Sabinet | Volume 49, Issue 4
Volume 49, Issue 4, 2009
Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe - Volume 49, Issue 4, December 2009
Volume 49, Issue 4, December 2009
Authors: Hein Viljoen and Ina Wolfaardt-Grabe
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 505 –506 (2009)
In hierdie nommer van Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe bring ons 'n groepie artikels oor die werk van T T Cloete byeen. Die doel daarmee is om die digter te eer noudat die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns erelidmaatskap aan hom toegeken het. Die doel is ook om Cloete se 85ste verjaarsdag te vier deur weer 'n slag te besin oor sy digterskap en enigsins weer 'n bestekopname daarvan te maak. Dit is immers al 25 jaar gelede dat ons die huldigingsbundel in teen die groot vergeet (1984) saamgestel het en sedertdien het Cloete se digterskap veel verder en ryker ontplooi in ses magistrale nuwe bundels, van Allotroop (1985) tot by Heilige nuuskierigheid (2007).
'n Onvoltooide Naam digterlik verbeel - verkennings aangaande 'n enigmatiese Goddelike Wese in TT Cloete se oeuvre
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 507 –534 (2009)
Eksistensiële vrae na oorspronge en bestemmings is een van die deurlopend herkenbare temas in TT Cloete se digterlike oeuvre. 'n Belangrike aspek van hierdie vrae is die naspeur van essensies aangaande 'n enigmatiese Goddelike Wese. Vir die digter is die onomlynbaarheid van dié konsep "'n digterlike speelding". Vormgewing deur middel van die gedig impliseer enersyds presisie maar andersins meerduidigheid. Dit word benut as potensiaal vir 'n spel met verbeeldingryke kennis. In die Cloete-oeuvre beteken dit om voortdurend op reis te wees. Die onoorsigtelikheid van 'n sogenaamde "gekoekte heelal" ondermyn sekerhede en erns word gedekonstrueer tot parodie. Intertekstualiteit speel 'n belangrike rol in die wydlopende waarnemings en bevraagtekenings. Geykte konseptualiserings van God word gedekonstrueer en gegewens uit die religieus-Christelike kanon word in 'n satiriese lig gestel. Onversoenbaarhede in die komplekse verhouding tussen mens en 'n oënskynlik afsydige Maker word op die spits gedryf na aanleiding van die vraag na die sin van lyding en rampe. Godsbeelde uit verskillende tye en kontekste word gejukstaponeer. Evolusie en 'n "Big Bang"-teorie as deel van die menslike drang om te verstaan, word as alternatiewe wetenskaplike uitkomste op gelyke voet ondermyn. Enkele raakpunte tussen Cloete se kreatiewe digterlike spel en die groter religieuse diskoers word aangedui. Die artikel is 'n beperkte leesverslag met vele oopgelate moontlikhede.
An incomplete Name poetically represented - explorations of an enigmatic Divine Being in TT Cloete's poetry
Existential questions concerning origins and destinies are some of the continuous recognizable themes in T T Cloete's poetry. An important aspect of the origin of such questions is an awareness of design which suggests a possibility of super human origin. Cirlot, for instance, refers to the "psychic fact 'God' as a collective archetype, a psychic existent" and that "the universality of an archetype affirms rather than denies the reality of the principle". Through eight volumes of poetry Cloete's fascination with the recognition of such an archetype and the possibility of Divine origin becomes apparent. The titles of these volumes signify "a humble love of earthly and divine things", as the motto at the beginning of one of these volumes suggests. To the poet the impossibility to find an adequate concept signifying Divinity invites not only a tracing of plausible signs, but also a stimulation of poetic creativity. In Cloete's extensive body of poems such mysterium tremendum creates "a poetic toy". Poetic design implies precision as well as multiplexity, the outcome of which is a potential for exploration through play with imaginative knowledge. Cloete's urge for poetic discovery is aptly registered in the title of another of his volumes of poetry, by means of the phrase "holy curiosity", a quote from Einstein which is also included in a poem in the same volume. What is significant of the latter poem is its title, namely "senile thinker" ("gerontdenker"). It may suggest that such curiosity is a lifelong quest. In Cloete's body of poetry such creativity signifies to be on a journey continually. Such explorative voyages, which are simultaneously real and imaginative, implement the penetrative eye of the artist, as can be deduced, for example, from a volume of poetry entitled: "From my viewpoint" ("Uit die hoek van my oog"). The poet's urge to get some grip on a so-called "knotted universe" through poetic discovery induces him to focus intently on the appearance of insignia of such variety and complexity that it confronts the explorer with the reality of an enigmatic Divine Being. Cloete's perceptions of "insignia" can be compared to Derrida's philosophical concept of "traces". The poet is not only fascinated by the wonders and wisdom of what he discerns but likewise exhilarates in the many appearances of caricatures. Although he finds himself in inescapable juxtaposition to a Being who can not be confined to an intelligible Name, this complex relation similarly leads to discoveries which can only be played out in poetry. Incompatibilities in the complex relation between human being and a seemingly aloof Maker become particularly apparent when the meaning of suffering and catastrophe is questioned. The immensity of an intertwined surrounding universe continually undermines certainties and deconstructs seriousness into parody. Intertextuality plays a significant role in the diffuse observations and questionings of the poet. It includes texts of a wide variety, namely religious, scientific, artistic and even high-tech examples. Stereotyped conceptualizations of God are deconstructed and examples from the religio-Christian canon are presented satirically. However, the inescapability of incorporating such a Book about God is suggested by the urge of eating as a metaphor for internalizing the Word of God. God images from different eras and contexts are juxtaposed. Evolution and a Big Bang theory as alternative scientific answers are undermined on an equal basis.
