PIRATE PPT INCEPTION

Wind-shattered voices, the tales in shells and wrecks along the coasts of South China Sea

When it comes to historical imagination, it is usually based on empires/nation-states and is shaped by borders. This session attempted to bring the attention to those people and figures who lived largely out of such narratives and defied borders. When one shifts the geographical centre of narratives, a ghostly topography emerges: of marginal insurgence, autonomy and at times well defined criminality (in contrast to warfares, lawful oppression and legitimised exploitation).

In this session we discussed how these sea-bound traditions interfere the land-based orthodox narratives. To do this, we looked at he traces of those criminalised who attempted to subvert state power, and the unseen hands who financed their revolutionary entrepreneurship.

Presenting: Liu Chao

Commenting: Sepideh Behruzian, Raúl Silva, Ian Nolan, Litchi Ly Friedrich & Hannah O'Flynn