Spring 2019 Events

“The Theory and Practice of Yi People's Ecological Poetics”
Harvard University, March 11, 2019

​On March 11, 2019, the Nuosu-Yi poet Aku Wuwu and Professor Mark Bender visited Harvard University to discuss the state of minority-language literature production in China. Professor Aku discussed the state of minority education among the Yi minority in China, of which the Nuosu are one part, as well as decline of the Yi language among the population’s youth. He discussed not only the cultural customs of the Yi, which represent an important influence on his poetry production, but also how his collaborations with Professor Bender have allowed his Yi poetry to circulate as part of world literature today. With a robust attendance of more than 20 people, there were many questions concerning the practicalities of producing language learning materials for young people, as well as struggles over the standardization of the Yi language, and questions about his poetic inspirations. The event concluded with a moving reading of some of Professor Aku’s more well-known poems in the original Yi language, followed by Professor Bender’s English translations.