Efforts to characterize Cloete's signifying of the Numinous must be content with dialectic approaches. Ricoeur likewise warned, from a philosophical viewpoint, that "the dialectic of the naming of God cannot be transformed into a form of knowledge... The being that humanity cannot really name, is held at the mercy of our language." This is one of the most remarkable opportunities for poetic speech, recognized by the poet who becomes aware of "perfect sight".
Cloete's diverse and meticulous as well as cosmic perceptions of the human condition, pose a continuous challenge to the researcher. This article, therefore, presents but a limited reading report on the issues mentioned above, conscious of leaving open many spaces or the possibility of alternative viewpoints.
'n Literêre en himnologiese blik op Psalm 23
Author J.A. Vos
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 535 –546 (2009)
In hierdie artikel word daar gefokus op die literêre en himnologiese aspekte van Psalm 23. Hierdie psalm word in al sy taalgeledinge ontleed. Die sintaktiese en semantiese fasette van die psalm word ondersoek. Daar word gelet op poëtiese patrone. Sekere stylfigure, soos metafore, word ondersoek. Daar word ook aandag gegee aan die resepsiegeskiedenis van die psalm. In dié opsig word die interpretasie daarvan in die Nuwe Testament en in die kerkgeskiedenis nagegaan. Hierdie ondersoek is noodsaaklik omdat die omdigting van 'n psalm op die verstaan van die grondteks berus.
T T Cloete het al 150 psalms vir die Liedboek van die Kerk omdig. 'n Omdigter moet self 'n digter van hoë kwaliteit wees om sy hand aan omdigtings te waag. Cloete voldoen by uitnemendheid aan dié vereiste. In die artikel word sy omdigting op struktuur- en taalvlak ontleed. Daar word ook na die poëtiese gehalte daarvan gekyk. Verder word die musikologiese eise wat die lied stel ook in ag geneem.
Die gevolgtrekking waartoe daar in die artikel gekom word, is dat die omdigting van Cloete voortreflik is. Hy slaag uitmuntend daarin om aan die lied 'n teologiese stem te gee wat singend in harte en monde weerklink.
A literary and hymnological glance at Psalm 23
In this article, the focus is on the literary and hymnological aspects of Psalm 23. This psalm is analyzed in terms of all its linguistic nuances. A network of metaphors is woven around the motif of the shepherd in Psalm 23. This psalm can be divided into four stanzas which are arranged chiastically - verses 1b-3: confession/testimony (He-I), verse 4: a prayer of trust (I-You), verse 5: a prayer of trust (You-I) and verse 6: confession/testimony (I-He).
The syntactic and semantic aspects of the Psalm are investigated, while poetic patterns are also considered. Some figures of speech, for instance, metaphors, are scrutinised. Especially the shepherd metaphor captures the attention. The title "shepherd" which is attributed to the ruling king, is often encountered in the court terminology of the Ancient Near East. In the prologue of the Codex of Hammurabi the king is described as a shepherd who is called by Enlil. This Codex mentions that the gods installed the king's office as shepherd and that they visited him. The motif of shepherd frequently appears in the Old Testament. However, the title "shepherd" is not conferred on the ruling king as was the case in Egypt and Mesopotamia. This title is sometimes ascribed to David (2 Samuel 5:2; 7:7; 24:17), however, it is often used when leaders are accused of neglecting their duties (Ezekiel 34:4 foll.). The metaphor of the host is also illuminated. Yahweh is emphasized as a host. Yahweh is the subject of the verbs in these verses. The result is that Yahweh's deeds are emphasized. The expression "Yahweh prepares a table before me" refers to the fact that Yahweh presents his hospitality to the psalmist. The meal is the proof of Yahweh's protecting and caring nature. Also the literary genre of the psalm is investigated. The psalm is not only a psalm of trust or only one of thanksgiving, because features of both these Gattungen are displayed. The text of Psalm 23 gives us comfort. The psalmist's experiences of comfort, protection and support are expressed. One of the functions of the psalm is to encourage the reader / hearer in difficult times. Thus the psalm is also a psalm of trust.
