This dissertation journeys into the heart of narrative writing, exploring how personal stories shape the practices and identities of both students and instructors within academic writing instruction. At its core, it is an autoethnographic study that employs my own writing life as primary data to investigate the impact of narrative writing on teaching pedagogy. The research interrogates the traditional academic prioritization of objective, linear essay structures, questioning how such practices may obscure other legitimate forms of knowledge representation and identity construction within educational settings. Drawing from personal experiences of struggle within the constrictions of academic writing expectations, this work advocates for a narrative pedagogy. It recognizes storytelling as a rich, inclusive medium through which students can engage with texts and express complex understandings. By weaving in elements of motherhood, ancestry, and lived experience, the study underscores the need for a pedagogical shift towards recognizing the multiplicity of writer identities and the value of diverse narrative expressions.

This study is an interpretive analysis of Zimbabwean political auto/biographical narratives in contexts of changing culture, race, ethnicity and gender identity images of the self and nation. I used eclectic theories of postcolonialism to explore the fractured nature of both the processes of identity construction and narration, and the contradictions inherent in identity categories of nation and self. The problem of using autobiographical memory to recall the momentous events that formed the contradictory identities of self and nation in the creative imagination of the lives of Ian Smith, Maurice Nyagumbo, Abel Muzorewa, Joshua Nkomo, Doris Lessing, Fay Chung, Judith Garfield Todd, Tendai Westerhof and Lutanga Shaba have been highlighted. The study concluded that there are narrative and ideological disjunctures between experiencing life and narrating those experiences to create approximations of coherent identities of individual selves and those of the nation. The study argued that each of the stories analyzed in this study contributed a version of the multiple Zimbabwean narratives that no one story could ever tell without being contested by others. Thus the study explores how white Rhodesian auto/biographies depend on the imperial repertoire to construct varying, even contradicting, images of white identities and the Rhodesian nation, which are also contested by black nationalist life narratives. The narratives by women writers, both white and black, introduced further instabilities to the male authored narratives by moving beyond the conventional understanding of what is ‘political’ in political auto/biographies. The HIV and AIDS narratives by black women thrust into the public sphere personalized versions of self so that the political consequence of their inclusion was not only to image Zimbabwe as a diseased society, but one desperately in need of political solutions to confront the different pathologies inherited from colonialism and which also have continued in the post-independence period. / English Studies / (D. Litt. et Phil. (English))

This dissertation offers an examination of Delany's critical trajectory from structuralism to poststructuralism and postmodernism across a gamut of genres from SF to sword-and-sorcery, pornography, autobiography and literary criticism. Delany's engagement with semiotics, Foucault and deconstruction form the theoretical focus, together with his own theories of how SF functions as a literary genre, and its standing and reception within the greater realm of literature. The impact of Delany as a gay, black SF writer is also examined against the backdrop of his varied output. I have used the term 'dislocation' to describe Delany's tackling of traditional subjects and genres, and opening them up to further possibilities through critical engagement. Lastly, Delany is also examined as a postmodern icon. A frequent participant in his own texts, as well using pseudonyms that have developed into fully-fledged characters, Delany has become a critical signifier in his own work. / English Studies / M. A. (English)

Thesis (MPhil (Ancient Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although St Augustine of Hippo (354–430 C.E.) was raised as a Christian, he refuted Catholicism as a youth in his search for divine wisdom and truth. Like the biblical prodigal son, he first had to realise the error of his aversion (turning away from the Catholic Church) before he could experience conversion (returning to the Catholic faith). Augustine narrates certain central events of his life in the Confessiones as a series of conversions, leading him from his native Roman North Africa to his conversion to Catholic Christianity in the Imperial City of Milan. Philosophy, especially Neo-Platonic thought, played a crucial role in his conversion process, as did the influence of St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, and other Neo-Platonic intellectuals in Milan. Neo- Platonism also influenced Augustine's conception of the imago Dei (image of God). Although Augustine’s teaching of the concept of the imago Dei is found in all his works (but mainly in De Trinitate), a survey of the literature has shown that the way in which this concept is used to