Peter and the Wolf (1936) is a transmedial work based on a Russian fairy tale composed and
written by Sergey Prokofiev . Prokofiev’s purpose with the work was amongst others to
introduce children to the instruments of the symphony orchestra. This study examines the
possibility of creating a new Afrikaans versification of the text in order to introduce this work
to Afrikaans-speaking children. The creative product of the research consists of a picture book
and a corresponding soundtrack together with the original music and a recitation of the text.
The researcher cooperated with other artists in order to achieve the final product.
Since the realisation of a creative product forms an integral part of this study, practice-based
research has been utilised. The framework for practice-based research by Scrivener and
Chapman (2004) has been used for the design of the study, the implementation thereof (theory
and practice), as well as for the structure of the dissertation.
The first step of the framework of Scrivener and Chapman (2004) entails the pre-project
reflection, i.e. the identification of issues, as well as the concerns and interests of the
researcher. It is important to the researcher that children are exposed to the instruments of the
symphony orchestra, and she is also interested in picture books and fairy tales. Research
revealed that there is no recent Afrikaans version of Peter and the Wolf. She consequently
decided to do a versification of the text.
The identification of the source domains relevant to the research theme and the creative project
forms the second step of the framework. The initial source domains that were identified and
studied were the theoretical concepts of intertextuality, intermediality and creative adaptation
(Chapter 2). Peter and the Wolf originated as an intermedial work and thus the intermedial
creative product is also a creative adaptation of the original work. As the study progressed,
additional domains for research have been identified and examined. These are music, narrative
poetry, children’s book illustrations, developmental psychology, cognitive narratology and
information regarding the listener or reader (Chapter 3). Insight into the art forms and media
can positively influence the progress of the creative product and can aid in creating an
improved understanding of the intermedial effect of the total creative product. Because the
target audience of the picture book is children between the ages of six and eight years, research
was done on the developmental psychology of the child in the middle childhood years. In
combination with this, cognitive narratology was studied to determine the reception of the
creative product, and to assist with the analysis of the existing texts of Peter and the Wolf. Thereafter three existing editions of Peter and the Wolf were studied, based on the theoretical
framework, and the intermedial interplay and creative possibilities for different medial
combinations were examined (Chapter 4). These texts are: 1) a picture book, translated by
Lydia Pienaar (1975); it is an equivalent translation of the original Russian text and has
become a classical edition of the work in Afrikaans; 2) a poetic version by Philip de Vos of a
performance text with the original music (2003); and 3) an alternative modern edition with
musical arrangement, text and illustrations by Gavin Friday and Bono (2003). The latter
combination of text, music, illustrations and recitation, was also used for the creative work in
this study.
Cycles of production and work reflection form part of the creative phase of practice-based
research. In Chapter 5, the different phases of the versification process are discussed by
analysing different versions of the manuscript. There is also a report on the co-operation with
the other artists, and the development of the different media (the illustrations, the music
realisation, the recitation and the sound mixing).
In the post-project reflection the interplay between the theoretical research and the creative
work was examined, as well as the contribution of the different research fields to the final
creative project and the intermedial interplay between the different media that were used in the
creative work.
It was found that practice-based research is a very successful research method for a postgraduate
study in which a creative project forms part of the study. The research method is not
only advantageous for the development of the creative project, but also for thorough theoretical
research. Furthermore, the researcher came to the conclusion that an improved understanding
of the complex theoretical approaches develops when they are practically applied. This
understanding is not necessarily based on theoretical research, but on the experience that was
gained throughout this study.
The creative product of this study can expand the horizon of the child in an intermedial way
that will benefit the listener. Insight has been obtained on the way in which such a project can
be undertaken. Furthermore, other intermedial projects can flow from this project. A
translation of the poetic text can make this book and CD accessible to a large number of South African children. / MA (Afrikaans and Dutch), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/14165 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | De Kock, Elma |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | other |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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