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Writing Wellington: Twenty Years of Victoria University Writing Fellows

Faking Peoples and The Fake-triach

page 23

Faking Peoples and The Fake-triach

Finally, these last two texts, one historical and the other creative, confirm the rhyzomic nature of myth-making (and, incidentally, the continued invisibilising of gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people in New Zealand history indicative of the failure in 1997 of the Auckland City Council to recognise the liberating effects of the Hero Parade).

Primarily, the paper will propose that all history is lies and all lies can be made into suspect novels or histories. The paper considers these two texts as both salvation of and destruction of myth-making and that, in New Zealand, it doesn't matter what the myth, demolish it (especially if it's Maori) and you may end up with a knighthood.

The novel under discussion is the last of all the texts to be considered in the paper and should not in fact be included. However, rather than face accusations of being a spoilsport, the author—who is also the presenter of the paper to the LALALAND Conference—includes it as an indication that he can take the piss out of himself. To be frank, why critics have considered The Fake-triach aka Kiss of the Spider Woman Part 2 aka Magic Realism's Last Gasp as an impossible and unbelievable cybertext is beyond his comprehension. Many beautiful Maori grandmothers existed who once lived in Italy, sang arias by Verdi while fighting the Pakeha, and were pursued by vengeful mothers who could swim through the universe.

The paper, as above, will be presented in the Atrium of the Peking Cluck Hotel at 5.30pm on Thursday. Those students wishing to get A+'s in the author's Masters Papers at Victoria University of Wellington, and other members of the public lucky enough to find a seat in the packed hall should attend. Please note that the paper is programmed to deconstruct five minutes after presentation.