inform, structure and advance his conversion narrative in the Confessions, has not yet been investigated in a structured manner. In order to address this gap in scholarly knowledge, the thesis attempts to answer the following research question: How did the concept of the imago Dei inform and structure Augustine's conversion narrative, as recounted in his Confessiones, taking into account the theological and philosophical influences of Ambrose and the Neo-Platonists of Milan on his spiritual development? The investigation was conducted by an in-depth study and analysis of the Confessiones and relevant secondary literature within the historical, philosophical and religious framework of the work. An empirical approach, by means of textual analysis and hermeneutics, was used to answer the research question. The analysis of the Confessions is limited to its autobiographical part (Books 1 to 9). In order to carry out the analysis, a theoretical and conceptual framework was posited in Chapters 1 to 4, discussing the key concepts of conversion and of the imago Dei, as well as explaining the influence of Neo-Platonism and Ambrose on Augustine. In Chapter 5, this conceptual framework of the nature of the imago Dei is complemented by a literary framework for the Confessions to form a metaframework. The textual analysis was done within the meta-framework with reference to certain endowments (attributes) imprinted in the image, namely personality, spirituality, rationality, morality, authority, and creativity. The main conclusion is that Augustine's personal relationship with God had been harmed by the negative impact of sin on these endowments of the divine image in him. His gradual realisation that God is Spirit, his growth in faith, and his eventual acceptance of the authority of Scripture and of the Catholic Church, brought about the healing of the broken image of God in Augustine and also the restoration of God’s likeness in him. This enabled Augustine to be reconciled to God through Christ, who is the perfect Image of God, and helped to convert him to the Catholic Church, which is the Body of Christ. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alhoewel die Heilige Augustinus, Biskop van Hippo (354–430 n.C.), as Christen grootgemaak is, het hy as jong man die Katolisisme verwerp in sy soektog na goddelike wysheid en waarheid. Soos die verlore seun van die Bybel, moes hy eers die fout van sy afkerigheid (wegdraai van die Katolieke Kerk) insien voordat hy tot bekering (terugkeer tot die Katolieke geloof) kon kom. Augustine vertel sekere kerngebeure van sy lewe in die Confessiones (Belydenisse) as ‘n reeks van bekeringe, wat hom gelei het van sy geboorteplek in Romeins-Noord-Afrika tot sy bekering tot die Katolieke Christendom in die Keiserstad Milaan. Filosofie, veral Neo-Platoniese denke, het ‘n deurslaggewende rol gespeel in sy bekeringsproses, soos ook die invloed van die Heilige Ambrosius, Biskop van Milaan, en ander Neo- Platoniese intellektuele in Milaan. Neo-Platonisme het ook Augustine se begrip van die imago Dei (Godsbeeld) beïnvloed. Alhoewel Augustinus se leer oor die begrip imago Dei in al sy werke aangetref word (maar veral in De Trinitate), het ‘n literatuurstudie uitgewys dat die manier waarop hierdie begrip gebruik word om sy bekeringsverhaal in die Confessions toe te lig, vorm te gee en te bevorder, nog nie op gestruktureerde wyse ondersoek is nie. Om hierdie leemte in vakkundige kennis te vul, poog hierdie tesis om die volgende navorsingsvraag te beantwoord: Hoe het die begrip imago Dei Augustinus se bekeringsverhaal toegelig en vorm gegee, soos vertel in sy Confessiones, met inagneming van die teologiese en filosofiese invloede van Ambrosius en die Neo-Platoniste van Milaan op sy geestelike ontwikkeling? Die ondersoek is uitgevoer deur middel van ‘n grondige studie en ontleding van die Confessiones en toepaslike sekondêre literatuur binne die historiese, filosofiese en godsdienste raamwerk van die werk. ’n Empiriese benadering, by wyse van teksontleding en hermeneutika, is gebruik om die navorsingsvraag te beantwoord. Die ontleding van die Confessiones is beperk tot die outobiografiese deel (Boeke 1 tot 9). Om die ontleding uit te voer, is ’n teoretiese en konseptuele raamwerk vooropgestel in Hoofstukke 1 tot 4, waar die sleutelbegrippe bekering en imago Dei bespreek is, asook die invloed van Neo-Platonisme en Ambrosius op Augustinus. In Hoofstuk 5 word hierdie konseptuele raamwerk vir die aard van die imago Dei aangevul deur ’n literêre raamwerk vir die Confessions om sodoende ‘n metaraamwerk te vorm. Die teksontleding is gedoen binne die metaraamwerk met verwysing na sekere geestesgawes (eienskappe) wat in die beeld neerslag vind, naamlik persoonlikheid, spiritualiteit, rasionaliteit, moraliteit, outoriteit, en kreatiwiteit. Die hoofgevoltrekking is dat Augustinus se persoonlike verhouding met God geskaad is deur die negatiewe impak van sonde op hierdie geestesgawes van die Godsbeeld in hom. Sy geleidelike besef dat God Gees is, sy groei in sy geloof, asook sy uiteindelike aanvaarding van die gesag van die Bybel en van die Katolieke Kerk, het meegebring dat Augustinus se gebroke Godsbeeld en -gelykenis herstel is. Daardeur is Augustinus met God versoen deur Christus, wat die volmaakte Godsbeeld is, en sodoende is hy bekeer tot die Katolieke Kerk, wat die Liggaam van Christus is.

