Skip to main content
Who Speaks for Sāmoa? Some Reflections by a Pālagi Teacher of Pacific Art and Culture in the American Midwest
Abstract
This paper considers some of the pitfalls related to and practical considerations for teaching courses that address cultures to which the instructor does not belong. The primary focus, however, is on ethical matters that may arise in any university classroom, particularly in relation to the exhibition of art. Who, if anyone, has to right to speak for others and why do students assume it is the instructor? Whose voices or narratives are to be included? Who becomes the arbiter of authenticity in these cases? How do we counter stereotypes that arise when only a partial and filtered view of a culture can be presented?