Attention is furthermore paid to the reception history of the psalm. In this regard, the interpretation of Psalm 23 is traced in the New Testament and in the history of the church. This investigation is necessary, since one relies on one's understanding of the original text when versifying poetry. The Messianic interpretation of Psalm 23 has an important bearing on the liturgy of baptism and the service of Eucharist. During the fourth and fifth centuries and especially in the catechesis of baptism, every verse of Psalm 23 was connected to Christ and to those who met Christ through baptism. The "green pastures" were the supportive words of the Holy Scriptures as embodied by the catechesis of baptism. The "quiet waters" indicated the water with which someone was bapitised. The "paths of righteousness" evoked associations with catechesis of baptism; more specifically the ethical principles of behaviour which were connected to these catechesis.
T T Cloete has versified all 150 Psalms for the "Liedboek van die Kerk" (Hymn book of the Church). Cloete's versification of the psalms is based on the interpretation and understanding of the Hebrew text. All the fabrics of the text are followed and versified in Afrikaans. The versification of a text poses its own challenges. These pertain to matters like rhyme patterns, metaphors, the contemporary nature of the versification and the musical requirements (such as, for example, the word / tone relationship) which hang like a sword above the text.
Anyone who dares to versify poetry has to be himself a poet of high quality. Cloete is more than qualified for this task. In this article, his versified poem is analyzed on the level of structure and language. The poetical quality of his work is also considered. Furthermore, the musicological demand of Psalm 23 as a song is taken into consideration. The hand of the poet is restricted by musicological demands. These influence the rhyming words, the syntax, the word order, and even the appropriation of metaphors.
The conclusion reached in this article is that Cloete's versification of Psalm 23 is outstanding indeed. He succeeds splendidly in giving the psalm a theological voice which resounds, as a song, in both mouth and heart.
Charles Darwin, die natuurwetenskappe en die verwondering in T T Cloete se poësie
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 547 –562 (2009)
In T T Cloete se digbundels is sy belangstelling in die natuur en die natuurwetenskappe dominante temas. Die digter is besonder belese in veral die eksakte en biologiese wetenskappe. 'n Studie van Cloete se poësie toon hoedat hy sy wye kennis vernuftig met die hulpmiddels van die poësie orden en verrassende verbande aantoon. Opvallend is ook die wyse waarop hy 'n religieuse en spesifiek Christelike perspektief in sy poësie aan die orde stel en onbeskaamd as belydende Christen skryf. Studies het reeds aangetoon dat Cloete se religieuse perspektief veel minder tradisioneel as dié van 'n digter soos Totius is en selfs sommige aanvaarde religieuse opvattings uitdaag en die leser tot nadenke stem. Die evolusieleer het die afgelope 150 jaar tot hewige debatvoering gelei en die mens se wêreldbeeld ingrypend beïnvloed en / of gewysig. Debatvoering oor hierdie radikale en invloedryke wetenskaplike perspektief duur voort en lei steeds tot hewige polemiek (bv. oor die kreasionisme). Cloete skram nie weg van hierdie onderwerpe nie en in heelparty gedigte besin hy oor die ontstaan van die skepping en die ontwikkeling van lewe op aarde.
Charles Darwin, the natural sciences and wonderment in the poetry of T T Cloete
As a result of his keen (although lay) interest in natural science, Charles Darwin (1809-1882) agreed to serve as "unpaid gentleman's companion" to the captain of the HMS Beagle during its voyage from 1831 to 1836. Darwin's observations during the journey (especially those made on the Galápagos Islands across from the coast of Ecuador) inspired him to formulate a controversial theory on the evolution of species, which he published as The origin of species in 1859. Two hundred years after Darwin's birth and a hundred and fifty years after the publication of his epoch-making work, Darwin is still being widely discussed, revered and denigrated.
Evolution theory elicits divergent reactions world-wide. It has led to a major shift in scientific beliefs and it has impacted strongly on various aspects of scientific and religious thought, making a decisive contribution in the field of the natural sciences. The consequences of the application of evolution theory are felt to this day, even in fields as "unrelated" to natural science as the field of literature. This article will therefore relate how evolution theory came into being and subsequently investigate how it is reflected in a number of texts in Afrikaans literature. However, the poetry of an eminent Afrikaans poet, T T Cloete (1924-), who celebrated his eighty-fifth birthday in 2009, will be the main focus of this contribution.
