Die plek van transkulturele kinderprenteboeke in Suid-Afrika
Date
2016-03
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Hierdie verhandeling is ‘n kritiese analise, vanuit my uitgangspunt as illustreerder, oor
die rol wat transkulturele kinderprenteboeke in ‘n kontemporêre Suid-Afrika speel.
Kinderprenteboeke het die vermoë om kinders se siening van die wêreld te vorm en
hulle visueel en intellektueel te stimuleer. Dit kan hulle ook blootstel aan nuwe dinge
en hul verbeelding prikkel om sodoende ‘n leeskultuur te ontwikkel. Tog word die
waarde van hierdie medium in Suid-Afrika geringgeskat. Die meeste kinderboeke word
uitgegee vir opvoedkundige doeleindes; daarby is die koste van boeke baie hoog, wat
bydra tot die land se swak leeskultuur. Boeke word ook grootliks in Afrikaans en
Engels uitgegee, met slegs enkele voorbeelde wat ‘n hibriede Suid-Afrikaanse
samelewing uitbeeld. My uitgangspunt vir hierdie studie is om ‘n bewustheid te skep
van die voordele wat transkulturele kinderprenteboeke kan hê op kinders se kulturele
identiteit, visuele geletterdheid, asook hul siening van ander kulture. Die navorsing
fokus bykomend op die verskil tussen multikulturalisme en transkulturalisme en
waarom transkulturele kinderprenteboeke ‘n beter medium is vir kinders binne ‘n
Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Om hierdie doelwit te bereik, ondersoek ek die plek wat
kinderprenteboeke vanaf 1900 tot en met vandag in Suid-Afrika ingeneem het. Die wyse
waarop kultuur visueel in hierdie boeke uitgebeeld word, asook die invloed daarvan op
kinders, beklemtoon die behoefte aan transkulturele kinderprenteboeke. Om te kan
begryp oor watter eienskappe ‘n transkulturele kinderboek moet beskik, word die
inhoud en samestelling ondersoek. Ten slotte implementeer ek hierdie bevindinge deur
my eie boek, Thandi goes to Cape Town, te skep. Ek lees hierdie boek voor aan ‘n
laerskoolklas om dié prakties-geleide navorsing in praktyk toe te pas. Ná die voorlesing
toon die kinders se positiewe reaksie dat transkulturele kinderprenteboeke wel ‘n baie
positiewe invloed op kinders kan hê, wat die belangrikheid van verdere studie in
hierdie veld herbevestig.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: This thesis is a critical analysis on the role of trans-cultural children’s picture books in contemporary South Africa, done from my perspective as illustrator. Children’s picture books have the inherent possibility to form children’s vision of the world, as well as stimulate them visually and intellectually. These books may also expose children to new knowledge and experiences that may stimulate their imagination and promote a culture of reading. However, the value of this medium remains underestimated and underutilized in South Africa. Most children’s books are published for educational purposes. The high cost of books also contributes to the unsatisfactory reading culture. Books are still published largely in Afrikaans and English, with only a small number portraying a hybrid South African community. My approach with this study is to create consciousness for the advantages transcultural children’s picture books could have towards children’s cultural identity, visual literacy, as well as their opinion of other cultures. The research also compares multicultural with transcultural children’s books and why the later is more appropriate in a South African society. To achieve this goal, I have investigated the place of children’s picture books in South Africa, since 1904 until the present. The way in which cultures are portrayed visually in these books, as well as the effect thereof on children, emphasises the need for transcultural children’s picture books. In order to comprehend the characteristics of a transcultural children’s picture book, the content and composition of such a book is investigated. Finally, I have implemented my conclusions by creating my own book, Thandi goes to Cape Town. I have read this book to a primary school class to apply this practice-led research practically. After this reading, the children’s positive response has indicated that transcultural children’s picture books can influence children positively, confirming the importance of further investigation in this field.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: This thesis is a critical analysis on the role of trans-cultural children’s picture books in contemporary South Africa, done from my perspective as illustrator. Children’s picture books have the inherent possibility to form children’s vision of the world, as well as stimulate them visually and intellectually. These books may also expose children to new knowledge and experiences that may stimulate their imagination and promote a culture of reading. However, the value of this medium remains underestimated and underutilized in South Africa. Most children’s books are published for educational purposes. The high cost of books also contributes to the unsatisfactory reading culture. Books are still published largely in Afrikaans and English, with only a small number portraying a hybrid South African community. My approach with this study is to create consciousness for the advantages transcultural children’s picture books could have towards children’s cultural identity, visual literacy, as well as their opinion of other cultures. The research also compares multicultural with transcultural children’s books and why the later is more appropriate in a South African society. To achieve this goal, I have investigated the place of children’s picture books in South Africa, since 1904 until the present. The way in which cultures are portrayed visually in these books, as well as the effect thereof on children, emphasises the need for transcultural children’s picture books. In order to comprehend the characteristics of a transcultural children’s picture book, the content and composition of such a book is investigated. Finally, I have implemented my conclusions by creating my own book, Thandi goes to Cape Town. I have read this book to a primary school class to apply this practice-led research practically. After this reading, the children’s positive response has indicated that transcultural children’s picture books can influence children positively, confirming the importance of further investigation in this field.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.
Keywords
Children's books -- Illustrations, Picture books for children, Transcultural studies, Visual learning -- South Africa, Cultural relations -- South Africa, UCTD