Research Articles (Unit for Creative Writing)

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Dan Wylie’s poetry and a new default discourse for the earth
(Routledge, 2025) Owen, Harry
In the face of global warming, human over-population, the catastrophic consequences of being who and what we are, of what our languages have defined us to be, we need to rediscover nature’s own voice. Far from imposing a human ‘voice’ or language upon nature, we must find a way to echo, reflect and respect the many natural voices that already exist everywhere. Ironically, to get this vital message across we are obliged to use the vocabularies, syntaxes and linguistic expressions already taken for granted in a predominantly corporate, capitalist global society. But we can rearrange and adapt these into poetry. This article reflects on how the growing academic field of ecopoetics lends itself to establishing a new ‘default discourse,’ questioning the current orthodoxy to ask: how does the poetry of Dan Wylie offer an alternative construction of the world to dominant discourses? Using a selection from Wylie’s several published collections, the article shows how the work of this major South African poet employs such an ecopoetic language. The selected poems demonstrate a profound commitment to the importance of the natural environment and of ecopoetry as the best way to give it expression. Ultimately, and despite the bleak prospects currently facing Earth in the form of accelerating climate change, this article finds reasons for optimism, but it requires our adapting to changing realities. The first essential step towards such adaptation is to accept the pressing need for a revised default discourse expressed through ecopoetry.
The typewriter’s tale : re-exploring the historical figure of Henry James through fiction
(Unisa Press, 2023) Breytenbach, Albertus
This article investigates the relationship between historical fiction, history, and the portrayal of the character and identity of Henry James with specific reference to The Typewriter’s Tale (2005) by Michiel Heyns. Furthermore, it explores how Heyns proceeds to strike a historically responsible balance in his portrayal of the identities of Henry James, Morton Fullerton and Edith Wharton as characters in the novel and the identities of these personae as historical figures. It also explores how Heyns imaginatively bridges the gaps in the historical record or relies on creative licence to reinterpret events and characters. Lastly, the contribution that historical fiction can make to our understanding of the identity and character of historical figures is considered.
The emotional well-being of African wives : perceiving the generalised resistance resources (GRRs) in stress management by co-wives in Lola Shoneyin's novel The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives
(Routledge, 2021) Ndiyah, Yvumbom Florence
Although it is oppressive to women, polygamy is still relevant in many contemporary African societies, where the culturally acceptable identity of a woman is as a wife and mother, as demonstrated in Lola Shoneyin’s The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives (2015). To overcome the challenges of their daily lives, polygynous wives must search for resources elsewhere, since mental health facilities are comparatively few in Africa, and that seeking professional help is often the exception. At the end of her novel, Shoneyin keeps Baba Segi’s three uneducated wives in the repressive marriage she has depicted, even though their husband permits them to leave. Bolanle, the educated, fourth wife, decides to divorce. While the man’s domination is customary in a patriarchal culture, the woman’s freedom and emotional well-being are subject to conditions laid down by her society, but ones which she can control through her response to subjugation. This article uses Aaron Antonovsky’s theory of salotugenesis and its principles of the Generalised Resistance Resources (GRRs) to demonstrate how Iya Segi and Bolanle, respectively Baba Segi’s first and last wives, cope or crumble in the face of stressors. Emphasis is on the GRRs of ego strength, co-wife bonding, co-wife rank, joy in children, economic freedom, and education and skills.
The PhD in Creative Writing and the teaching thereof at South African universities
(Routledge, 2015-11) Pieterse, Henning Jonathan, 1960-
The need for and feasibility of a PhD degree in CreativeWriting is discussed. The structure and content of PhDs in this field in the UK, USA and Australia are examined. The focus then shifts towards the content and teaching of this PhD at the four South African universities currently offering it. Recommendations are made in respect of the possible expansion of the institutionalising and teaching of this degree in South Africa.