In Cloete's poetry, nature and natural science are dominant themes. The poet is so well-read in these that a poet, Daniel Hugo, once remarked that "[t]e veel van sy verse lyk na berymde artikels uit die National Geographic" [too much of his poetry looks like rhymed articles from the National Geographic]. However, a careful study of Cloete's poetry shows how he skilfully uses the tools of poetry to establish surprising connections. Also striking is the way in which he introduces religious and specific Christian perspectives in his poetry, unashamedly confessing to his Christian beliefs and verbalising the "Godsopenbarende kwaliteit van die dinge eksplisiet of implisiet" [God-revealing quality of the objects explicitly or implicitly] (Bernard Odendaal). H Ohlhoff summarises this skill by saying that Cloete does not shy away from the exact sciences, "maar hy het die gawe om dit literêr om te skep, te verwerk en uiteindelik ook in 'n veel wyer verband, dié van God se werksaamheid in die skepping, te plaas" [but he has the gift to recreate it in literature, to adapt it and eventually also place it in a much wider context, that of God's activity in creation].
Studies by M E Bosman and Bernard Odendaal have already shown that Cloete's religious perspective is much less traditional than that of a poet such as Totius (pseudonym for J D du Toit), even challenging some religious premises and prompting the reader to think anew. Some of the important themes in the natural sciences that have led to vehement debates and influenced and/or changed people's world-views dramatically over the last 150 years, are evolution theory and theories about the origin of the cosmos and life on earth. Debates about these radical and influential scientific perspectives are continuing and have resulted in vigorous polemics (e.g. about creationism) as was reflected in the Afrikaans media during the Darwin celebrations in 2009.
Cloete's poetry does not shy away from inter alia "controversial scientific subjects" in a number of poems, and he contemplates the origin of creation and the development of life on earth. The reader is led to consider Cloete's views on creation and evolution. In this article the emphasis will be on the role of evolution in Cloete's poetry and how he uses a well-known observation by one of the main exponents of evolution theory in one of his poems, "toegedig aan Alfred R. Wallace", to present a text that expresses wonderment at a natural phenomenon.
De omgang met de dood in onze cultuur
Author Hans Ester
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 563 –567 (2009)
In de menselijke samenleving kunnen sommige taboes verdwijnen, terwijl andere taboes zich tezelfdertijd nadrukkelijk manifesteren. Tegenwoordig kun je geregeld horen dat volwassenen zeggen dat ze "nog een plas moeten doen", terwijl geen vrouw het vroeger in haar hoofd zou hebben gehaald om dat in de openbaarheid te brengen. Tot de categorie van dominante taboes in onze tijd behoort de dood. Over het feit dat ieder mens ter dood is veroordeeld, dient niet te worden gesproken. Of is dit een eenzijdige voorstelling van zaken? Bewijzen televisieprogramma's als Over mijn lijk van de bij jongeren in Nederland zeer populaire omroeporganisatie BNN en De Kist van de Evangelische Omroep niet precies het tegendeel? Het is mogelijk dat de genoemde programma's de eerste tekenen van een belangrijke kentering binnen de omgang met lijden, sterven en dood vormen. Aan de integriteit van de programmamakers valt niet te twijfelen. Toch ontkomt de beoordeling van deze programma's niet aan het gegeven dat het tonen van sterven en dood en het praten over de eindigheid van het leven gebonden zijn aan het kader dat televisie heet, een medium dat op het onderhouden van de kijker is gericht en uit zeer uiteenlopende programmavormen bestaat die elkaar wederzijds beïnvloeden.
Kreolisering van die simbolisme in die poësie van T T Cloete
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 568 –589 (2009)
This article is an investigation of T T Cloete's rewriting of international Symbolism, the assumption being that he has creolized this poetic system in three ways, namely by developing new forms by mixing, by increasing its expressive power and by making it local and South African, but also by appropriating and adapting it to his own poetical system. After pointing out two indications of creolization in Cloete's work, namely the creative mixing of words and concepts and the mixing of indigenous and colonial language, Symbolism is defined as a deliberate exploitation of ambiguity based on the notion of correspondences between all earthly things. Natural elements are used as metaphors, combined with all the resources of language to suggest a deeper or truer but unformulated second content in a poem. Creolization is here, in accordance with the views of É. Glissant, defined as a rhizomatic understanding of texts in complex webs of relations with three important core meanings, namely mixing of languages, cultures and traditions, a making-local that also entails appropriation and emulation and an expansion of the expressive power of the tradition. The analysis of the ways in which Cloete has transformed the symbolist tradition in poetry along these lines focuses on four aspects of Symbolism, namely the symbolist technique, Symbolism and music, the symbolist tone and the correspondences. Cloete's creolization of the symbolist method is explored in two poems, namely "oopooggebed aan ontbyttafel" (open-eyed prayer at the breakfast table) from Allotroop (1985) and "Insinjes" (Ensigns) from Met die aarde praat (Talking to the earth, 1992). In these poems Cloete evokes a second meaning without really giving it form in the way he uses natural things as metaphors and by subtle allusions to the Symbolists and their favourite colours. The latter poem also shows how Cloete enriches the symbolist tradition with words and concepts from natural science but also transforms it into a way of evoking the in-living of God. The next section links Cloete's symbolist use of bird imagery and bird song to the symbolist equation of music and poetry. In Cloete's poetry the ear is a favourite organ, since it brings disparate elements together. The sound of poetry is in his work a powerful instrument for the expression of the coherence of the whole cosmos and for evoking a second meaning, namely the presence of God in everything. The same goes for the way in which Cloete's poetry deals with the symbolist view of the imminence of death and the passing away of all things. His poetry presents an alternative to mortality by showing a universal interconnectedness and by developing new, modern metaphors for the synthetic power of poetry. One of them is the "laseraspaai" (laser I spy) - a modern instrument for spying out the rich interconnected diversity of creation. This universal interconnectedness, the idea that each thing contains a fine hidden essence of every other thing, is a central tenet of Symbolism and is creolized in Cloete's poetry in a variety of ways and, in his different collections, each time in a different metaphor that underlines this interconnectedness as well as the terrible state of being unconnected : juxtaposition, allotropy, entelegy, idiolect, curiosity. The all-inclusive whole is God, and His presence is evoked in Cloete's poetry in a myriad symbolist ways. Mixing languages and creating new compound words are but two of them. Though it focuses in the small and the local, in Cloete's poetry the unique time and place of every element is illuminated by the illimitable and the universal. Everything has its place in a great chain of being. On the whole, Cloete increases the expressive power of Symbolism not only by modernizing, but also by deologizing it, that is, by turning it into an instrument for the study of Deus, God.