Thesis (MA (VA)(Visual Arts))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Thesis received without illustrations at the time of submission to this repository. / This research follows the assumption that the notion of performativity can be applied to the visual construction of identity within art-making discourse in order to explore the contingent and mutable nature of identity in representation. My interest in performativity, defined as the active, repetitive and ritualistic processes responsible for the construction of subjectivities, lies within the process of production. I indicate how this notion, within the context of self-representation, can provide the possibility for performing identity as a process. I investigate the extent to which gender, the gaze, memory and narrative contribute to the performative construction of self-representations and reveal, through the exploration of my practical research, that these concepts are themselves performative. Although agency to construct the self can be regarded as problematic, considering the role of language and discourse in determining subjectivities, this research suggests that it is possible to perform interventions from within language. I suggest that the notion of inscription provides a means through which identity constructions can be performed differently; and that my art-making process of repetitive inscription, erasure and re-inscription of image and text and the layering of paint not only reflect the notion of performativity, but also enable me to expose the multiple and fragmented nature of identities.

Thesis (MPhil (Visual Arts. Illustration))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The aim of this thesis is to decode my autobiographic graphic novel, Portrait in Pieces (a narrative of a mother / daughter relationship), utilising a genealogical mode of analysis. This takes place, firstly, through a discussion of the themes of photography, memory and repetition which occur in the graphic novel; secondly, through a consideration of the role of language and difference within a specific mother / daughter relationship; and thirdly, through the study of autobiography and the self as performative entities. In this thesis I interrogate the autobiographic genre in a manner that questions internalised notions of femininity and (patriarchal) cultural constructs, which precede and influence the performance of our ‘life scripts’. I posit Portrait in Pieces as a transitional object between my mother and myself, and language as a medium which can both Otherise and close the distance between us. Translation is the medium by which one reads this distance, turning miscommunication into communication, and misunderstanding into understanding. The illustrations and text constituting the graphic novel have been produced through creative play, representing the ‘post talking’ required for the process of healing, empathising, and taking ownership of one’s ‘life script’.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis explores an analysis of autobiographical illustration, as it relates directly to autobiographical devices employed in Bitterkomix and my own visual journals. The result is a practitioner-specific approach that frames my own work within a discourse of comics and consequently within the larger discourse of visual narrative. These devices are analysed in the works of artists in Bitterkomix who employ autobiography, not only as a means of effecting more intimate interactions between the reader and the narrative, but also as a form of legitimising narrative. A principal deduction that I have made is that autobiographical writing operates through the filter of memory and language translation. A divergence occurs within Bitterkomix, as well as within my own work, between the artist as himself and the artist as his autobiographical self - the two are never identical. I choose to define autobiographical illustration as an interpretative and experimental visual writing process used to affirm and negate perceived concepts of self through the filters of memory, language translation and imagination. Imagination acts as an extension of current memory from which perceived past, present and future identity constructs emanate and extend. These constructs are by no means indicative of historical fact but often appear to be so given autobiography's association as a referential text. The visual journal as an autobiographical object, like Bitterkomix, seeks to legitimise itself in 'naturalising narrative' by feigning to make it the outcome of a documentative process. It is exactly the tension between autobiography's perceived characteristic as a genre that involves 'real' experiences and its actual function as a narrative construction of identity that merits its use as a strategic device. I argue how my visual journals constitute autobiographical narrative objects and archives of autobiographical illustrative form and content. This tension is amplified in my visual journals in their association as deeply personal objects and as a result of what is perceived to be the artist's natural process. Most importantly, these narrative objects are placed within the public's gaze and are made to be read as autobiographical texts, ultimately as documents of this process. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek outobiografiese illustrasie wat direk verband hou met outobiografiese praktyke wat in Bitterkomix en in my eie visuele joernale gebruik word. Die resultaat is 'n praktisyn-spesifieke aanslag wat my eie werk binne die diskoers van stripkuns plaas, en sodoende binne die groter diskoers van visuele narratief. Hierdie praktyke word geanaliseer in die werk van Bitterkomix-kunstenaars wat outobiografie gebruik, nie net as 'n manier om meer intieme interaksies tussen die leser en die narratief te bewerkstellig nie, maar ook om die narratief legitiem te maak. Ek maak die afleiding dat outobiografiese skryfwerk deur die filters van geheue en taal werksaam is. In beide Bitterkomix en my eie werk is 'n skeiding tussen die kunstenaar self en die kunstenaar se outobiografiese self sigbaar – die twee is nooit identies nie. Ek verkies om outobiografiese illustrasie te definieer as 'n interpretatiewe en eksperimentele visuele skryfproses wat gebruik word om waargenome begrippe van die self deur die filters van geheue, vertaling en verbeelding te bevestig en te negeer. Die verbeelding dien as 'n voortsetting van huidige geheue waaruit waargenome identiteitskonstrukte van die verlede, hede en toekoms voortvloei. Hierdie konstrukte is geensins aanduidend van historiese feite nie, maar kom dikwels so voor gegewe outobiografie se assosiasie as verwysende teks. My argument is dat my visuele joernale beide outobiografiese narratiewe objekte én argiewe van outobiografiese illustratiewe vorm en inhoud is. Visuele joernale as outobiografiese objekte, soos in die geval van Bitterkomix, probeer sigself legitiem maak deur middel van 'naturaliserende narratief', deur voor te gee dat dit die resultaat van 'n dokumenterende proses is. Dit is juis die spanning tussen outobiografie se aard as 'n genre wat gegrond is op 'ware' ervaringe, en outobiografie se funksie as 'n narratiewe konstruksie, wat die gebruik daarvan as 'n strategiese middel die moeite werd maak. Hierdie spanning word in my visuele joernale verhoog deur hulle diep persoonlike aard, en as gevolg van wat gesien word as die kunstenaar se natuurlike proses. Belangriker nog is dat hierdie narratiewe objekte binne die publiek se sigveld geplaas word om as outobiografiese tekste gelees te word, en ook uiteindelik as dokumente van die proses.

Situé entre entre le roman et le récit personnel, Cru. prend la forme d'un aller-retour entre fiction et autobiographie. Le texte, construit à l'aide d'une écriture syncopée et brute, présente deux personnages homosexuels à l'ère « post-sida », alors que ceux-ci tentent de comprendre ce que veut dire « être un homme » dans un contexte social où le mépris (envers les autres et soi-même) est encore présent, mais peut-être encore plus pernicieux qu'auparavant, parce que camouflé sous l'idée d'une acceptation globale. Au final, Cru. soulève la délicate question du droit à la vérité dans une démarche autobiographique et celle de l'implication de la cruauté dans un récit qui ne concerne pas que l'auteur, mais son entourage aussi. Cruauté nécessaire : le devoir d'une vérité autobiographique chez Guibert, Dustan et Rémès est un essai qui vise l'analyse de différents procédés se rattachant à l'écriture autobiographique homosexuelle des années 1990, particulièrement aux textes appartenant à la littérature du sida. Si l'autobiographie vise, dans une certaine mesure, le dévoilement de la vérité, comment ne pas parler de cruauté alors que les auteurs qui la pratiquent y vont de révélations qui ne concernent pas qu'eux? Si le processus d'écriture autobiographique se veut bénéfique, le résultat est-il purement diabolique? Il faudra d'abord, évidemment, définir ce que l'on entend par « vérité » et « cruauté » (lire « bénéfique » et « maléfique »). En ce qui concerne le Bien et le Mal, les textes de Bataille et Nietzsche contribueront à définir deux concepts qui peuvent, souvent, être relatifs. En confrontant les textes des trois auteurs français – tous séropositifs au moment de l'écriture – à différentes théories autobiographiques (Doubrovsky, Lejeune, Miraux) et identitaires (Foucault, Schecter, Butler), et à certains écrits sur le devoir et la responsabilité (Donner, Brooks), l'on tentera de démontrer que la cruauté dont Guibert, Dustan et Rémès font preuve est essentielle à l'écriture autobiographique. / A mix between a novel and a personal journal, Cru. is a cross-section between fiction and autobiography. The text, built around a type of writing that is dry and sometimes brutal, presents two gay characters in the « post AIDS » era, who are trying to figure out what it's like to be a man in a social context where contempt (towards others, as well as self-loathing) still exists. Perhaps even more than before, because this contempt is hidden under a false global acceptance. In the end, Cru. raises questions about the definition of «  truth » in an autobiographical approach and the implication of cruelty in a literary piece that not only concerns the writer, but it's surrounding too. Cruauté nécessaire : le devoir d'une vérité autobiographique chez Guibert, Dustan et Rémès is an essay that analyses the stakes at work in gay autobiographical writings of the 1990's, especially AIDS-related literature. If one of the main aspects of autobiography is to disclose the truth, how can we not talk about cruelty when the writers are revealing things that concern not only themselves? If the whole process of autobiography involves « healing », how can we not see the final product as « painful »? It will be relevant to first define what we mean by « truth » and « cruelty » (also « good » and « evil »). Regarding Good and Evil (le Bien et le Mal), Bataille and Nietzsche's writings will help us define two concepts that are, way too often, relative. When confronting the three French writers that we are studying here – all HIV-positive when writing their texts – with different theories on autobiography (Doubrovsky, Lejeune, Miraux), identity (Foucault, Schecter, Butler), obligation and responsibility (Donner, Brooks), we will seek to demonstrate that the cruelty used by Guibert, Dustan and Rémès is, in fact, essential to the autobiographical writing process.

