Towards an Oceanian Modernism Matthew Hayward (bio) and Maebh Long In essay on Herman Melville, D. H. Lawrence describes the Pacific Islands as "a vast vacuum, in which, mirage-like, continues life of myriads ages back."1 Modernist studies has yet to awaken from this dream Oceania hazy antithesis modernity, a place "not come any modern consciousness": although tide is turning, typically been tr...