“[Om] nou hier op oordeelsdag bontbokke te kom tel ”1 – Wopko Jensma en die sensuurwetgewing van die jare sewentig
(Suider-Afrikaanse Vereniging vir Neerlandistiek, 2009) Kleyn, Leti; Marais, Johannes Lodewyk
In July 1964 the list of banned publications in South Africa stood at 12 000 titles and increased rapidly thereafter. Between 1955 and 1971 thousands of titles were burned in municipal ovens. In this article the second volume of poetry of the poet and artist Wopko Jensma (1939–1993?), where white is the colour, where black is the number (1974), is used as a case study on the influence of censorship legislation on South African literature. The article will highlight the status of Jensma as a writer, the course of the sensorshop case against his book, its possible effect on Jensma’s position in South African literature as well as a reflection on the effect of sensorship on canonisation. In conclusion the revision of Afrikaans literary history as well as the importance of book history against the background of new information about its writer is considered.
Bokskiet, bokspring en bokjol : skuld- en vergifnisrituele in 30 nagte in Amsterdam (Etienne van Heerden)
(Litnet, 2014-12) Hattingh, Roela; Pieterse, Henning Jonathan, 1960-
Skuld en vergifnis is verwikkelde konstrukte wat deur die eeue in verskillende religieuse, sosiologiese, psigologiese, wetlike en private ruimtes ontwikkel het en steeds ontwikkel. Hierdie konstrukte word gesien as deel van die menslike toestand. Verhale/fiksie is by uitstek geskik om skuld en vergifnis te vergestalt en die interpretasiemoontlikhede van die konstrukte te verbreed. Hierdie artikel lewer ’n ondersoekende blik op die rituele van skuld en vergifnis soos dit in 30 nagte in Amsterdam, ’n roman deur Etienne van Heerden (2008), vergestalt word. Ritueel word as mimetiese element gebruik om aspekte van skuld en vergifnis te beliggaam.
Karen Blixen in the African book and literary tourism market
(Tydskrif vir Letterkunde Assosiasie, 2015-01) Marais, Johannes Lodewyk
In 1937, the Danish-born writer Karen Blixen published Out of Africa, an autobiographical account, in English, of the seventeen years she spent in Africa (from 1914 until 1931). During those years, she forged a permanent bond with Kenya, where she managed a coffee plantation. This bond was immortalised in the book, leading to cult status for both the publication and its author. Out of Africa contains a blend of the essay, the sketch and the historical document. A contemporary reading of the book also reveals some offensive and racist passages; footprints, as it were, of the settler society of its day. However, the lyrical, introspective quality of this book has resulted in its becoming one of the great publishing phenomena of the twentieth century, reaching many readers through various reprints, translations and a film version. This article presents the publishing history of Out of Africa and gives an overview of its many translations across the globe. It also indicates the extent to which, and the reasons why, the book did (or did not) achieve success in Africa. A comparison is also made between Out of Africa and a number of texts by other female writers who wrote about their experiences particularly in African landscapes and/or places. Keywords: Book history, female writers, Karen Blixen, Kenya, literary tourism.
"Even a footnote can be a tragic figure" - Demitrios (Dimitri) Tsafendas (1918-1999) as literêre karakter
(South African Journal of Art History, 2014) Kleyn, Leti; leti.kleyn@up.ac.za
On 6 September 1966, former prime minister Hendrik F. Verwoerd was assassinated in parliament by Demitrios Tsafendas. Whilst two books were published on this subject (Scholtz, 1967 & Schoeman, 1975), the individual resonsible for this historical event disappeared from the public eye for more than three decades. During his appearance before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Tsafendas was reduced to a mere contextual component. A handful of people attended his funeral following deliberate efforts to keep this event too under wraps. Thirty two years later, Dutch author Henk van Woerden published the first biographical novel about Tsafendas – a work entitled A mouthful of glass (1998). As was the case with Tsafendas’s identity crisis, this book – and in particular the Afrikaans translation thereof by Antjie Krog (2000) – was received with much criticism and to date, uncertainty exists about how to categorise this mélange of truth and fiction. Two theatre productions based on Van Woerden’s publication followed in 2003 – both of which were performed and published (Krueger, 2003 & Sher, 2003). A number of references to Tsafendas subsequently appeared in various literary texts (amongst others Hirson, 2004 & 2011; Sher, 1995; Van Wyk, 1996; Vladislavić, 1989; Wicomb, 1987 & Winterbach, 1999). However, for the most part, both the person of Tsafendas and the events of 6 September 1996 have neither featured significantly in Afrikaans literature, nor in writings on historical events of the time. This investigation serves to determine whether literature and published history contribute more to a memory bank than history per se.