<p>Проблем аутобиографије и аутобиографског текста у српској књижевности средњег века комплексан је и у науци недовољно истражен. Иако интересовање за аутобиографске текстове старе српске књижевности није ново, досадашња бављења овом темом имала су за циљ само да прикупе и делимично опишу те текстове, без покушаја њиховог систематског сагледавања и тумачења у контексту српске и византијске књижевне традиције, а готово увек без одговарајуће теоријске аргументације.<br />Дефинишући аутобиографију, савремене теорије у први план стављају појмове идентитета, индивидуалности и субјективитета. Ови појмови, међутим, захтевају темељно преиспитивање када је реч о средњем веку, који није познавао индивидуалност у данашњем смислу речи. Штавише, средњи век суочава нас са индивидуумом који се плаши своје оригиналности, који се боји да буде ,,он сам&ldquo;.<br />Отуда је, према средњовековном погледу на свет, писац само ,,инструмент&ldquo;, продужена рука Бога; он је стваралац који ће све добро, тачно и истинито приписати дејству Духа, а своје ауторство признати једино у одступањима и погрешкама. Топос скромности којим средњовековни писци себе одређују као &ldquo;грешне&ldquo;, &ldquo;недовољне&ldquo;, &ldquo;недостојне&ldquo;, &ldquo;последње од свих&ldquo;, којим признају своје незнање и неспособност да пишу о одређеној теми, конституисао се најпре као израз монашке смерности, да би се у ХIV и XV веку ово опште место задржало као обична &ldquo;декорација књижевног карактера&ldquo;.<br />Ипак, иако је за човека средњег века оригиналност била грех таштине, то не значи да средњовековни уметници нису били способни да створе оригинална дела, нити да су књижевна дела настала у епохи средњег века лишена особености и креативног приступа. Упркос томе што средњовековни аутори нису тежили сопственом изразу, већ су следили традицију раније формирану у одговарајућем жанру, ипак можемо говорити о њиховом индивидуалном стилу. Индивидуалност уметника огледала се, углавном, у инвентивности с којом је писац приступао наслеђеним навикама и у оплемењивању традиционалних поступака.<br />Једна од основних претпоставки нашег истраживања била је да у епохи средњег века социјални идентитет готово у потпуности потискује лични идентитет, те да је средњовековни човек био сведен на функцију коју је имао у друштву, односно, да се право на писање аутобиографије у средњем веку заснива на темељу социјално признате важности. Прихватили смо, при том, мишљење већине изучавалаца да је за средњовековље најприкладнији појам ,,културне фигуре&ldquo;, којим су означени тзв. идеални типови људске егзистенције, а који се, између осталог, исказују у језику књижевности и писмености оног времена.<br />Имајући у виду чињеницу да поетиком средњовековне књижевности доминира начело жанра, а не начело ауторства, те да је управо жанр најзначајнији фактор који одређује шта ће писац рећи о себи и о свом животу, трагали смо за аутобиографским фрагментима у повељама, посланицама, записима и натписима, и житијима из XIV века.<br />Будући да је основна карактеристика средњовековне аутобиографске књижевности фрагментарност (подаци које аутор оставља о себи расути су у текстовима различитих жанрова) један од основних циљева нашег истраживања био је да се утврди каква је веза аутобиографског фрагмента с главним текстом. Такође, као својеврстан аутобиографски поступак, а у складу с поетичким начелима средњовековне књижевности, анализирали смо сваку иновативну и оригиналну употребу општих места и библијских цитата, указујући на широке могућности увођења оригиналног садржаја у задате обрасце.<br />У научној литератури посвећеној делима српске средњовековне књижевности појединим текстовима 14. века приписан је атрибут ,,аутобиографског дела&ldquo;, док су неки чак означени као ,,праве аутобиографије&ldquo; (нпр. Улијарска повеља приписана краљу Милутину и Реч Душанова уз Законик). У неким случајевима, међутим, такво атрибуирање је потпуно неоправдано, па смо у раду покушали ревалоризовати уврежена мишљења.<br />Коначно, један од циљева нашег истраживања био је да установимо шта је основна функција аутобиографских фрагмената у делима српске средњовековне књижевности: чување од заборава, оживљавање прошлости, или, пак, пишчево представљање сопственог религиозног и духовног развоја? У сваком случају, на примеру српских списа XIV века показује се да се аутобиографски принцип не мора схватити искључиво као принцип самоисказивања, већ и као одраз духа епохе у објективном сведочанству појединца.