Internationally acclaimed author Earl Lovelace reading from his latest book It's Just Like a Movie - in an interview with Maia Chung during the second in the biennial series International Writer's Congress staged by the Regional Council of Guadeloupe
By: Maia Chung
Trinidad and Tobago born writer Earl Lovelace; is looking forward to the public's response to his latest work, "It's Just Like a Movie".It was published this January by United Kingdom publishing powerhouse Faber and Faber...Lovelace's consistent publishing house - over the years. His novels include: While Gods Are Falling,The Schoolmaster, The Dragon Can't Dance, The Wine of Astonishment and Salt.
It's Just Like a Movie, is set in the Black Power period of the seventies in Trinidad and Tobago where Lovelace says, he sets all his novels. He attributes this to his assessment of his homeland, as still being a relevant place where... it is still keenly felt to be a gathering place for the New World. Lovelace feels this is still true in today's New World paradigm, as when the region's people's indentured ancestors flocked here. He says that he is proud to note that strong Caribbean traditions which have died elsewhere in the region, are still vibrant and alive in Trinidad and Tobago.
He cites things like Spiritual Baptism, the nucleus of his work in his book, The Wine of Astonishment. He says that the Black Power global movement brought the Caribbean people's consciousness of themselves as powerful, to the fore - It's Just Like a Movie examines that. Lovelace was one of the many distinguished writers who attended the second in the biennial series of writers congresses, put on by the Regional Council of Guadeloupe.
The Congress which attracted writers from the French, English, Spanish and Dutch Caribbean, among others areas - took place this April between the 6th and 9th. Lovelace didn't just attend the esteemed gathering, but was a significant resource on several panels, which addressed the issues of the Conference, through the form of plenary sessions and round table discussions. Mr. Lovelace was also the recipient of a prize, awarded this year by the Congress of the Association of Caribbean Writers - to the writer adjudged by a panel of judges of his peers, most worthy.
Lovelace copped the top spot from a plethora of writers representing almost all the languages of the Caribbean.
In explaining the prize which was awarded to Mr. Lovelace; President of the Regional Council and Member of Parliament for Guadeloupe Victorin Lurel says that it was, "bestowed by the Regional Council of Guadeloupe, and it is meant to foreshadow the creation of a Grand Literary Prize by the Association of Caribbean Writers, as foreseen by the first Congress, to be conferred at the third Congress in 2013".
Mr. Lurel says, the first Congress, held two years ago, "represented an opportunity to take stock of different schools of thought and trends in literary sensibilities, which had a lasting effect, throughout the 20th century, on Caribbean literary output".
This year's Congress looked at issues such as: Literary creation, readership, criticism. Publishing, edition and distribution. Translation, monolingual and bilingual editorial strategies.
The general theme for the Congress was - "Circumstances, conditions and issues of literary creation in the Caribbean".
At a conference such as this, bringing writers from all language jurisdictions, translation was at the forefront of almost every discussion.
Under one of the Conference's central themes - Translatability of works:Developing bilingual editions - writers of all nationalities and tongues; tried to come to a common solution to the challenge of promoting equal interrelationships in the literary sphere, as well as to come up with ideas that will facilitate access to works by foreign speaking Caribbean writers, through necessitating bilingual editions.
The writers looked at the reasons why publishers and authors don't have systematic translation of their works - which many at the Conference believe will be a major step, in healing the insularity of each literary territory, as determined by language.
In the view of Earl Lovelace, in addressing divisions now present among the literary communities of the region, he says that all Caribbean people need to stop viewing themselves as English, French and Dutch territories.
He too is a fan of more translation.
He suggests that the progress of the region, as accomplished to date - was never defined by maintaining a separatist stance in any area but our hard won struggles in almost every area, to him were accomplished through unity.