Woordlandskappe in gesprek met beeldlandskappe : ’n praktykgebaseerde ondersoek na die kreatiewe verbande tussen digkuns en visuele kuns
(Art Historical Work Group of South Africa, 2014) Van Loggerenberg, Marianne; Kleyn, Leti
In this article, creative relationships between poetry (lexical text) and visual art (‘text’-in-images) are examined and illustrated with an example. The article focuses on the potential for a heightened experienced that may be created by several levels of interpretation possibly emerging between a lexical text (image-poems written by the researcher) and a ‘text’-in-image (visual artwork by Joan Miró), as these distinct fields of creativity enter into a conversation on a metaphorical level. In essence, this article is an investigation into the shared root system between poetry and visual art and is delimited to the interpretation possibilities of the creative relationships that can be highlighted and practically applied to the conversation that may emerge between the selected visual artwork of Joan Miró and the image-poem in response to this artwork. The visual artwork (image landscape) is Silence (Joan Miró, 1968) and the image-poem (image landscape) is “Buigsaamheid van ’n realiteit”. The researcher/poet uses various concepts and keywords with regard to the creative relationships that may emerge between this visual artwork and image-poem: word/lexical landscape (woordlandskap); (visual) image landscape (beeldlandskap); word cloud (woordwolk); colour calligram (kleurkalligram); methaphorical tale (beeldspraakverhaal); colour shift (kleurverskuiwing); poetic shift (versverskuiwing); and book landscape (boeklandskap). AFRIKAANS: In hierdie artikel word kreatiewe verbande tussen digkuns (woordteks) en visuele kuns (beeldteks) ondersoek en met ’n praktiese voorbeeld toegelig. Die ondersoek is gerig op die verruimingsmoontlikhede van interpretasievlakke wat tussen ’n woordteks (’n beeldgedig) en ’n beeldteks (’n visuele kunswerk van Joan Miró) kan ontstaan, as dié twee skeppingsprodukte in gesprek met mekaar tree. In wese is dié artikel ’n ondersoek na die gedeelde wortelstelsel tussen digkuns en visuele kuns en word afgebaken tot die implikasies van hierdie onderliggende verband wat toegepas kan word op ’n geselekteerde visuele kunswerk en ’n beeldgedig as reaksie op dié kunswerk. Die betrokke visuele kunswerk van Joan Miró, wat as ’n beeldlandskap in die artikel voorgestel word, is Silence (Joan Miró, 1968) en die betrokke beeldgedig wat as ’n woordlandskap in die artikel voorgestel word, is“Buigsaamheid van ’n realiteit”. Die navorser/digter maak gebruik van verskeie konsepte en sleutelwoorde met betrekking tot die kreatiewe verbande wat moontlik tussen ’n visuele kunswerk en ’n beeldgedig kan ontstaan, naamlik: woordlandskap; beeldlandskap; woordwolk; kleurkalligram; beeldspraakverhaal; kleurverskuiwing; versverskuiwing en boeklandskap.
Waar gaan ons nog ’n keurder kry wat my goedgesind is? – Die publikasiegeskiedenis van Storm Sevenster (1984) deur Wessel Pretorius
(Afrikaanse Letterkundevereniging, 2013) Kleyn, Leti
In 1984 the novel Storm Sevenster by Afrikaans poet Wessel Pretorius, caused havoc with rumours that publisher Perskor intended to submit the publication to the censorship board before accepting it for publication. This article looks at the controversy surrounding the publishing process of the first punk novel in Afrikaans, the significance of André P. Brink in creating a positive opinion of the novel with the general public, censorship documentation and the reception of the novel (including the reprint in later years) in the Afrikaans literary system.
