This study comprises a close reading and textual analysis of The Sentients of Orion, a
space opera series by Australian author Marianne de Pierres, with a view to investigating
the representations of gender in modern, popular science fiction by women authors. I
hypothesise that de Pierres will pose a fictional enquiry into gender, based on the richness
of science fiction by women, but that a closer examination of physical and emotional
intimacy (both positive and negative) in these ‘less literary works’ will prove de Pierres’
gender enquiry to be superficial and inconsistent in nature. My main approach is a
qualitative exploration of selected incidents through the theoretical lenses of feminist literary criticism, gender theory and, where applicable, queer theory. While I draw
eclectically on these interpretive paradigms, my approach is most closely aligned with
poststructuralist feminism. Proving the first part of my hypothesis, my findings show that
de Pierres does pose an enquiry into gender through her portrayal of plot and character.
The particular focus on the intimacies involving the heroine, women, men, and alien
characters, proves the second part of my hypothesis incorrect as it reveals how de Pierres
not only deeply and consistently challenges the heteronormative status quo, questioning
dynamics in relationships, gender roles, ageism, sexism and societal stereotypes, but also
provides possible alternatives. / English Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (English)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/23473 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Boshoff, Dorothea |
| Contributors | Byrne, D. C. (Deirdre C.) |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (vii, 282 leaves) |
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