Polemiek en kanon: kanonisering van die vroulike outeur in die Afrikaanse prosa van die dertiger- tot die negentigerjare

Abstract

Afrikaans: Die aard, oorsprong, relevansie en hersiening van literere kanons in 'n snel veranderende wereld is tans, nie net in Suid-Afrika nie, maar internasionaal 'n uiters aktuele saak. Oproepe om kanonhersiening word tans nie net uit die geledere van tradisionele minderheidsgroepe (socs vroue en swartmense) gehoor nie, maar ook vanuit establishment-geledere. In hierdie studie word die kanonisering van die Afrikaanse vroulike prosa-outeur tussen die dertiger- en negentigerjare vanuit 'n feministiese perspektief ondersoek. Orie voorbeelde van vroulike outeurs as verteenwoordigers van verskillende literatuur'soorte" word ondersoek, naamlik Hettie Smit ("ernstige" literatuur), die Klerewerkers (werkersliteratuur) en Eleanor Baker (goeie gewilde literatuur). Daar word gepostuleer dat die vroulike prosa-outeur binne die Afrikaanse literere sisteem steeds 'n mindere kanon- en kanoniseringstatus het, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van patriargale vooroordele. Voorts word gevra na maniere waarop s6 'n toedrag van sake gewysig kan word. Die bevindings kan heel moontlik op Afrikaanse vroulike prosa-outeurs in die algemeen betrekking he. Die volgende stellings word bevestig: i. Vroulike prosa-outeurs geniet steeds mindere kanon- en kanoniseringstatus in die Afrikaanse literatuursisteem. Argumente wat die teendeel wil bewys, streef nie daarna om enige dieperliggende problematiek te ontbloot nie. Die oppervlakkige aard van sulke argumente word alleen duidelik wanneer bepaalde kontradiksies en polemieke random die herskrywing van 'n bepaalde auteur aan die lig gebring word. Die herskrywing van Hettie Smit as "vroulike aanvulling" by die manlike Dertigerdigters lei daartoe dat Sy kom met die sekelmaan selfstandige kanonstatus ontbeer, terwyl die "gehalte" -argument in die geval van die Klerewerkers politieke en ideologiese faktore verberg. Die tipering van Baker se produkte as (goeie) "middelmoot" of "populere" tekste, verberg die marginalisering daarvan. ii. Die bestaan van vroulike outeurs wat nie in die kanon opgeneem is nie, en dus geen kanonstatus het nie, kan aangedui word. Die Klerewerkersliteratuur is 'n sprekende voorbeeld van hierdie soort afwesigheid. iii. Die status quo met betrekking tot die vroulike auteur se posisie ten opsigte van Afrikaanse kanons is onaanvaarbaar vanuit 'n feministiese perspektief. Die historiese posisie van die vrou binne die Afrikaanse literatuur is veral onaanvaarbaar - sy is feitlik afwesig uit die vroee geskiedskrywing van ons literatuur. Die eietydse situasie met betrekking tot kanonisering is binne die feministiese raamwerk van pogings tot verandering, ook nog lank nie aanvaarbaar nie. Aandag behoort geskenk te word aan die daarstelling van 'n vroulike tradisie binne die kader van die Afrikaanse literatuur, waarbinne outentieke "vroulike" norme vir literatuur, eerder as die tradisioneel "manlike" norme sal geld. S6 'n vroulike tradisie behoort volgens die riglyne van oorsese feministiese ondersoekers ge'implementeer te word; ook sal dit 'n heeltemal ander karakter he as die paternalistiese nie-outentieke "vroulike" kategorie. 'n Afsonderlike tradisie sal eerder bevrydend as onderdrukkend wees, en kan modelle daarstel vir verdere teksproduksies deur vroue. iv. Die sogenaamde multifunksionele benadering kan op teoretiese vlak die kanonisering van verskillende literatuur''soorte" beskryf en verklaar, en kan op praktiese vlak dien as riglyn vir kanoniseringsprosesse. Die regstelling van patriargale herskrywings moet as prioriteit beskou word. Slegs op hierdie manier kan ('n) algemeen aanvaarbare en verteenwoordigende, asook teoreties-gefundeerde kanon/s van Afrikaanse literatuur werklikheid word.

English: The nature, origins, relevance and revision of literary canons in a fast-changing world is at present a most topical concern, not only in South Africa, but also internationally. Calls for the revision of canons are heard not only from the ranks of traditional minority groups but also from establishment-ranks. In this study the canonisation of the Afrikaans female prose author in the years between the thirties and the nineties is examined from a feminist perspective. Three examples of female authors representing three "kinds11 of literature are examined, namely Hettie Smit ("serious11 literature), the Garment Workers (workers' literature) and Eleanor Baker (good popular literature). It is postulated that the female prose author within the Afrikaans literary system still has an inferior canon and canonisation status, mainly as a result of patriarchal prejudices. Ways in which such a state of affairs can be remedied are examined. On the strength of the results of the investigations the following premises can be confirmed: i. Female prose authors still have an inferior canon and canonisation status in the Afrikaans literary system. Arguments that attempt to prove the opposite do not strive after revealing any more deep-seated problem. The superficial nature of such arguments only becomes clear when specific contradictions and polemics around the rewriting of a certain author are brought to light. The rewriting of Hettie Smit as female supplement to the male Dertiger poets has resulted in her text being denied independent canon status, while the argument of "quality'' has obscured political and ideological factors in the case of the Garment Workers. The characterisation of Baker's products as (good) "popular" texts obscures the marginalisation thereof. ii. It is possible to point out female authors who have been excluded from the canon, thus lacking any canon status. The Garment Workers' literature is an example of this kind of absence. iii. The status quo regarding the position of the female author with reference to Afrikaans canons is unacceptable from a feminist perspective. Especially unacceptable is the historical position of women - they are virtually absent from the early historiography of Afrikaans literature. The contemporary situation is likewise unacceptable within a feminist framework. Attention should be paid to the establishment of a female tradition within the cadre of Afrikaans literature; within which authentic ''female" norms for literature rather than traditional "masculine" norms will operate. A female tradition should be implemented along guiding lines laid down by overseas feminist researchers, resulting in a character completely different from that of the paternalistic non-authentic "feminine" category. A separate tradition would be liberating rather than oppressing, and could set up models for further text productions by women. iv. At a theoretical level the multifunctional approach could describe and explain the canonisation of various kinds of literature, and at a practical level serve as a guideline for canonisation processes. The rectification of patriarchal rewritings should be regarded as a priority. Only in this way can (a) generally accepted and representative, as well as theoretically founded canon( s) of Afrikaans literature become a reality.