T T Cloete en het Droste-effect
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 590 –595 (2009)
De gedichten van T T Cloete zijn vol geleerdheid. Dat maakt deze gedichten tot irritante raadsels, tot obstakels voor het denken en daarmee tot intellectuele uitdagingen. Ze zijn in veel gevallen als de "Witze" van de psychoanalyticus Sigmund Freud (1983) die immers niet alleen een ontlading van opgehoopte spanning en energie betekenen maar ook een vorm van intellectuele inclusiviteit vertegenwoordigen. Wie in de poëzie van T T Cloete de naam van de Renaissance-dichter Ronsard of de naam van de filosoof Henri Bergson tegenkomt en met behulp van cultuurhistorische kennis deze gedichten begrijpt, die prijst zichzelf om deze kennis en waardeert het gedicht omdat het de mogelijkheid van intellectuele bevrediging en zelfbevestiging heeft geboden.
Die deurskynende kelk : oor vorm en inhoud in die poësie
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 596 –621 (2009)
The transparent chalice: The relation between form and content in poetry
In this article the relation between form and content, one of the classic issues of the theory of poetry, is examined. The point is made that concrete poetry can be regarded as an extreme form of iconic poetry, but iconicity in poetry can assume many other and more subtle forms. The issue of iconicity in language and literature is introduced by referring to the theories of Charles Sanders Peirce and Ferdinand de Saussure which form the basis of the arbitrary view of language. The opposing Platonic paradigm, however, still seems to elicit much interest as is proved by research on iconicity by linguists and literary theorists alike. Reference is made to the peripheral fields of phonosemantics or sound symbolism and the results presented by lexicographers on the almost uncanny regularities in the sound systems of words and their meanings. Antoly Liberman's view that language is motivated and / or iconic in its inception and origin but arbitrary in its history and development is then taken as a point of departure to examine iconic features of various poems by the Afrikaans poet, T T Cloete. A number of poems by T T Cloete are analysed to indicate how form and content are blended and merged to generate meaning and to prove the statement that Cloete is a poet who, par excellence, succeeds in superimposing various codes and modelling systems to create complex meaning in poems. He also succeeds in enhancing the density of meaning in seemingly simple poems by his versatility as a technician. After emphasising the importance of form in poetry the article then focusses on the importance of content. Some poets have both the ability and inclination of concerning themselves with noteworthy and profound content, taking up and extending the classic cultural and aesthetic issues of the tradition in which they work. In some of his poems T T Cloete manages to create a discourse between some of the classic texts of Western thought and his personal view of matters such as female beauty and beauty in general. The emphasis on form is always present in his poems, even when he interprets one of the red photographs of Marilyn Monroe and compares and contrasts her beauty to the role played by Beatrice in Dante's Vita Nuova. In the course of the argument issues such as the connection between the creative aspects of scientific and aesthetic thinking and the relation between intuition and intellectual activity in writing poetry are also addressed. Poetry is described as a form of philosophy on account of the fact that it entails the creative exploration of reality in an attempt to find something new, or even "non-existent", or a new perspective on well-known aspects of ordinary life. The "love of wisdom" which is etymologically implied in the word philosophy, inspires the writing of poetry for some poets but on account of the aesthetic and quicksilver qualities of poetry, poetry could, in my opinion, be identified as "liquified philosophy". The article concludes with the view that in its quest for insight in the human condition, poetry helps to keep alive the sense of wonder which is essential in enabling human beings to overcome the brutalizing conformity of the mass societies in which they live. Poetry can therefore be seen as a constructive force, which helps to connect societies to their past, their present and their future.
