Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch Universiteit, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study the role played by literature or fiction in historiography
is investigated. Firstly, the problem of representing an "objective
reality" is outlined, and subsequently applied to the domain of
historiography by questioning terms such as "objectivity", "reality"
and "truth". Due attention is given to changing perceptions about
the nature of history writing. It is indicated that historiography
cannot render or recreate the past as something which is present
here-and-now and, therefore, that history writing is of necessity
always an interpreted and subjectively construed representation of
an ephemeral "reality".
Against this background the thesis focuses on that part of South
African history (slavery) which for a variety of reasons lacks a
formalised historiography. It is indicated how the "gaps" created by
the failures of formalised historiography can be "filled" by the
suggestive power of the literary imagination.
Wilma Stockenstrëm's Die kremetartekspedisie (1981) is used to
exemplify the above claims by specifically noting how the personal
slave experience is described through the literary imagination in
Die kremetartekspedisie. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word daar ondersoek ingestel na die moontlike rol
wat letterkunde of fiksie kan speel in die geskiedskrywingsproses.
As agtergrond word die problematiek rondom die bestaan en
voorstelling van 'n 'objektiewe werklikheid' bespreek en uitgebrei
na die terrein van die historiografie deur die bevraagtekening van
terme soos 'objektiwiteit', 'werklikheid' en 'waarheid'. Daar word
aandag geskenk aan verskuiwende persepsies oor die aard van
geskiedskrywing en aangedui dat historiografie nooit die verlede
teenwoordig kan stel nie en dat geskiedskrywing altyd 'n
geïnterpreteerde en subjektief-gekonstrueerde representasie van 'n
verbygegane 'werklikheid' is.
Teen hierdie agtergrond word daar spesifiek gelet op 'n gedeelte
van die Suid-Afrikaanse geskiedenis wat, as gevolg van verskeie
redes, 'ontbreek' in formele geskiedskrywing, naamlik slawerny.
Daar word aangedui hoe hierdie gapings op suggestiewe wyse
deur die literêre verbeelding 'gevul' kan word.
Die kremetartekspedisie deur Wilma Stockenstr6m dien as
voorbeeldteks om bogenoemde punt te illustreer deur spesifiek te
let op die wyse waarop 'n slavin moontlik haar persoonlike ervaring
van haar slaafskap sou kon verwoord soos dit in Die
kremetartekspedisie deur die literêre verbeelding gedoen word.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/51721 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Jordaan, Margarethé Maria |
| Contributors | Huigen, S., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Afrikaans & Dutch. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | af_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 95 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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