Funksionaliteit van voëlverwysings in twee verse-inwording uit D.J. Opperman se onvoltooide bundel Sonklong oor Afrika
(Afrikaanse Letterkundevereniging, 2013) Franzsen, R.C.D. (Riel)
D.J. Opperman, one of the most prominent Afrikaans poets of the 20th century, often used birds as symbols and metaphors to describe or reinforce human emotions or conduct. This is especially evident in Heilige beeste (1945), Negester oor Ninevé (1947), Komas uit 'n bamboesstok (1979), and a volume he was working on before he suffered a debilitating stroke, Sonklong oor Afrika. With reference to two unfinished poems from Sonklong oor Afrika, "Die goue snip van Afrika" and "Arende broei adellik", and without arguing for or against the posthumous publication of unfinished work, it is concluded that - a. Opperman is not a traditional nature poet; his poetry is anthropocentric rather than ecocentric; b. the alternative text proposed for "Die goue snip van Afrika" provides a more accurate ornithological description of the behaviour of the painted snipe (goudsnip) than the Kannemeyer text; and c. the descriptions of the behaviour and habits of the painted snipe and the eagles in these two works are bio-regionally accurate. Especially readers with a sound knowledge of birds will have an enriching experience when reading or rereading Opperman's poetry.
Dosering van Skryfkuns aan Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite : 'n oorsig
(AOSIS Open Journals, 2013-11-22) Pieterse, Henning Jonathan, 1960-; henning.pieterse@up.ac.za
Skryfkuns is ’n relatief nuwe vak aan Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite. Die bestek en metodologie van hierdie vakgebied is plaaslik nog nie na behore ondersoek nie. In dié artikel word die dosering van Skryfkuns as vak, kursus en/of program aan Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite van naderby betrag met betrekking tot kursusinhoud, metodologiese en pedagogiese kwessies en uitkomste. ’n Semigestruktureerde vraelys oor kursusinhoud, didaktiese aspekte rondom die dosering van Skryfkuns en manuskripte as uitkomste is aan kursus-koördineerders van Skryfkuns by 11 Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite gestuur. Die bevindings van hierdie peiling word bespreek met betrekking tot elke deelnemende universiteit. Dit blyk dat Skryfkuns hoofsaaklik op nagraadse vlak gedoseer word, met die fokus op die MA-vlak. Alhoewel daar verskille in onderrigmetodes is, is dit duidelik dat die werkswinkel deur die meeste respondente as kern-doseringsmetode gebruik word. Skryfkuns aan Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite as ’n vak toon groot groei met betrekking tot studentegetalle en gepubliseerde uitsette – enkele syfers word verskaf ter illustrasie. Hierdie toename sluit by ’n wêreldwye tendens van voortdurende groei van Skryfkuns aan universiteite aan. Deur gepubliseerde (en dikwels bekroonde) uitsette dra Skryfkunsprogramme by tot die gevarieerde Suid-Afrikaanse literêre landskap.
Ons kyk vanself - kreatiewe skryfkuns, konkrete poësie en 'n verset teen skrywersnorme
(AOSIS Open Journals, 2012-11-13) Kleyn, Leti; leti.kleyn@up.ac.za
In hierdie artikel word daar gefokus op die kunstenaarsboek Sanity on the line – ’n katalogus van individuele (studente-)werk saamgestel uit ’n snipperdigprojek wat as deel van die kunstenaarsboekprojek Oor die einders van die bladsy uitgestal is. Daar word onder meer gekyk na die fenomeen bekend as konkrete poësie, wat deur Hunley (2007) as ’n alternatiewe onderrigbenadering tot die kreatiewe skryfkunswerkswinkelmetode ontwikkel is. Vervolgens word enkele individuele werke in die snipperdigprojek bespreek deur onder meer verbandhoudende elemente daarvan in bestaande Suid-Afrikaanse voorbeelde van konkrete poësie te ondersoek. Daar word sterk gefokus op onder andere voorbeelde uit die Afrikaanse letterkunde en die werk van Willem Boshoff en Wopko Jensma.
"Haai, Jaco Jacobs! Wanneer skryf jy 'n regte boek?" 'n Bestekopname van Afrikaanse kinder- en jeugboeke (1999-2009)
(Unisa Press, 2011-05-06) Kleyn, Leti; Snyman, Maritha; leti.kleyn@up.ac.za
Ten years after Betsie van der Westhuizen’s (1999) argumentation, this article attempts to take stock of the state and place of Afrikaans children’s and juvenile books in the Afrikaans literary system. By making use of analyses of production profi les, selected published texts in scientifi c journals and the broad media, interviews with role players and histories of publishers, the interaction between the broader Afrikaans literary system – which includes authors, illustrators, publishers, media, reviewers, literary histories, academics, readers and other role players – and the subsystem of children’s and juvenile literature is investigated synoptically here. The following factors are identifi ed as themes for discussion: (i) restructuring of publishing companies involved in Afrikaans children’s and juvenile books after 1994; (ii) markets for Afrikaans children’s and juvenile books; (iii) visibility of Afrikaans children’s and juvenile books in the broader media; (iv) academic foundation of the genre of Afrikaans children’s and juvenile books; and (v) development of local authors and illustrators.