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 622 –623 (2009)
"Fides quaerens societatem" : praktiese teologie op soek na sosiale vergestalting
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 624 –638 (2009)
Author Winfried Ludemann
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 639 –657 (2009)
In order to investigate the contribution that could be made by music towards the resolution of conflict resulting from cultural diversity, it is linked to the concept of human dignity. It is argued that the capacity for music, which is a universal characteristic of homo sapiens, leads to one of the forms of symbolic thinking by which humans articulate their dignity. Humans express their humanness by means of music (and, of course, language) and thus also their dignity. I am able to recognise the dignity of the other in his / her music. Drawing on ideas advanced by contemporary ecumenical theology, it is subsequently proposed that musical diversity can be addressed only by taking on an attitude of self-criticism. It is about the imperative of accepting the aesthetic views of the other without sacrificing one's own. From a position of self-criticism it becomes possible to recognise everyone's right to choose a particular musical identity while at the same time allowing the various musical styles to be subjected to critique. A musical (and intellectual) middle ground is then called for where various musical styles can interact with each other without necessarily giving up their particular aesthetic paradigms. Finally, the tension between musical diversity and democracy is thematised. It is argued that democracy provides the best framework within which musical diversity, as it is discussed in the article, can be accommodated.
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 658 –673 (2009)
Sedert die laat negentiende eeu het historici die gevolge en betekenis van die Groot Trek bespreek. Daar kan verskillende hooftendense in die interpretasies onderskei word. Daar is eerstens die vroeë beskouing dat die Trek die beskawing in suidelike Afrika uitgedra het. Tweedens is daar die siening van Afrikaanse historici dat die Groot Trek die totstandkoming van die Afrikanervolk moontlik gemaak het. Derdens het lede van die liberale skool van historici die Trek beskou as 'n ontvlugting van progressiewe Britse beleidsmaatreëls in die Kaapkolonie; dit was 'n ramp vir die ontwikkeling van Suid-Afrika. Vierdens is daar die siening van die radikale skool dat die Groot Trek 'n fase was in die uitbreiding van kapitalisme en kolonialisme in Suid-Afrika. Vyfdens is daar die resente opvatting dat die Groot Trek net een van verskeie migrasies in Suid-Afrika was en nie uitgesonder kan word as van besondere betekenis nie. Sesdens beskou latere Afrikaanse geskiedskrywers die Trek as 'n gebeurtenis met uiteenlopende gevolge. Dit blyk dat historici steeds beïnvloed is deur tydsomstandighede in hul beklemtoning van bepaalde gevolge van die Trek. Sommige van hul stellings oor die langtermyngevolge van die Trek is spekulatief en kan moeilik gestubstansieer word. Gesien binne die perspektief van die huidige tydsgewrig was die Groot Trek primêr deel van 'n omvattende proses van verwestering en modernisasie in suidelike Afrika. Alhoewel dit nie as dié sentrale gebeurtenis in die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika gesien kan word, soos vroeër dikwels beweer is nie, is dit tog een van 'n klein aantal sleutelgebeurtenisse in die geskiedenis van die land.
Vrouejeugboekskrywers oor die Anglo-Boere oorlog : realisme en versoening na dekades van avontuur en nasionalisme
Authors: Thomas Van der Walt and Marietha Nieman
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 674 –687 (2009)
This article discusses the changes introduced by women writers on the Anglo-Boer War. It initially compares the children's and youth literature on this topic in Afrikaans with South African adult fiction as discussed by Eduan Swanepoel in 1998. Swanepoel identifies in an article in Stilet, five periods of which the first extends from 1902-1910 and is characterised by personal accounts. The second period, 1910-1934, features memoirs with an additional element of fiction. Literature which appeared during the third period, between 1934 and 1948, is overwhelmingly propagandist. After a period featuring trivial popular novels replete with anti-English sentiments (1948-1980), we have the postmodern or postcolonial phase, characterised by a reversal of ideological and political sentiments. As far as Afrikaans youth literature is concerned, the first two phases do not for practical purposes exist. The next two phases identified by Swanepoel can be combined in Afrikaans youth literature. Most of the youth books which appeared during that time were written by Mikro. The postmodern or postcolonial period can be identified in youth literature about the war written by female authors.