</p> / <p>Problem autobiografije i autobiografskog teksta u srpskoj književnosti srednjeg veka kompleksan je i u nauci nedovoljno istražen. Iako interesovanje za autobiografske tekstove stare srpske književnosti nije novo, dosadašnja bavljenja ovom temom imala su za cilj samo da prikupe i delimično opišu te tekstove, bez pokušaja njihovog sistematskog sagledavanja i tumačenja u kontekstu srpske i vizantijske književne tradicije, a gotovo uvek bez odgovarajuće teorijske argumentacije.<br />Definišući autobiografiju, savremene teorije u prvi plan stavljaju pojmove identiteta, individualnosti i subjektiviteta. Ovi pojmovi, međutim, zahtevaju temeljno preispitivanje kada je reč o srednjem veku, koji nije poznavao individualnost u današnjem smislu reči. Štaviše, srednji vek suočava nas sa individuumom koji se plaši svoje originalnosti, koji se boji da bude ,,on sam&ldquo;.<br />Otuda je, prema srednjovekovnom pogledu na svet, pisac samo ,,instrument&ldquo;, produžena ruka Boga; on je stvaralac koji će sve dobro, tačno i istinito pripisati dejstvu Duha, a svoje autorstvo priznati jedino u odstupanjima i pogreškama. Topos skromnosti kojim srednjovekovni pisci sebe određuju kao &ldquo;grešne&ldquo;, &ldquo;nedovoljne&ldquo;, &ldquo;nedostojne&ldquo;, &ldquo;poslednje od svih&ldquo;, kojim priznaju svoje neznanje i nesposobnost da pišu o određenoj temi, konstituisao se najpre kao izraz monaške smernosti, da bi se u HIV i XV veku ovo opšte mesto zadržalo kao obična &ldquo;dekoracija književnog karaktera&ldquo;.<br />Ipak, iako je za čoveka srednjeg veka originalnost bila greh taštine, to ne znači da srednjovekovni umetnici nisu bili sposobni da stvore originalna dela, niti da su književna dela nastala u epohi srednjeg veka lišena osobenosti i kreativnog pristupa. Uprkos tome što srednjovekovni autori nisu težili sopstvenom izrazu, već su sledili tradiciju ranije formiranu u odgovarajućem žanru, ipak možemo govoriti o njihovom individualnom stilu. Individualnost umetnika ogledala se, uglavnom, u inventivnosti s kojom je pisac pristupao nasleđenim navikama i u oplemenjivanju tradicionalnih postupaka.<br />Jedna od osnovnih pretpostavki našeg istraživanja bila je da u epohi srednjeg veka socijalni identitet gotovo u potpunosti potiskuje lični identitet, te da je srednjovekovni čovek bio sveden na funkciju koju je imao u društvu, odnosno, da se pravo na pisanje autobiografije u srednjem veku zasniva na temelju socijalno priznate važnosti. Prihvatili smo, pri tom, mišljenje većine izučavalaca da je za srednjovekovlje najprikladniji pojam ,,kulturne figure&ldquo;, kojim su označeni tzv. idealni tipovi ljudske egzistencije, a koji se, između ostalog, iskazuju u jeziku književnosti i pismenosti onog vremena.<br />Imajući u vidu činjenicu da poetikom srednjovekovne književnosti dominira načelo žanra, a ne načelo autorstva, te da je upravo žanr najznačajniji faktor koji određuje šta će pisac reći o sebi i o svom životu, tragali smo za autobiografskim fragmentima u poveljama, poslanicama, zapisima i natpisima, i žitijima iz XIV veka.<br />Budući da je osnovna karakteristika srednjovekovne autobiografske književnosti fragmentarnost (podaci koje autor ostavlja o sebi rasuti su u tekstovima različitih žanrova) jedan od osnovnih ciljeva našeg istraživanja bio je da se utvrdi kakva je veza autobiografskog fragmenta s glavnim tekstom. Takođe, kao svojevrstan autobiografski postupak, a u skladu s poetičkim načelima srednjovekovne književnosti, analizirali smo svaku inovativnu i originalnu upotrebu opštih mesta i biblijskih citata, ukazujući na široke mogućnosti uvođenja originalnog sadržaja u zadate obrasce.<br />U naučnoj literaturi posvećenoj delima srpske srednjovekovne književnosti pojedinim tekstovima 14. veka pripisan je atribut ,,autobiografskog dela&ldquo;, dok su neki čak označeni kao ,,prave autobiografije&ldquo; (npr. Ulijarska povelja pripisana kralju Milutinu i Reč Dušanova uz Zakonik). U nekim slučajevima, međutim, takvo atribuiranje je potpuno neopravdano, pa smo u radu pokušali revalorizovati uvrežena mišljenja.<br />Konačno, jedan od ciljeva našeg istraživanja bio je da ustanovimo šta je osnovna funkcija autobiografskih fragmenata u delima srpske srednjovekovne književnosti: čuvanje od zaborava, oživljavanje prošlosti, ili, pak, piščevo predstavljanje sopstvenog religioznog i duhovnog razvoja? U svakom slučaju, na primeru srpskih spisa XIV veka pokazuje se da se autobiografski princip ne mora shvatiti isključivo kao princip samoiskazivanja, već i kao odraz duha epohe u objektivnom svedočanstvu pojedinca.