Poësieterapie : enkele tegnieke met voorbeeldtekste
(Afrikaanse Letterkundevereniging, 2011-03) Kleyn, Leti
This article looks at different poetry therapy techniques and examples of creative writings illustrating these techniques. The research of Forrest (1969) and Mazza (2003) is used in the second and last section of the article to explain the importance and possibilities of the memorising technique.
Poësieterapie - 'n terreinverkenning en toepassingsmoontlikhede daarvan in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks
(Department of Social Work, University of Johannesburg, 2009) Kleyn, Leti; Pieterse, Henning Jonathan, 1960-; leti.kleyn@up.ac.za
This article provides an overview of the field of poetry therapy by focussing on its origin in ancient civilizations, its earlier uses – which emphasise the therapeutic value of poetry – and the establishment of the worldwide National Association for Poetry Therapy (NAPT). Definitions of the term poetry therapy are provided, and the difference between bibliotherapy and poetry therapy is explained with reference to the bibliotherapy model of Hynes and Hynes-Berry (1986). The functions and uses of poetry therapy are also indicated, with references for further research. The guidelines used by therapists in choosing usable texts, which is a determining factor in the success of poetry therapy, are set out. Finally, a list is provided of a few recent projects, institutions and individuals in South Africa who contribute to community development by using writing as therapy.
Wopko Jensma en die soeke na 'n nuwe (Suid-)Afrikaanse identiteit
(Tydskrif vir Letterkunde Assosiasie, 2010) Kleyn, Leti; Marais, Johannes Lodewyk; leti.kleyn@up.ac.za
This article focuses on aspects of identity in the Afrikaans poetry of Wopko Jensma, published in three volumes of poetry, and in various magazines. Jensma apparently strove towards a new, "free" South African identity, which is clear from his idiosyncratic use of language, his perspectives on the sociopolitical circumstances of his time, and his visual art works. As the authors of this article have recently completed the most comprehensive study to date on Jensma's life, this article contains singularly fresh and new perspectives on this significant South African writer and artist. The authors purport that the Afrikaans literary historiography has, since the 1960s, maintained a distorted representation of Jensma's contribution not realising his importance.
Kom ek vertel vir jou ’n storie oor Lacan se objet petit a (“kleinletter-ander”) : ’n outo-etnografiese verkenning van ’n kreatiewe persoon se ervaring tydens die skryf van ’n akademiese artikel oor die kreatiewe proses
(Bureau for Scholarly Journals, 2009-04) Hattingh, Roela
This article is an auto-ethnographical narrative that, through the splintering of the ego, views the creative process reflectively and reflexively. It includes an exploratory investigation of the concept "Other" as it appears in three creative texts created as part of the "Tracking creative creatures" project.
The pen and the couch : possibilities for creative writing and narrative therapy in South Africa
(Department of Social Work, University of Johannesburg, 2008) Vaandrager, Cornelis; Pieterse, Henning Jonathan, 1960-; cornelis.vaandrager@up.ac.za
This paper deals with the link between narrative therapy, a post-modern, discourse-based therapy with its focus on re-storying life experiences thereby extracting the positive, and creative writing and the possible applications of said link in the South African context. The discussion explores the background and central concepts of narrative therapy and creative writing, suggesting possible applications of some international and South African narrative therapy/creative writing partnership examples and their positive outcomes to the South African milieu. The paper specifically looks at the partnership in relation to persons living with HIV/AIDS and offenders in correctional facilities in South Africa.
Ander bestekopname van die Afrikaanse poësie, 2004−2007
(LitNet, 2008) Kleyn, Leti
In this article an overview is provided of Afrikaans poetry for the period 2004–2007. Book publications and activities concerning Afrikaans poetry, such as arts festivals, radio programmes and websites, are discussed. Background information on the publishing trade is also provided, and common misconceptions debunked. The particulars of individual publishing houses and publications are contained in Appendix A.

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