Thesis (MA (Afrikaans and Dutch))—University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / In this thesis I explore the possibility of reading Foxtrot van die vleiseters by Eben Venter through the philosophy of the carnivalesque and grotesque realism, as put forward by the Russian language philosopher, Mikhail Bakhtin. An overview of the theory of grotesque realism is given in chapter 1. In chapter 2 some of the main aspects of the apartheidsregime are discussed, after which the most important principles of grotesque realism are applied to the novel. A chapter is devoted to each of the following broad categories: the distinction between a high, official order and a low, unofficial order and the consequences when the official order is lifted; the images of the grotesque body; and lastly, the culture of laughter and celebration. The salient points will be gathered together in the conclusion.

This study focuses on the representation of masculine imagos in the South African novelist Eben Venter’s novel oeuvre and more specifically on the multifaceted nature of Venter’s delineation of masculinity. His novels Foxtrot van die Vleiseters (1993), Ek stamel ek sterwe (1996) (translated into English as My beautiful death ((2004)) and Santa Gamka (2009) were selected to represent Venter’s novel oeuvre. The male protagonist in each novel may be viewed as typical representations of masculine imagos in his novels. The workability of cognitive narratology as a literary approach to analyse and interpret novels is tested by identifying the frames and scripts within the selected novels. Cognitive frames in narratives are those backdrops against which the events take place, while the actions executed by the characters are read as cognitive scripts. These scripts create the projected masculinity imagos of the male protagonists. When reading the novels, the reader is confronted with various cognitive choices of which three are especially important. The first is the choice to discard existing ideas and perceptions in order to make room for new ideas and perceptions. The second choice is to modify existing ideas and adjust them by means of the cognitive processing of information in the novels. The last choice entails the total rejection of the new ideas. Irrespective of the cognitive processes that occur during the reading process, the representation of masculinity in the novels will inevitably have an effect on the way in which the reader will experience masculinity in future. In the characters of Petrus Steenekamp (Foxtrot van die Vleiseters), Konstant Wasserman (Ek stamel ek sterwe) and Lucky Marais (Santa Gamka) Venter illustrates the complexity of the masculinity issue due to the cultural, social and political frames with which people are encoded. This encoding is also reflected in the scripts that are determined by the characters’ behaviour and actions. Venter demonstrates sensitivity and compassion for all the characters in his novels and his representation of masculinity instils sensitivity and compassion in readers. This instilment will most probably create a better understanding of masculinity, as well as humanity, within the cognition of the reader. The most important finding is that it is indeed possible to use cognitive narratology as literary approach to analyse and interpret the chosen novels in order to make valid conclusions – in this case with regard to the complex delineation of multifaceted masculine imagos within Eben Venter’s novel oeuvre. Further deductions include those made about the appearance of different images of masculinity within Venter’s novel oeuvre and especially how the farm frame and the father/son relationship frame manifest prominently in Venter’s novels. / MA (Afrikaans and Dutch), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This study focuses on the representation of masculine imagos in the South African novelist Eben Venter’s novel oeuvre and more specifically on the multifaceted nature of Venter’s delineation of masculinity. His novels Foxtrot van die Vleiseters (1993), Ek stamel ek sterwe (1996) (translated into English as My beautiful death ((2004)) and Santa Gamka (2009) were selected to represent Venter’s novel oeuvre. The male protagonist in each novel may be viewed as typical representations of masculine imagos in his novels. The workability of cognitive narratology as a literary approach to analyse and interpret novels is tested by identifying the frames and scripts within the selected novels. Cognitive frames in narratives are those backdrops against which the events take place, while the actions executed by the characters are read as cognitive scripts. These scripts create the projected masculinity imagos of the male protagonists. When reading the novels, the reader is confronted with various cognitive choices of which three are especially important. The first is the choice to discard existing ideas and perceptions in order to make room for new ideas and perceptions. The second choice is to modify existing ideas and adjust them by means of the cognitive processing of information in the novels. The last choice entails the total rejection of the new ideas. Irrespective of the cognitive processes that occur during the reading process, the representation of masculinity in the novels will inevitably have an effect on the way in which the reader will experience masculinity in future. In the characters of Petrus Steenekamp (Foxtrot van die Vleiseters), Konstant Wasserman (Ek stamel ek sterwe) and Lucky Marais (Santa Gamka) Venter illustrates the complexity of the masculinity issue due to the cultural, social and political frames with which people are encoded. This encoding is also reflected in the scripts that are determined by the characters’ behaviour and actions. Venter demonstrates sensitivity and compassion for all the characters in his novels and his representation of masculinity instils sensitivity and compassion in readers. This instilment will most probably create a better understanding of masculinity, as well as humanity, within the cognition of the reader. The most important finding is that it is indeed possible to use cognitive narratology as literary approach to analyse and interpret the chosen novels in order to make valid conclusions – in this case with regard to the complex delineation of multifaceted masculine imagos within Eben Venter’s novel oeuvre. Further deductions include those made about the appearance of different images of masculinity within Venter’s novel oeuvre and especially how the farm frame and the father/son relationship frame manifest prominently in Venter’s novels. / MA (Afrikaans and Dutch), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A comparative study between a Dutch postcolonial novel, Een vlek op de rug (1963) by J. van de Walle and an Afrikaans post-apartheid novel, Foxtrot van die Vleiseters (1993) by Eben Venter, produces fascinating results. Despite dissimilarities, e.g. the almost thirty years that separate these two texts and the fact that the stories take place in different centuries on different continents, there is an unmistakable unity of intention that binds them together. The similarities are most clearly seen in the criticism of two discriminatory policies, namely that of colonialism and apartheid (which can also be seen as a form of colonialism) respectively. In both novels the narrator attempts to come to terms with the past and his own feelings of guilt. Both narrators write from a socio-politically advantaged position with on the one hand mixed feelings of empathy with the suppressed other and problematic identification with their own group on the other hand. This study investigates ways in which these feelings of guilt manifest and how the storyteller deals with his conflicting emotions through the therapeutic process of telling the story. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ’n Vergelykende studie tussen ’n Nederlandse postkoloniale roman, Een vlek op de rug (1963) deur J. van de Walle en ’n Afrikaanse post-apartheid roman Foxtrot van die Vleiseters (1993) deur Eben Venter, lewer boeiende resultate. Ten spyte van verskille soos die tydsgaping van 30 jaar tussen die verskyning van die twee romans en die feit dat die verhale afspeel op twee verskillende kontinente, in twee verskillende eeue, is daar tog sterk ooreenkomste wat ’n vergelykende studie tussen hierdie twee tekste sinvol maak. Die parallel is daarin gelee dat beide romans kritiek wil lewer op ’n onderdrukkende sisteem, hetsy kolonialisme of apartheid (wat ook gesien kan word as ’n vorm van kolonialisme). Die vertellers in beide verhale probeer om, vanuit ’n posisie van sosio-politiese bevoorregting, skuldgevoelens oor die verlede te verwerk. In beide gevalle vertoon die verteller empatie met die onderdrukte ander, maar ’n onoorbrugbare afstand bly enersyds bestaan. Andersyds is daar sprake van ’n problematiese identifisering met die eie groep omdal die verteller homself nie ten voile met hulle kan assosieer nie. In hierdie studie word onder meer aandag bestee aan die wyse waarop hierdie konflikterende skuldgevoelens na vore kom en hoe die onderskeie vertellers probeer om ’n mate van terapie te verkry deur middel van die vertelling.