Toekomsverwagtings onder die jeug van die bruin bevolkingsgroep in Suid-Afrika
Authors: Miemsie Steyn and Gerrit Kamper
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 688 –704 (2009)
Normaalweg visualiseer die jeug 'n toekoms waarin hulle as volwaardige burgers kan woon, werk en bydra tot die ontwikkeling van hul vaderland. Hierdie toekomsperspektief is opvoedkundig van groot belang, omdat dit 'n wesenlike faktor in leermotivering is. Die bruin bevolkingsgroep in Suid-Afrika het te kampe met talle maatskaplike, ekonomiese en politieke uitdagings as gevolg van volgehoue marginalisering, ook in die nuwe politieke bedeling in Suid-Afrika. Teen hierdie agtergrond is die volgende navorsingsvraag geformuleer: In watter mate is die bruin jeug skepties oor hul toekoms in Suid-Afrika? 'n Vraelysondersoek is onder Graad 11 leerders gedoen. Teen die verwagting in het dit geblyk dat respondente oorwegend positief was oor die verwesenliking van hul toekomsideale in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie bevinding hou veel goeds in vir die maatskaplike opheffing en positiewe selfbeeld van Suid-Afrika se bruin gemeenskap.
Future expectations amongst the youth of the brown population group in South Africa
The brown population in South Africa is not only faced with numerous social, economic and political challenges but also experiences a lack of collective identity. Hendricks (2005:118) points out that the origin of the brown population group can be traced back to historical social atrocities like slavery, murder and rape. The collective identity of the brown population is often shrouded in a lack of self-confidence and psychological empowerment, which left them over the years without any significant economic or political power (Adhikari 2002:123).
During the Apartheid dispensation, two measures in particular had a devastating effect on the brown population group, namely the Group Areas Act (South Africa 1950) and the Act on the Separate Representation of Voters (South Africa 1951). By means of the former, many people of colour were forced to move to other, separate and often second rate residential areas, whilst the latter resulted in far reaching political marginalisation. High expectations that this situation would change after 1994 were gradually but surely disappointed. The coloured population group's feelings of marginality - and of betrayal amongst some disillusioned former supporters of the anti-apartheid movement - have since been exacerbated by a perceived loss of status in the new South Africa. Over the years, sociologists have busied themselves with the question about the extent to which an uncertain sense of identity contributes to social problems which manifest in violence and crime. Concerning the brown population group, such a link seems to have been established with considerable certainty (Williams 2002; Laubscher 2003). Compared to other population groups, the incidence of social problems is actually the highest amongst brown people (Laubscher 2003). Ideally, the youth strives for a future in which they can live, work and contribute as full-fledged citizens towards the development of their country. Such a future perspective is educationally of high relevance, because it is a significant factor in the motivation to learn. In view of the brown population group's continued precarious position, the following research question was formulated: To what extent are brown adolescents sceptical about their future in South Africa?
Die ANC en die nasionale demokratiese rewolusie : polities strategiese perspektiewe
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 705 –727 (2009)
Die Nasionaal-Demokratiese Rewolusie (NDR) is as konsep en ideologiese raamwerk baie bekend binne die denkpatroon van die ANC en sy bondgenote. Anders as wat soms verwag is, is die NDR as denkraamwerk nie na 1994 opgehef nie, maar slegs in 'n strategiese en taktiese sin geherposisioneer onder die vlag van sosiale, politieke en ekonomiese transformasie. By die onlangse Polokwane Konferensie van die ANC (einde 2007) het die organisasie verskeie resolusies aanvaar wat in lyn is met die grondbeginsels van die NDR wat ook neerslag gevind het in die ANC se 2009-verkiesingsmanifes. Hierdie artikel fokus op die NDR as politiek-ideologiese denkraamwerk met die beklemtoning van polities-strategiese aspekte.
The ANC and the national democratic revolution: Political and strategic perspectives
Recently the leader of the official opposition, Helen Zille, said the following : "The ANC's National Democratic Revolution (NDR) is not only incompatible with democracy, but it lies at the heart of virtually every crisis we face. The electricity crisis, the arms deal, the manipulation of the criminal justice system, the weakening of parliament and threats to the media and the judiciary can all be traced back to the NDR". The ANC's reaction to this was: "Our tasks are clear: We must advance in unity as we mobilise the masses to build a caring national democratic society. Our National Democratic Revolution will not be halted" (ANC Today, 22-28 February 2008:3, 6). At the recent Polokwane Conference of the ANC this organisation's commitment to the NDR was confirmed once again, and matters such as poverty relief, job creation and greater social and economic equality were seen to be important priorities of the "Revolution". However, closer examination reveals that the NDR is apparently a direct consequence of complex ideological schools of thought as these are anchored within the broader framework of the philosophy and ideology of revolution; and adapted to distinctive South African political, economic and social circumstances. Political transformation and its underlying philosophy actually only represents a specific face or phase of the NDR and does not necessarily exclude other viewpoints, perspectives and strategies (historic or future). The following aspects need to be accentuated against this background:
The NDR defines the "religion" of the thinking of the National Democratic Movement (NDM=ANC and others) and is also the "leitmotif" within the greater ideological framework.
The application thereof is often extremely pragmatic (situational) to keep pace with the distinctive South African context and changes within this context.
The NDR is the fundamental framework (paradigm of ratiocination) within which the "broad church" of the ANC thinks and reaches consensus over matters. (The Polokwane Conference was a striking example of exactly this!)
