1/2 (October 2021), pp. 96-141.

  • Lear, Adriana Māhanga (Pā’utu-‘O-Vava’u-Lahi), Manuesina ‘Ofakihautolo Māhina, Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai, and ‘Ōkusitino Māhina (Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu) 2021, ‘Sio FakaTonga ‘ae ‘Aati FakaTonga: Tongan Views of Tongan Arts’, Pacific Studies Special Issue 44, no. 1/2 (October 2021), pp. 142-162.

  • Lear, Adriana Māhanga (Pā’utu-‘O-Vava’u-Lahi), Sione L. Vaka, Tēvita O. Ka’ili (Maui-TāVā-He-Akó), and ‘Ōkusitino Māhina (Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu) 2021, ‘Siueli ‘oe Pasifiki: Jewel of the Pacific - A Sung Poetry of Praise and Rivalry’, Pacific Studies Special Issue 44, no. 1/2 (October 2021), pp. 242-246.

  • Lear, Adriana Māhanga (Pā’utu-‘O-Vava’u-Lahi), Sione L. Vaka, Tēvita O. Ka’ili (Maui-TāVā-He-Akó), and ‘Ōkusitino Māhina (Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu) 2021, ‘Tuaikaepau: ‘Slow-but-Sure’ - A Sung and Danced Poetry of Tragedy,’ Pacific Studies Special Issue 44, no. 1/2 (October 2021), pp. 247-270.

  • Lear, Adriana Māhanga (Pā’utu-‘O-Vava’u-Lahi), Sione L. Vaka, Tēvita O. Ka’ili (Maui-TāVā-He-Akó), and ‘Ōkusitino Māhina (Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu) 2021, ‘ Lofia, Koe Kumi Tu‘i: The Search for a King - A Sung and Danced Poetry of Tragedy’, Pacific Studies Special Issue 44, no. 1/2 (October 2021), pp. 271-301.

  • Lear, Adriana Māhanga (Pā’utu-‘O-Vava’u-Lahi), Tēvita O. Ka’ili (Maui-TāVā-He-Akó), and ‘Ōkusitino Māhina (Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu) 2021, ‘Faiva Tau‘a‘alo: Performance Art of Rowing’, Pacific Studies Special Issue 44, no. 1/2 (October 2021), pp. 302-328.

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‘ARTS’ OF MOANA OCEANIA research report, 2020

Lagi-Maama Academy & Consultancy was commissioned by Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi in January 2020 to carry out scoping research on the arts of Moana Oceania. The research report was accompanied by a weekly online Tok Stori platform for authors to present their papers to the community.

A Study of Traditional Tongan Music Using the TĀ-VĀ (Time-Space) Theory of Art, BCA Honours thesis, 2018

Abstract

The thesis employs the Tā-Vā (Time-Space) Theory of Art to study traditional Tongan music. This indigenous Tongan theory is implemented as a framework for musical analysis, which is conducted using case studies of compositions by Queen Sālote (1900–1965), Tonga’s third monarch and most prominent composer.

Since the 1960s, anthropologist Adrienne Kaeppler and musicologist Richard Moyle have attempted to understand the nature, function and meaning of Tongan music. Kaeppler has examined the interrelationship between Tongan art forms and social structure, while Moyle has conducted musical analyses of Tongan compositions. The differing approaches of Kaeppler and Moyle have created ongoing debate in the field about how Tongan music should be studied. This thesis argues that both Kaeppler and Moyle disregard motif, the fundamental principle of Tongan musical structure, and incorrectly decipher Tongan aesthetics. It asserts that an understanding of integral aspects of Tongan music is compromised by the exclusivity of their approaches, and by their lack of engagement with an appropriate socio-cultural framework.   

By contrast, this thesis proposes a new perspective on Tongan music, by engaging with its socio-cultural, artistic and musical contexts. It implements Tā-Vā as a socio-cultural framework for the application and interpretation of musical elements in traditional Tongan music compositions. Tā-Vā was formulated by Tongan historical anthropologist 'Ōkusitino Māhina based on indigenous Tongan concepts of time and space.

The thesis presents score analyses of a lakalaka (socio-political dance song) and hiva kakala (love song) by Queen Sālote to investigate how motif is used to achieve specific Tongan aesthetic principles. It also considers how music relates to the poetic and dance components of these compositions.

Māhina has employed Tā-Vā to analyse case studies of Queen Sālote’s poetry. Other Tā-Vā scholars have analysed Pacific dance and visual arts. This thesis offers new insights into the study of Tongan music, and by implementing a Pacific perspective, contributes to the ongoing endeavour in Pacific scholarship to reclaim descriptions of Pacific cultures.