ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the construction of cultural identity in Mamma Medea by Tom Lanoye (2001) and it’s translation by Antjie Krog (2002) by employing various theories as well as exhausting binary oppositions, and analysing the way it relates to the difference in language use between the conflicting individuals and groups in the drama.
Mamma Medea is based predominantly on two versions of the Greek myth of Medea and her shocking tale of infanticide in order to wound her deceitful spouse, Jason. It follows the long tradition in literature and art wherein Medea is used to comment on the subjugation and oppression of women and non-dominant groups, as well as on the formation of the Other. Lanoye uses the details of the Ancient account, but broadens the spectrum to include commentary on contemporary themes in order to seek an alternative motivation for her premeditated infanticide. The drama does not stay within the details of the intertexts, however, and is altered so that both Medea and Jason each kill one of their children.
A context-relevant approach is followed to examine how Lanoye’s drama challenges modern myths surrounding cultural identity in the Flemish-Dutch context. The latter interpretation is warranted by linking Flemish en Dutch with the groups in the drama, in accordance with the real language tension between the two language regions. In contrast to this Krog makes use of much more dialectal forms of Afrikaans reflecting the multicultural and multilingual South-African context. Her translation is not studied from a purely translational, theoretical perspective, considering that the focus of the study is on differences in cultural identity and on the differences in context wherein the respective drama and translation is produced. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die konstruksie van kulturele identiteit in Mamma Medea van Tom Lanoye (2001) en in die vertaling daarvan deur Antjie Krog (2002) aan die hand van verskeie teorieë, asook met behulp van binêre opposisies, en analiseer die wyse waarop dit onder meer saamhang met die verskille in taalgebruik tussen konflikterende individue en groepe in die drama.
Mamma Medea ontgin veral twee weergawes van Griekse mites oor Medea, wat haar twee seuns op skokkende wyse vermoor om haar verraderlike eggenoot, Jason, leed aan te doen, in aansluiting by ’n lang tradisie in die literatuur en kunste waarin dié figuur veral gebruik is om kommentaar te lewer op die uitbuiting en onderdrukking van vroue en nie-dominante groepe, asook die formasie van die die Ander in verhoudinge. Lanoye verruim in sy drama die onderwerp van die konvensionele huweliksdrama en betrek hedendaagse kwessies ten einde ’n geldige eietydse motivering te verskaf vir Medea se optrede. Hy wyk onder meer doelbewus af van die brontekste deurdat hy Medea en Jason elk ’n seun laat vermoor.
’n Gemeenskapsrelevante benadering word gevolg om na te gaan hoe Lanoye se drama in die proses moderne mites rondom kulturele identiteit uitdaag binne ’n Vlaamse-Nederlandse konteks. Laasgenoemde interpretasie word ondersteun deur onderskeidelik Vlaams en Nederlands te verbind met die hoofgroepe in die drama, in ooreenstemming met reële taalspanninge tussen die twee taalgebiede. Hierteenoor maak Krog van veel meer dialektiese taalvorme gebruik in aansluiting by die multikulturele Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Haar vertaling word nie soseer vanuit ŉ vertaalwetenskaplike perspektief nagevors nie, aangesien die hooffokus val op sowel die verskille in kulturele identiteit as op verskille rakende die konteks waarin onderskeidelik die drama en die vertaling geproduseer is. Description:
Masters Degrees (Afrikaans and Dutch)