</p> / <p>The problem of autobiographies and autobiographical texts in the medieval Serbian literature is complex and has not been researched enough scientifically. Although the interest in autobiographical texts in the old Serbian literature is not new, prior dealings with this topic only aimed at collecting and partly describing those texts, without attempting to systematically consider and interpret them in the context of Serbian and Byzantine literary tradition. What&rsquo;s more, they almost always lack appropriate theoretical argumentation.<br />In their definition of autobiography, contemporary theories emphasize the notions of identity, individuality and subjectivity. However, these notions require a thorough reconsideration in relation to the Middle Ages, when individuality was not recognized in today&#39;s sense of the word. Moreover, the Middle Ages present us with the individual afraid of their originality, afraid of being &ldquo;themselves&rdquo;.<br />Thus, according to the medieval view of the world, the writer is just an &ldquo;instrument&rdquo; &ndash; God&rsquo;s extended arm; he is the creator who will ascribe everything good, correct and true to the act of the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, he will be recognized as the author only in alterations and mistakes. Medieval writers use the topos of modesty to define themselves as &ldquo;sinful&rdquo;, &ldquo;inadequate&rdquo;, &ldquo;unworthy&rdquo;, &ldquo;last of all&rdquo;, and to admit their ignorance and incompetence to write about a specific topic. At first, the topos was constituted as an expression of monastic meekness, but in the 14th and 15th century this commonplace remained as an ordinary &ldquo;decoration of literary nature&rdquo;.</p><p>However, even with individuality being the sin of vanity for the medieval person, it means neither that medieval artists were incapable of creating original works nor that the literary works from the Middle Ages lack any distinctiveness and creative approach. Although medieval authors did not aspire to their own expression but followed earlier established traditions in corresponding genres, their individual style can still be a matter of discussion. The individuality of an artist was reflected mainly in his inventiveness which he used to approach inherited habits and in the refinement of traditional devices.<br />One of the basic assumptions of this research was that the social identity almost completely suppresses the personal identity in the Middle Ages, and that the medieval person was reduced to the function they had in the society, that is, that the right to write an autobiography in the Middle Ages was based on socially recognized importance. In addition, the proposition of most researchers that &ldquo;cultural figures&rdquo; is the most appropriate term for the medieval period is acknowledged in the research. This term signifies ideal types of human existence, which are, among other aspects, expressed in the language of literature and literacy of this era.<br />Bearing in mind the fact that the poetics of medieval literature is dominated by the principle of genre rather than the principle of authorship and that the genre is the crucial factor when determining what the writer is going to say about himself and his life, the research focused on autobiographical fragments in charters, epistles, inscriptions and epitaphs, and hagiographies from the 14th century.</p><p>Since fragmentariness is the central feature of medieval autobiographical literature (the facts which author leaves about himself are scattered in texts belonging to different genres), one of the primary aims of this research is to establish the quality of the connection between autobiographical fragments and the main text. In addition, every innovative and original use of topoi and biblical quotations has been analyzed as a particular autobiographical device in accordance with the poetical principles of medieval literature, highlighting a range of possibilities for the introduction of original contents into the given patterns.<br />In the scholarly researches dedicated to the works of medieval Serbian literature, certain texts from the 14th century have been described as &ldquo;autobiographical works&rdquo; while some have even been designated as &ldquo;real autobiographies&rdquo; (e.g., Ulijarska Charter ascribed to King Milutin and Dusan&rsquo;s Reč uz Zakonik). However, in some cases, such attribution is completely unjustified so this research has tried to revalue prevailing opinions.