Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home AfricaBib Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Democratising culture and literature in a 'new South Africa': organisation and theory
Author:Sole, KelwynISNI
Year:1994
Periodical:Current Writing: Text and Reception in Southern Africa
Volume:6
Issue:2
Pages:1-37
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:culture
literature (form)
Abstract:Since 1990, a more inclusive, representative and democratic 'national culture' is beginning to emerge in South Africa. The author argues that the first step in democratizing culture is for critics and others to assist in closing the gap between notions of 'high' as opposed to 'popular' forms of culture/literature. The second step is to put an end to the disturbing tendency for politics to be regarded, in particular by progressive critics, as extraneous to artistic creation. The author emphasizes the powerful role cultural organizations can play in socializing arts (while also recognizing that many artists and writers in the new South Africa will wish to remain active as individuals). He examines how the changing cultural and political scenario has also affected the politics of literary criticism in the country, and pays attention to recent work by a number of critics who have labelled their work 'postcolonial', and who offer a significant new voice for South African literary theory. Bibliogr., notes, ref. The paper is followed by commentary by Guy Willoughby (p. 38-48), Isabel Hofmeyr (p. 49-52), Gareth Cornwell (p. 53-54), and Lewis Nkosi (p. 55-59), and a reply by Kelwyn Sole (p. 60-62).
Views