Gender possibilities in the African context as explored by Mariama Ba's So long a letter, Neshani Andrea's The purple violet of Oshaantu and Sindiwe Magona's Beauty gift
- Authors: Goremusandu, Tania
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Women and literature Feminist fiction -- History and criticism Women authors, African
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6469 , vital:29739
- Description: Gender oppression has been a significant discussion to the development of gender, cultural and feminist theories. The primary focus of this study is to investigate how patriarchal traditions, colonialism, and religious oppression force women to struggle under constrictions oppositional to empowerment. Thus, the project provides a comparative analysis of three texts from different African postcolonial societies by three African female writers: Mariama Bâ, Neshani Andreas and Sindiwe Magona. The author‟s biographies and historical context of their novels will be analyzed, as well as a summary of their stories will be included in order to provide the context for gender criticism. These writer‟s work; So Long a Letter, The Purple Violet of Oshaantu and Beauty‟s Gift depict patriarchal, cultural and religious laws which exist in Senegal, Namibia and South Africa, respectively, that limit the position of women. Therefore, this study will interrogate the experience of African women as inscribed in these selected texts, uncovering the literary expressions of gender oppression as well as the possibilities of empowerment. The selected texts will be analyzed through the lens of Gender studies, African feminism and Cultural studies. From these theories, the focus of the study is on the struggles of the female characters living in patriarchal societies as well as on the idea that gender is constructed socially and culturally in the African context. In conclusion, the emergence of these renowned female African writers together with the emancipation of African countries from colonial supremacy has opened a space for women to compensate and correct the stereotyped female images in African literature and post- colonial societies. Most contemporary African writers like Buchi Emecheta, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Sindiwe Magona, Mariama Bâ and Neshani Andreas have shown that women are seeking to attain empowerment. As a result, this study can be viewed as an opportunity to highlight such experiences by continuing to interrogate the writings of African women writers and to explore their gender-based themes so as to inform and or inspire the implementation of women empowerment. It will broaden and encourage further academic discussion in the field of Cultural studies and gender criticism of women‟s literature within the African context.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Goremusandu, Tania
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Women and literature Feminist fiction -- History and criticism Women authors, African
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6469 , vital:29739
- Description: Gender oppression has been a significant discussion to the development of gender, cultural and feminist theories. The primary focus of this study is to investigate how patriarchal traditions, colonialism, and religious oppression force women to struggle under constrictions oppositional to empowerment. Thus, the project provides a comparative analysis of three texts from different African postcolonial societies by three African female writers: Mariama Bâ, Neshani Andreas and Sindiwe Magona. The author‟s biographies and historical context of their novels will be analyzed, as well as a summary of their stories will be included in order to provide the context for gender criticism. These writer‟s work; So Long a Letter, The Purple Violet of Oshaantu and Beauty‟s Gift depict patriarchal, cultural and religious laws which exist in Senegal, Namibia and South Africa, respectively, that limit the position of women. Therefore, this study will interrogate the experience of African women as inscribed in these selected texts, uncovering the literary expressions of gender oppression as well as the possibilities of empowerment. The selected texts will be analyzed through the lens of Gender studies, African feminism and Cultural studies. From these theories, the focus of the study is on the struggles of the female characters living in patriarchal societies as well as on the idea that gender is constructed socially and culturally in the African context. In conclusion, the emergence of these renowned female African writers together with the emancipation of African countries from colonial supremacy has opened a space for women to compensate and correct the stereotyped female images in African literature and post- colonial societies. Most contemporary African writers like Buchi Emecheta, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Sindiwe Magona, Mariama Bâ and Neshani Andreas have shown that women are seeking to attain empowerment. As a result, this study can be viewed as an opportunity to highlight such experiences by continuing to interrogate the writings of African women writers and to explore their gender-based themes so as to inform and or inspire the implementation of women empowerment. It will broaden and encourage further academic discussion in the field of Cultural studies and gender criticism of women‟s literature within the African context.