This history of unity he suggests needs to be reclaimed especially in the area of languages, ethnicities or culture. Lovelace says that the problem, of separation within the Caribbean literary world - needs to be placed in the context of replacing the Old Colonial order. He is worried by the glaring absence of knowledge, of the great writers from different territories, even among that community.
This insularity is more obvious and glaring especially in this age of widespread technology, our geographical unity and cultural sameness as exhibited in our mannerisms, similar responses and cultural replication. Attendees at the conference feel that there is an urgent need to expand the literary production throughout our Caribbean space.
This expansion they believe may feed more translations of works cross borders and at a quicker rate.
The writers are calling for a heightened literary consciousness throughout the Caribbean, which they say encompasses sharing much more widely than occurs now; the works of authors, who write in all the languages of the region. Lovelace feels that translation initially will feed this desired closer relationship, between the various literary communities.
As the star of this year's Congress, Lovelace agrees with these ideas, and supports the view that the result of increased translation; will be a more cohesive Caribbean literary community. He feels that the region is once again at the point where the artist is once again king. Lovelace says it is currently up to the artist to spark a renewal (in things of the Caribbean literary world). But he is also concerned about things such as, when and if there is increased access to the translated works of his counterparts, such as Monique Boisseron Guadeloupe, Ariel Camejo Cuba, Alexandre Alaric Martinique, Delia Blanco Domincan Republic - will they be used in places where he feels there is a significant absence of the Caribbean writer? In the region's Universities.
The Caribbean college student he feels need much more literary exposure to the rich heritage of literary talents that the region has produced and continues to generate. These writers may assist, with providing the students of these institutions with a wide variety of literary works that echo and validate their experiences. It was commonly agreed at this year's gathering that there is an alarming dearth of the works of the rich roster of writers here, mandated as a part of University curriculum.
Lovelace juxtaposes his recommendation against his concern of the diminishing Caribbean citizen.
The current Caribbean citizen Lovelace feels, is now more than at any time before in the region's history; willingly throwing away their identity - in an even more pathetic fashion - than our slave counterparts, who he says were at least forced by the Slave Master to assimilate. Among his examples of this loss of identity, is the sad state of affairs, he feels - of the pervasive American accents on Caribbean radio stations, used by persons who have never lived in that country or stayed there only briefly.
Lovelace makes an added case for the need for the increased use of Caribbean literary works to form a key part of the Foundation of education in the region. He says that the works of the Caribbean writer contains real problems of the Caribbean, with people who are still wrestling with resisting Colonialism, these works help with the affirmation of Caribbeans as human beings who are creative people. This is a message that the region needs constantly reiterated in his view.
We are still too insecure says Lovelace and with the voluntary adoption of others identity which is occurring now, we are once again an insecure people. He says too much Caribbean people today are playing the ass.
He says that what is too evident now is that we (Caribbeans) are seeking empowerment by "mashing up our own selves". He says the performance of the West Indies cricket team is an example of mashing up our selves.
"Look how we were on top" - Lovelace laments.
He feels that the region has lost its grip on the dignity sparked off by the Black Consciousness movement of the past in a major way. He says - "everything has become flimsy and shiny here in the West Indies".
In essence people of the region are being swallowed up by other cultures and we must find a way to change.
This may happen, he says - through the powerful messages of the Caribbean Literary World and only if we as a people decide to reawaken that part of us through - as was determined at the Congress; promoting and making accessible the work of our writers to our readers and taking it a step further - by allowing all the voices which are contained in this area to be heard - starting with aggressive translation and dissemination.
In journey towards a more unified Caribbean space through political efforts such as CARICOM - Lovelace and all the writers at this year's conference say that the literary force of the region will have to play their usual integral role.
As Lovelace sees it, these issues as highlighted and identified as a possible way forward for the region's literary products will take not just identification by the stakeholders but also as all the writers at this year's conference feel widespread political will.
So is there hope that these agenda items could be achieved, and not render this conference just a talk shop.
Lovelace says, "we haven't died yet, yes we have hope, we can't live without hope".
