Abstract:
Antjie Krog’s A Change of Tongue (2003)/’n Ander tongval (2005) deals with various kinds of transformation. As in her poetry, there is also a strong awareness of tension between the aesthetic and the social/political relevance. In this essay it is argued that social, political and personal transformation is only possible through a change of aesthetics; a change of thought is made possible only through finding a different form of writing. On the one hand it is pointed out that the possibilities offered by the essay as form is exploited by Krog (moving from the very personal experience to a broader philosophical treatment of the theme) On the other hand this essay explores the effect of Krog’s use of second person narration – a form of narration once described by Fludernik (1994) as the most “unnatural” narrative form.