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Through the Burtonesque looking-glass : interrogating the psychoanalytic in Tim Burton's adaptation of selected children's texts
- Authors: Van Zyl, Simone
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Burton, Tim, -- 1958 Children's literature Psychoanalysis and literature
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12304 , vital:39251
- Description: The primary aim of this thesis is to interrogate existing psychoanalytical theory, as well as to conduct research on ‘the Burtonesque’ in order to examine two of Tim Burton's filmic adaptations of classic literary works for children, namely: Alice in Wonderland (2010), an adaptation inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice books, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), based on Roald Dahl's novel of the same title. Firstly, the chapters will explore the psychological elements found in the original texts, which Burton amplifies in his onscreen adaptations by means of various stylistic and thematic techniques that have become known as ‘the Burtonesque’. Secondly, the ‘Burtonesque’ itself will be explored, and thirdly, by means of comparative analysis, the investigation will focus on the manner in which such aesthetics aid Burton in highlighting psychological concerns in his films, as well as interrogate his cinematic alterations to existing texts in order to further his purpose. As a keen enthusiast of psychology and having won awards within the field, Tim Burton, a foremost contemporary Hollywood filmmaker, in his adaptations of children’s classics, deliberately magnifies the psychoanalytic components that are often found in the tales. Through his unique interpretation, Burton brings the psychoanalytic approach to children’s stories to a new level. He explores certain themes such as death, childhood fantasies, psychological development and parental relationships, and makes use of specific artistic techniques that create a sense of the uncanny and defamiliarisation in the viewer. Due to his gothic cinematic approach, Burton is one of the most recognisable artists in his field, with a consistent vision that is concerned with cinematic and thematic aspects of his work, branding his films with a unique ‘Burtonesque’ quality that has become instantly identifiable. As a result of Burton’s psychological interest in children’s stories, Tim Burton’s film adaptations of the Dahl and Carroll classic children’s stories can be interrogated under a psychoanalytic lens. Psychoanalytic literary criticism is a method of literary analysis that is informed by the tradition of psychoanalysis established by Freud. In Burton scholarship, critical exploration should take the form of not only a close reading of the original text and analysis of the film version in order to come to a psychoanalytic interpretation, but by means of comparison of film and text, highlight the methods applied by psychoanalytic theory. A close comparative analysis of original literary works by Roald Dahl and Lewis Carroll, and Tim Burton’s filmic adaptations will be conducted in this study. Thereby, the manner in which Tim Burton employs specific techniques in order to emphasise the stories’ psychological components will be explored. Biographical information of Dahl and Lewis, as well as a short synopsis of their stories will be included in order to provide the context for psychoanalytical criticism. A discussion of ‘the Burtonesque’ will be provided, as well as a brief exploration of his adaptation history and Burton’s specific interest in psychology. Research methods to be applied in the analysis of the original texts and their film versions are psychoanalytic literary theory, drawing predominantly on the work of theorists: Sigmund Freud, Jacques Lacan and Carl Jung. A close examination of auteur theory, the unique voice Burton has established through his iconic cinematic techniques, now coined ‘the Burtonesque’, will also be applied to provide a fuller and rounder interrogation. The focus of this project is to investigate thempsychoanalytical elements found in the texts and films, in order to clearly illustrate how Tim Burton’s cinematic approach serves to highlight a psychoanalytic interpretation.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Van Zyl, Simone
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Burton, Tim, -- 1958 Children's literature Psychoanalysis and literature
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12304 , vital:39251
- Description: The primary aim of this thesis is to interrogate existing psychoanalytical theory, as well as to conduct research on ‘the Burtonesque’ in order to examine two of Tim Burton's filmic adaptations of classic literary works for children, namely: Alice in Wonderland (2010), an adaptation inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice books, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), based on Roald Dahl's novel of the same title. Firstly, the chapters will explore the psychological elements found in the original texts, which Burton amplifies in his onscreen adaptations by means of various stylistic and thematic techniques that have become known as ‘the Burtonesque’. Secondly, the ‘Burtonesque’ itself will be explored, and thirdly, by means of comparative analysis, the investigation will focus on the manner in which such aesthetics aid Burton in highlighting psychological concerns in his films, as well as interrogate his cinematic alterations to existing texts in order to further his purpose. As a keen enthusiast of psychology and having won awards within the field, Tim Burton, a foremost contemporary Hollywood filmmaker, in his adaptations of children’s classics, deliberately magnifies the psychoanalytic components that are often found in the tales. Through his unique interpretation, Burton brings the psychoanalytic approach to children’s stories to a new level. He explores certain themes such as death, childhood fantasies, psychological development and parental relationships, and makes use of specific artistic techniques that create a sense of the uncanny and defamiliarisation in the viewer. Due to his gothic cinematic approach, Burton is one of the most recognisable artists in his field, with a consistent vision that is concerned with cinematic and thematic aspects of his work, branding his films with a unique ‘Burtonesque’ quality that has become instantly identifiable. As a result of Burton’s psychological interest in children’s stories, Tim Burton’s film adaptations of the Dahl and Carroll classic children’s stories can be interrogated under a psychoanalytic lens. Psychoanalytic literary criticism is a method of literary analysis that is informed by the tradition of psychoanalysis established by Freud. In Burton scholarship, critical exploration should take the form of not only a close reading of the original text and analysis of the film version in order to come to a psychoanalytic interpretation, but by means of comparison of film and text, highlight the methods applied by psychoanalytic theory. A close comparative analysis of original literary works by Roald Dahl and Lewis Carroll, and Tim Burton’s filmic adaptations will be conducted in this study. Thereby, the manner in which Tim Burton employs specific techniques in order to emphasise the stories’ psychological components will be explored. Biographical information of Dahl and Lewis, as well as a short synopsis of their stories will be included in order to provide the context for psychoanalytical criticism. A discussion of ‘the Burtonesque’ will be provided, as well as a brief exploration of his adaptation history and Burton’s specific interest in psychology. Research methods to be applied in the analysis of the original texts and their film versions are psychoanalytic literary theory, drawing predominantly on the work of theorists: Sigmund Freud, Jacques Lacan and Carl Jung. A close examination of auteur theory, the unique voice Burton has established through his iconic cinematic techniques, now coined ‘the Burtonesque’, will also be applied to provide a fuller and rounder interrogation. The focus of this project is to investigate thempsychoanalytical elements found in the texts and films, in order to clearly illustrate how Tim Burton’s cinematic approach serves to highlight a psychoanalytic interpretation.
