Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis examines the genre of dystopian fiction in the graphic novel, V for
Vendetta in which a futuristic police state, run by a totalitarian regime is portrayed.
Since V for Vendetta draws on a number of other dystopian texts, New Historicist
theory is employed which begins its analysis of literary texts by attempting to look at
other texts as well as the historical context in which it originated, to aid in the
understanding of that text. Therefore, V for Vendetta with its thorough character
development and multi-dimensional storyline that the larger format of the graphic
novel allows, is studied alongside other highly regarded novels. The characteristics of
the nightmarish anti-utopia is identified and analysed in V for Vendetta by looking at
real examples of totalitarian regimes from history. The chapters are divided into what
I identified as the main themes of the totalitarian dystopia.
Chapter one explains the concept of the utopia in order to grasp the concept of
dystopia, and more specifically, the Totalitarian dystopia. Chapter two looks at the
social structure of V for Vendetta as well as the common Totalitarian dystopia.
Chapter three discusses the issue of censorship which is a recurring theme in
dystopian fiction. Chapter four examines the manner in which the totalitarian regime
manipulates the populace of the dystopia through propaganda. Chapter five discusses
the systems of surveillance and lack of privacy in the Totalitarian dystopia and a
chapter on the protagonist in dystopia concludes this study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studiestuk word die genre van distopiese fiksie in die grafiese roman, V for
Vendetta behandel, wat ’n futuristiese polisiestaat teen die agtergrond van ’n totalitêre
staatsbestel uitbeeld. Omdat V for Vendetta by soveel ander distopiese tekste leen,
word dit vanuit die teoretiese oogpunt van New Historicism bestudeer, wat in die
ontleding van ’n roman ander tekste asook die geskiedkundige konteks van daardie
roman ondersoek, ten einde dit beter te begryp. Daarom word V for Vendetta, wat
vanweë die grafiese roman se langer formaat wat ruimte skep vir deeglike
karakterontwikkeling en ’n veelvlakkige storielyn, as volwaardige roman naas ander
hoogaangeskrewe romans behandel. Aan die hand van ware voorbeelde van totalitêre
regimes uit die geskiedenis word die eienskappe eie aan ’n nagmerriestaat in V for
Vendetta geïdentifiseer en geanaliseer en dit is waardeur ek my laat lei het ten opsigte
van die hoofstukindeling.
In hoofstuk een word die begrip van utopie eers duidelik gemaak om die distopie, en
meer spesifiek die Totalitêre distopie te verstaan. In hoofstuk twee word daar gekyk
na die sosiale samestelling en magstruktuur binne V for Vendetta en die Totalitêre
distopie in die algemeen. Hoofstuk drie bespreek die kwessie van sensuur - ’n
gewilde tema in distopiese fiksie. In hoofstuk vier word ondersoek ingestel na die
manier waarop die Totalitêre-distopie die burgery breinspoel deur propaganda.
Hoofstuk vyf bespreek die verskynsel van bewaking en die skending van privaatheid
in die totaliêre distopie en in die sesde hoofstuk word daar gefokus op die protagonis
in die distopie.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/21688 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Nienaber, J. E. |
| Contributors | De Villiers, Karlien, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Visual Arts. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | Afrikaans |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 125 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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