Deur die sleutelgat : ’n ondersoek na die voyeuristiese elemente in die poesie van Johann de Lange
Date
2000-12
Authors
Kemp, Christiaan Theodorus
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die term voyeurisme hoort normaalweg tuis binne die sielkunde, waar dit dui op 'n
seksuele abnormaliteit en afwyking. Hierdie siening stigmatiseer egter die fenomeen
voyeurisme as 'n perverse handeling. In die eerste hoofstuk van hierdie studie word 'n
poging aangewend om die begrip voyeurisme te verruim. Die voyeurisme wys nie net
op 'n seksuele afwyking nie, maar vorm 'n sentrale deel van die eietydse samelewing.
Die voyeurisme is dus ook van kardinale belang vir die letterkunde.
In hierdie tesis word die voyeuristiese elemente in die poësie van Johann de Lange ondersoek.
Aan die hand van tekste uit De Lange se oeuvre word die hipotese getoets dat
die voyeurisme 'n voorwaarde vir die letterkunde is. Voorts word daar beweer dat die
voyeurisme 'n onmisbare funksie in die skryf-en-lees-proses vervul; dat nie net die
digter nie, maar sowel die teks as die leser noodwendig deel in die voyeuristiese handeling.
Die letterkunde is dus, volgens hierdie hipotese, te danke aan die perspektiwiese
kompleksiteit van die voyeurisme.
Om die sprong van die sielkunde na die letterkunde te maak, word daar eerstens aandag
bestee aan die werk van die teoretici Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Lacan en Michel
Foucault en die bydraes wat hulle tot die teoretisering oor persepsie lewer. Voorts
word vier gedigte geanaliseer met konsentrasie op aspekte van die voyeurisme soos
wat dit in De Lange se oeuvre manifesteer en funksioneer, naamlik: die skilderkuns,
die fotografie, die religie en die verhouding tussen vader en seun.
Hoewel hierdie tesis uitsluitlik oor die werk van Johann de Lange handel, wil dit 'n
gesprek oor die voyeurisme in die Afrikaanse letterkunde tot stand bring.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The term voyeurism normally belongs to the field of psychology, where it is used to describe a sexual abnormality and deviation. However, this view stigmatises the phenomenon of voyeurism as a perverse act. In the first chapter of this study the author attempts to broaden the notion of voyeurism. Voyeurism not only indicates sexual deviation, it also forms a central part of contemporary society. Voyeurism is therefore also of the utmost importance in literature. In this thesis the voyeuristic elements in the poetry of Johann de Lange are examined. Using texts from De Lange's oeuvre the hypothesis that voyeurism is a condition for literature is tested. It is further argued that voyeurism fulfils an essential function in the reading and writing process; that, not only the poet, but both the text and the reader inevitably share in the voyeuristic action. Literature according to this hypothesis, has its origins in the perspective complexity of voyeurism. To explain the connection between psychology and literature attention is firstly devoted to the works of the theorists Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Lacan and Michel Foucault and the contributions they made on perception. Further four poems are analysed in detail, with emphasis on aspects of voyeurism as they manifest and function in De Lange's oeuvre, namely: the art of painting, photography, religion and the relationship between father and son. Although this thesis deals exclusively with the work of Johann de Lange, it wants to bring about a discussion on voyeurism in the Afrikaans literature.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The term voyeurism normally belongs to the field of psychology, where it is used to describe a sexual abnormality and deviation. However, this view stigmatises the phenomenon of voyeurism as a perverse act. In the first chapter of this study the author attempts to broaden the notion of voyeurism. Voyeurism not only indicates sexual deviation, it also forms a central part of contemporary society. Voyeurism is therefore also of the utmost importance in literature. In this thesis the voyeuristic elements in the poetry of Johann de Lange are examined. Using texts from De Lange's oeuvre the hypothesis that voyeurism is a condition for literature is tested. It is further argued that voyeurism fulfils an essential function in the reading and writing process; that, not only the poet, but both the text and the reader inevitably share in the voyeuristic action. Literature according to this hypothesis, has its origins in the perspective complexity of voyeurism. To explain the connection between psychology and literature attention is firstly devoted to the works of the theorists Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Lacan and Michel Foucault and the contributions they made on perception. Further four poems are analysed in detail, with emphasis on aspects of voyeurism as they manifest and function in De Lange's oeuvre, namely: the art of painting, photography, religion and the relationship between father and son. Although this thesis deals exclusively with the work of Johann de Lange, it wants to bring about a discussion on voyeurism in the Afrikaans literature.
Description
Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000.
Blog by Johann de Lange: http://johanndelange.blogspot.com/
Blog by Johann de Lange: http://johanndelange.blogspot.com/
Keywords
De Lange, Johann -- Criticism and interpretation, Voyeurism in literature, Theses -- Afrikaans literature, Dissertations -- Afrikaans literature