The application context of the NDR must constantly be reinterpreted to determine its success (or otherwise) and to link up with changing (read new) circumstances. (This is why Strategy and Tactics are revised anew at each National Conference!)
Ideologically the NDR draws on complex thinking and tendencies regarding the theory and practice of revolution, for instance Classical Marxism, Leninism, Stalinism (especially the idea of "revolution from above") and Maoism as well as ratiocination pertaining to decolonisation and existentialism.
A huge number of Afrikaans-speaking people (including politicians and community leaders) have a very limited understanding of this way of thinking (or even no understanding at all) and therefore do not have the ability to interpret current policy and practice meaningfully and set up antipodes for this - where and if needed.
With especially the last-mentioned aspect in mind, the aim of the present article is, firstly, to enable readers better to understand the NDR as the "hard core" of the ANC; and, secondly, to grasp the government's way of thinking as it pertains to South African politics, economy and the society. Although this presentation will touch on a number of strategic aspects of South African politics, it must not be confused with a strategic analysis of the macro-political environment and scenario analysis of the South African political situation. The primary aim is only to get a perspective on the soul of the National Democratic Movement and, in particular, of the ANC.
The article focuses, inter alia, on the following:
Revolution as a concept and the application thereof within the framework of the NDR.
A structural analysis of the NDR. Unrestricted.
The dynamics of the NDR.
The future of the NDR.
Authors: Estelle Boshoff and Coen Bester
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 728 –739 (2009)
Kaburu : 'n drama vir die verhoog, Deon Opperman : boekresensie
Author Johan Coetser
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 740 –741 (2009)
Die Hertzogprys is in 2009 vir die tweede keer agtereenvolgens aan die dramaturg Deon Opperman toegeken. Ook D.J. Opperman het hierdie prys twee keer ontvang, naamlik vir Periandros van Korinthe in 1956 en vir Voëlvry in 1969. Naas Reza de Wet, vir Vrystaat-trilogie en Trits in 1994 en vir Drie susters twee in 1997, is Deon Opperman egter die enigste ander dramaturg wat dié prys twee keer na mekaar ontvang het. Die eerste toekenning aan hom was in 2006, vir al sy Afrikaanse dramas tot in 2005, en in 2009 vir Kaburu. Alle dramawerk "van hoogstaande gehalte", soos daar op die webwerf van Die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns verduidelik word, wat die vorige drie jaar gepubliseer is, kom elke derde jaar vir die toekenning in aanmerking.
"En hy is Willem en ek is Dot"
Vrypas, Dot Serfontein : boekresensie
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 742 –743 (2009)
In die nota voorin Vrypas, Dot Serfontein (1925-) se onlangs-verskene memoires, staan onder meer die volgende : "Vrypas is nie 'n herskrywing van die land se geskiedenis of politiek nie, maar my weergawe van die konteks waarbinne dit drie geslagte lank die lewe van my plattelandse boeregesin beïnvloed het". Die groot waarde van hierdie boek lê myns insiens in die perspektief wat dit bied op 'n essensiële stuk familie- en landsgeskiedenis soos eerstehands beleef deur 'n generasie waarvan daar betreklik min verteenwoordigers oor is. Grootliks chronologies, in 66 netjies afgewerkte onderafdelings wat elkeen ook alleen sou kon staan, vertel die joernalis, streeksen vervolgverhaalskrywer Dot Serfontein haar lewensverhaal waarvan sy die oorspronge gaan soek by haar voorgeslagte en natrek met verwysing na sleutelmomente nie net in haar familie se plaasbestaan nie, maar ook in die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika vanaf die vroeë twintigste eeu tot vandag. Ons leer Serfontein ken as klein plaaskind, skooldogter, student, onderwyseres, joernalis, (Kroonstadse) skrywer, eggenote, boervrou, moeder, ook dan spesifiek "ma van ons-weet-almalwie" (p. 275). Met belangstelling lees mens wat Serfontein oor kwessies, verskynsels, gebeure, eras dink. Daar is ook plaatjies met heelwat (familie-)foto's ingesluit, sodat die leser gesigte kan koppel aan meeste van die name in die boek.
Dié biografie van Afrikaans gaan inlig, skok én teleurstel.
Halala Afrikaans, Daniel Hugo (Red.) : boekresensie
Source: Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe 49, pp 744 –745 (2009)
Afrikaans is oor die afgelope drie eeue al baie dinge genoem : Afrikataal, kombuistaal, én witmanstaal, ondedrukkerstaal én bevrydingstaal. In hierdie "biografie van Afrikaans" wil die skrywers op 'n "funky" manier wys waar die taal vandaan kom, wie dit praat, skryf, gebruik en misbruik; dit wil oningeligtes inlig, ingeligtes verbaas en studente van die taal boei. Maar wat as dit nie verbaas nie? Of die lesers verveel?