Thesis (MA (VA))--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The hypothesis of this study is that literary theory and theories concerning space, landscape and the construction of identity, are not only applicable to written texts, but also to visual texts. To prove this, the relevant theories were applied in the analyses of four selected Afrikaans and Dutch picture books, as well as to my own picture book, the practical component of this MA study. Space, which is transformed into landscape when observation becomes perception, interacts with the construction of identity in texts in different ways, inter alia because changes regarding space lead to changes regarding identity. Although social identity (how others see us) is important, it can lead to stereotyping, while a focus on selfidentity (how we see ourselves) is conducive in treating children as individuals – as is done regarding adults – with a wide variety of interests and inclinations. Space, landscape and the construction of identity are important vehicles to convey meaning in narratives – not only in literature for adults, but also in picture books, where it can play a role in both written text and illustrations to bring extra depth and dimension. Illustrations are most frequently in a complementary relationship with words because they activate additional meaning, but it can also convey messages in a contrapuntal or even contradictory manner. The utilization of these aspects links with the fact that many South African and Dutch writers and illustrators are of the opinion that both children and adults enjoy really successful children’s books. This study indicates that the use of theories on landscape and identity in the analyses of picture books can lead to the discovery of deeper meanings, which show the literary merit of the texts. In this regard, illustrations should not be regarded as having only an aesthetic, supplementary function, but should be appreciated as an equal partner in conveying meaning, which gives an extra dimension to picture books. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hipotese in hierdie studie is dat literêre teorie en ander teorieë rakende ruimte en landskap, asook identiteitskonstruksie, nie net van toepassing is op geskrewe tekste nie, maar ook op visuele tekste. Om dit te bewys, is die relevante teorieë toegepas in die analise van vier gekose Afrikaanse en Nederlandse prenteboeke, asook van my eie prenteboek as praktiese komponent van dié Magisterstudie. Ruimte, wat getransformeer word tot landskap wanneer waarneming oorgaan in gewaarwording, hang op verskillende maniere saam met identiteitskonstruksie in tekste, onder andere deurdat ’n verandering in ruimte ook ʼn verandering in identiteit tot gevolg het. Hoewel sosiale identiteit (hoe ander ’n individu of groep sien) belangrik is, kan dit lei tot stereotipering. Daarteenoor lig ’n fokus op self-identiteit (hoe individue hulself sien) uit dat kinders, net soos volwassenes, as individue gesien moet word met ʼn wye verskeidenheid belangstellings en smake. Ruimte, landskap en identiteitskonstruksie is belangrike betekenisdraers in narratiewe – nie alleen in literatuur vir volwassenes nie, maar ook in prenteboeke, waar dit in beide die geskrewe teks én in die illustrasies ’n rol kan speel om ekstra diepte en dimensie te verleen. Die illustrasies staan meestal in ’n komplementêre verhouding tot die woorde deurdat dit bydra tot betekenisverruiming, maar dit kan ook kontrapuntale of selfs teenstrydige boodskappe oordra. Die ontginning van hierdie tipe aspekte sluit aan by die feit dat heelwat Suid-Afrikaanse én Nederlandse skrywers en illustreerders meen dat ʼn werklik suksesvolle kinderboek deur beide kinders en volwassenes geniet kan word. Uit die ondersoek blyk dat die analise van prenteboeke aan die hand van teorieë oor landskap en identiteit kan lei tot die uitlig van dieper betekenisse, wat die letterkundige waarde van prenteboeke bevestig. Illustrasies het hierby nie bloot ’n estetiese funksie as aanvulling tot die geskrewe teks nie, maar kan beskou word as volwaardige draers van betekenis wat ’n waardevolle ekstra dimensie aan prenteboeke verleen.

Contemporary children’s books, particularly picture books, show an increasing tendency towards complexity and sophistication. There is, however, some resistance to this tendency in the children’s book world. This thesis therefore critically analyses complexity and sophistication in three picture books - chosen because they represent particularly high numbers of the most common complexities and sophistications - in order to determine whether or not such resistance is appropriate. The study defines picture books as fictional, illustrated books in which pictures and design are vehicles for meaning, where text and art are integral aspects of an interdependent relationship. It thus examines words, the roles of words and pictures and their interactions, linear progression, time and page-breaks, rhythm, design, colour, medium, style, line, regularity, balance, framing, shot, point of view, gaze, visual weight, position, shape, size, light, background, symbol, pictorial analogy, visual games, nonsense, intervisuality, intravisuality, leitmotif and counterpoint. The sophisticated structure, polyphony, visual nonsense and allusion of Anthony Browne’s Voices in the Park allow deep, complex examinations of its characters’ psychologies, making marginalized groups visible and critiquing stereotypes of class, gender, family structure and unemployment. Its sophistications and complexities thus enable Browne’s book to satisfy significant priorities in the children’s book world, because it avoids overt didacticism, respects “literary” values and is socially aware. The sophisticated structure, visual nonsense, multidimensionality and multivoicedness of David McKee’s I Hate My Teddy Bear raise problems of narrative and focalizer, overtly inscribe inconsistency, vagueness and uncertainty, and determinedly resist resolution. McKee’s book thus refuses to imply a clear reader role, and situates readers firmly outside itself, where subjection to any one interaction with, response to or idea within it becomes impossible. This stimulates child readers’ creative thought, and distributes power between adult writers and child readers unusually equitably, thus offering children the respect and power of literary and ideological self-determination in a safe, restricted area of fiction. John Burningham’s Granpa neglects many of the conventions of writing and storytelling, so that readers face the multiplexity of its form and structure, the emergence of its linear narrative from apparent stasis into irresolution and ambiguity, and its difficult themes and psychological content, with very little guidance in their reading beyond frequently confusing formal signals. This is difficult for adult readers, who have learnt to expect certain conventions from stories, and to use them to interpret and predict what they read. It may, however, be particularly easy for child readers, because it does not force them to read in ways that are still foreign to and thus possibly difficult for them. It may even be less threatening to children and antagonistic to children’s culture than most children’s books, because it does not socialize children into the alien adult culture concomitant with conventional reading. Together, these analyses reveal that complex, sophisticated children’s books may function in a variety of ways. The children’s book world should thus rather evaluate them individually than reject the entire genre. / Dissertation (MA (English))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / English / unrestricted