ʼn Literêre reis deur distopiese Suid-Afrika

Abstract

Die doel van hierdie studie was om twee Afrikaanse distopiese tekste, naamlik Horrelpoot (2006) deur Eben Venter en Wonderboom (2015) deur Lien Botha, te ondersoek en met mekaar te vergelyk. Die navorsingsvraag fokus op hoe sosio-politieke kompleksiteite en persoonlike ervarings gedurende die vroeë 21ste eeu in die konteks van ʼn post-apartheid Suid-Afrika in hierdie distopiese tekste uitgebeeld en geïnterpreteer word. Deur hierdie vergelykende lees, poog die studie om ʼn dieper en meer genuanseerde begrip te ontwikkel van die literêre strategieë wat gebruik word om kwessies soos identiteit, trauma, vervreemding en magsdinamika in ʼn veranderende samelewing te verken. Die analise is gegrond op teoretiese raamwerke rondom distopiese en apokaliptiese literatuur, post-apokaliptiese wêrelde en die troop van die reis.

The purpose of this study was to analyse and compare two Afrikaans dystopian texts, namely Horrelpoot (2006) by Eben Venter and Wonderboom (2015) by Lien Botha. The research question focuses on how socio-political complexities and personal experiences during the early 21st century, in the context of a post-apartheid South Africa, are portrayed and interpreted in these dystopian texts. Through this comparative reading, the study aims to develop a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the literary strategies employed to explore issues such as identity, trauma, alienation, and power dynamics within a constantly changing society. The analysis is based on theoretical frameworks surrounding dystopian and apocalyptic literature, post-apocalyptic worlds, and the trope of the journey.