'n Kritiese ondersoek na die Afrikanerbees as ideologiese kulturele fenomeen binne die konteks van Afrikanernasionalisme, en, Die nalatenis (roman)

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Two separate texts are submitted towards the degree MA in Kreatiewe AfrikaanseSkryfkunde. Firstly, a thesis with the title ''n Kritiese ondersoek na die Afrikanerbees asideologiese kulturele fenomeen binne die konteks van Afrikanernasionalisme', andsecondly a novel titled Die nalatenis. The novel and the thesis are thematically related.The focus of the thesis is the ideological character of the Afrikaner cattle as a culturalphenomenon within the context of Afrikaner nationalism. The novel tells the story of acertain family's fate and their special connection to the breeding of Afrikaner cattle in theFree State.Firstly I need to make it clear that the theme of this thesis was not lightly chosen, but thatI do have a personal interest in the material. My uncle and aunt were well-knowAfrikaner cattle breeders, each from families who have been renowned for theirassociation with the stud breeding of these cattle for many generations. Since my auntwas an enthusiastic collector of family history, I have since childhood been familiar withthe stories about certain family personalities and their love for their cattle. In my versionof the stories, and my research on the subject, I wanted to explore the connection betweenthis cattle breed and the Afrikaner culture. I aim to demythologize the histories to acertain extent and give a critical commentary on certain constructions of these histories.To examine these issues, J.B Thompson's (1990) critical theory of ideology will be usedas main theoretical tool. Thompson identifies certain ideological practices and strategiesof symbolic construction through which relations of domination are established andsustained in the social world. These concepts will be used to examine the ideologicalcharacter of the Afrikaner cattle breed as symbolic form and the strategies that were usedto establish it as such. Through an analysis of a number of texts I will identify thedifferent meanings and values that were associated with the Afrikaner cattle within thecontext of Afrikaner nationalism. I will aim to establish if and how these values served tosustain the relations of domination associated with Afrikaner nationalism.The novel tells the story of Ragel, 'n young photographer, who is her late uncle andaunt's only heir. She inherits the farm and needs to decide what to do with it. She is alsothe last keeper of a family secret. She and her boyfriend are relocating to London and hehas proposed to her. The news of her uncle's death also triggers the pain of previouslosses – especially her own mother traumatic death. Where she sits locked in herdarkroom in this liminal state, the larger family saga is played out: the story of thepatriarg Rooi Jakob, who blessed the wrong child; of Anna who had to flee during thewar with her children and cattle; of Magriet who rejected her younger son and theresulting rivalry between the two brothers, Louis and Jakob; and of course the small lovestory of Beth and Louis, whose fateful relationship brought everything to a bitter end.The novel is based on the theory that a family photo album can also be a self-portrait inwhich one can (re)discover oneself.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University