<br />Finally, one of the aims of this research is to establish the basic function of autobiographical fragments in medieval Serbian literature and see if they were used to preserve memory, resurrect the past or allow the writer to present his own religious and spiritual development? In every case, taking the Serbian writings from 14th century as examples, it is shown that the autobiographical principle does not have to be understood only as the principle of self-expression, but as the reflection of the spirit of an era in an individual&rsquo;s objective testimony.</p>

L’objet de ce mémoire est d’explorer le lien étroit qui existe entre la pratique de l’autobiographie et l’écriture comme forme d’engagement dans l’œuvre de Simone de Beauvoir, grâce à une analyse du genre ambigu de L’Amérique au jour le jour et des discours politiques qu’il renferme. Bien que L’Amérique au jour le jour constitue le corpus principal de ce mémoire, nous utiliserons aussi des textes contemporains à la rédaction du journal de voyage américain pour guider notre classification générique, dont les Lettres à Nelson Algren, les Lettres à Sartre et Les Mandarins, ainsi que les volumes de l’ensemble autobiographique beauvoirien qui portent sur l’après-guerre, même si ceux-ci sont postérieurs à la rédaction du journal. À l’aide de concepts issus de la poétique des genres, comme les questions de hiérarchie, de proportion, d’intention et de programme, et de l’éthique de l’engagement de l’écrivain telle que définie par la notion sartrienne de l’engagement, nous tenterons de démontrer que l’ambiguïté générique de L’Amérique au jour le jour relève d’une action délibérée de l’auteure visant à mettre en péril son capital symbolique pour assurer la crédibilité de son engagement intellectuel. Une fois les concepts précités définis, le deuxième chapitre de notre mémoire s’attardera à explorer toutes les facettes de l’ambiguïté générique du journal américain, alors que le troisième chapitre démontrera le lien entre les écritures intimes et l’engagement, tout en explorant les formes que prend l’engagement dans le livre. Pour ce faire, nous analyserons trois discours politiques tenus par Beauvoir dans son œuvre : la critique du consumérisme américain, la critique de la condition des Noirs et la critique de la femme américaine. Nous conclurons notre mémoire en démontrant que L’Amérique au jour le jour est devenu une sorte de matrice dans la pratique autobiographique et scripturaire de Simone de Beauvoir, ainsi que dans son engagement. / The main purpose of this master thesis is to explore the intimate connexion between the practice of autobiography and writing as a form of engagement in the work of Simone de Beauvoir, through an analysis of the ambiguous genre in America Day By Day and the political views that the book puts forward. Although America Day By Day is the basic corpus of this thesis, other texts contemporary to the American travel log will also be used to guide our generic classification, including Letters to Nelson Algren, Letters to Sartre and The Mandarins, and the volumes of Beauvoir’s autobiography that deal with the post-war period, even if they were written after the American travel log. Using concepts from genre theory, including issues such as hierarchy, proportion, intent and program, and the ethical commitment of the writer as defined in the Satrean concept of engagement, we will attempt to demonstrate that the generic ambiguity of America Day By Day is a deliberate action by the author aiming to jeopardize her symbolic capital, therefore ensuring the credibility of her intellectual engagement. Once the concepts above have been defined, the second chapter of our paper will focus on exploring all facets of genre ambiguity in the American travel log, while the third chapter will seek to illustrate the intimate connection between creative nonfiction and intellectual engagement, as well as exploring commitment’s forms in the book. To do this, we will analyze three political discourses found in Beauvoir’s work: criticism of the American consumerism, criticism of the Negro Problem and criticism of American women. We conclude our thesis by showing that America Day By Day has become a sort of matrix in Beauvoir’s autobiographical practice, as well as in her intellectual “engagement”.