
Tangled tales, entangled ales: Examining recursive islandness through themes of place in Newfoundland craft beer
MA Island Studies | University of Prince Edward Island
Supervisory committee:
Dr. Laurie Brinklow (UPEI), Dr. Ryan Gibson (U Guelph), Dr. Kelly Vodden (MUN), Dr. Josh MacFadyen (UPEI)
ABSTRACT
With islands understood as generative sites of relational entanglement, and craft beer itself described as a zone of entanglement and meaning-building, it should come as no surprise that Newfoundland’s craft beer brands are brimming with richly entangled themes of place. But what does that look like?
This creative thesis project examines themes of place in the burgeoning craft beer community on the island of Newfoundland. Engaging Anthropocene thinking and traditional textile practices, representations of these themes will be mapped and stitched onto an existing (literal) patchwork quilt. In doing so, the patchwork itself becomes a site of generative ‘becoming’ and the project reveals itself as a figure of recursive islandness.
When the intangible becomes tangible, knowledge is able to be shared in accessible, relatable ways. This project seeks to highlight the richness — and fun! — of relational approaches and tangled tales, opening up opportunities for alternative forms of thought and practice in Island Studies and the broader Anthropocene.
VIDEO: Adventures in the recursive islandness of Newfoundland craft beer
[13 mins]
Presentation for the 17th International Small Islands Studies Association (ISISA) Conference, June 2021
Stream here or watch on YouTube
RECURSIVE ISLANDNESS
The concept of recursive islandness emerged while reframing my thesis research as a creative project. Once recognized, it has itself become a recurring theme throughout my both my written and creative work.
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