The Papalagi
The Papalagi ( Papalani ) is a book by the German painter and writer Erich Scheurmann that contains the travel reports of a fictional South Sea chief. It was first published in 1920.
The book is subtitled " The speeches of the South Sea chief Tuiavii from Tiavea ". Dating from the Samoan word Papalagi means by Scheurmann " the white man ", " the stranger ", " the -sky -breaker". The word actually exists in Samoan. The reader is revealed Scheurmanns narrative as a kind of secret message because he " certainly against his will " publish the speeches of the chief Tuiavii.
Formation
The " trip report " was 1915-1920, after Scheurmann had received from his publisher an advance for a South Sea story. Scheurmann lived for a year in Samoa, but had to cancel his visit because of the start of the First World War.
The book is based to some extent on the parabola, the expedition of the African Lukanga Mukara into the innermost region of Germany colonial officer and pacifists Hans Paasche; Plagiarism allegations were brought to court, but not released.
Content
The book is about a chief Tuiavii (which is a title and not, as the book suggests, a proper name ) and its fictitious speeches to his people. He tells of his trip to Europe and warns his people against the prevailing values. Real had not a South Sea chief toured Europe, but Scheurmann the Polynesian Samoa. Western Samoa was until 1915 a colony of Germany. The author tells in the book little about the way of life of the residents of Samoa; Instead, he practices by childishly naive expression civilization critique of Europe and used the former stereotype of primitive peoples colony for display of simple wisdom.
" The Papalagi " is divided into eleven " speeches ", some of which will be mentioned here:
From the round metal and heavy paper
From the round metal and heavy paper: The Chief warns, " the round metal and the heavy paper they call money " is " the true deity of the whites." This God alone would apply their attention.
From the occupation of Papalagi
From the occupation of Papalagi: Tuiavii chief speaks about jobs in civilization societies: " Do something so often that you can do it with eyes closed and without any effort. If I do nothing with my hands than building huts or weave mats - so the building huts or mat weaving is my profession. Now, if the Papalagi later realizes that he would rather weave build huts as mats, they say: He has missed his calling. "
About Magazines
About Magazines: "In these papers is the great wisdom of Papalagi. He needs every morning and night to keep his head between them to fill it again and make him prosperous, so he thinks better and has much in itself; as the horse runs even better when it has eaten a lot of bananas and his body is full of neat. "
The serious illness of thinking
The serious illness of thought: The Chief describes the thinking of Europeans and called it a serious illness. "If one thinks a lot and fast, they say in Europe, he had a big head. Instead with these great minds to have compassion, they are especially revered. The villages they make to their chiefs, and where a large head comes, because he must think publicly before men what all the many pleasures prepares and much admired. If a large head dies, then is mourning throughout the country and great mourning for what is lost. "
Effect
The book has been translated into at least ten languages. Especially in times of the hippie movement, it reached great popularity. Fifty years after the publication it became a cult book. It has more than 1.7 million copies sold alone in German language, but also found in East Asia spread.
In 1997, the Canadian- Swiss author Peter C. Cavelti a translated into the English language version of " Tuiavii 's Way " out.
Criticism
Scheurmann cultivates a romantic cultural criticism and submit to the " South Sea chief " words in his mouth, which he wanted to tell his countrymen, and describes things for which there have long been words in Samoa, with a flowery, elaborate language that sound uncorrupted should.