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A feminist analysis of Lyman Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden
- Authors: Becker, Bonnie
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1290 , vital:26543
- Description: The primary aim of this project is to provide a close contextual and textual analysis of the selected children’s classics: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Anne of Green Gables and The Secret Garden using the feminist literary theory. From this perspective I have shown how the selected works of Lyman Frank Baum, Lucy Maud Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s writing have contributed to women’s stereotypical roles within society and perpetuated their subjugated position. I have also conducted an examination of the extent to which the female protagonists attempt to emancipate themselves from gender oppression. A comparative study of the selected children’s texts has not yet been conducted and therefore this project serves as a significant contribution to this field of study. An exploration of the historical background of the authors and children’s literature is conducted to provide an overview into the inner workings of the writers’ lives and the historical significance of children’s literature as a genre. The theoretical framework of feminist literary theory is used in the analysis of the selected texts. The connection between feminist literary theory and children’s literature is highlighted and provides further understanding of the purpose of this study. The history of feminism as both a movement and a contemporary literary criticism is explored. Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex is used when analysing the texts’ characters and how they are based on society’s stereotypical gender roles. Luce Irigaray’s Speculum of the Other Woman and This Sex Which is Not One is examined to aid in an exploration of psychological female oppression through feminine and masculine discourse evident in the creation of the novels’ female and male characters. Hélène Cixous’ “The Laugh of the Medusa” and The Newly Born Woman is interrogated according to the stereotypical ideology surrounding the terms masculinity and femininity and how these terms are interpreted in the selected works. Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble and Undoing Gender are additionally explored to assist in the understanding of the concept of gender performativity and through the lens of Butler’s interpolation of gender the move towards the emancipation of women is seen in the selected children’s texts. The close textual feminist analysis focuses on the female protagonists: Dorothy, Anne and Mary as well as the secondary female characters: the wicked witches, Aunt Em, the Queen of the Field-Mice, the princess made from china, Glinda’s female soldiers from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; Marilla Cuthbert, Rachel Lynde and Diana Barry from Anne of Green Gables and Martha, Mrs Sowerby and Mrs Craven from The Secret Garden. The portrayal of the secondary male characters are additionally explored according to feminist literary theory: The Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Lion and the wizard Oz from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; Matthew Cuthbert and Gilbert Blythe from Anne of the Green Gables’ and Mr Craven, Colin Craven and Dickon Sowerby from The Secret Garden. The comparison of these children’s classics by Baum, Montgomery and Burnett provides insight into the selected works of all three writers, through the lens offered by feminist literary theory. Through the interrogation of these representative female protagonists found in early children’s literature, an understanding of not only the subordination of women, as evident in literature during this era, is illustrated but also the comprehension that women’s liberation was foreshadowed in these early children’s novels.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Becker, Bonnie
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1290 , vital:26543
- Description: The primary aim of this project is to provide a close contextual and textual analysis of the selected children’s classics: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Anne of Green Gables and The Secret Garden using the feminist literary theory. From this perspective I have shown how the selected works of Lyman Frank Baum, Lucy Maud Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s writing have contributed to women’s stereotypical roles within society and perpetuated their subjugated position. I have also conducted an examination of the extent to which the female protagonists attempt to emancipate themselves from gender oppression. A comparative study of the selected children’s texts has not yet been conducted and therefore this project serves as a significant contribution to this field of study. An exploration of the historical background of the authors and children’s literature is conducted to provide an overview into the inner workings of the writers’ lives and the historical significance of children’s literature as a genre. The theoretical framework of feminist literary theory is used in the analysis of the selected texts. The connection between feminist literary theory and children’s literature is highlighted and provides further understanding of the purpose of this study. The history of feminism as both a movement and a contemporary literary criticism is explored. Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex is used when analysing the texts’ characters and how they are based on society’s stereotypical gender roles. Luce Irigaray’s Speculum of the Other Woman and This Sex Which is Not One is examined to aid in an exploration of psychological female oppression through feminine and masculine discourse evident in the creation of the novels’ female and male characters. Hélène Cixous’ “The Laugh of the Medusa” and The Newly Born Woman is interrogated according to the stereotypical ideology surrounding the terms masculinity and femininity and how these terms are interpreted in the selected works. Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble and Undoing Gender are additionally explored to assist in the understanding of the concept of gender performativity and through the lens of Butler’s interpolation of gender the move towards the emancipation of women is seen in the selected children’s texts. The close textual feminist analysis focuses on the female protagonists: Dorothy, Anne and Mary as well as the secondary female characters: the wicked witches, Aunt Em, the Queen of the Field-Mice, the princess made from china, Glinda’s female soldiers from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; Marilla Cuthbert, Rachel Lynde and Diana Barry from Anne of Green Gables and Martha, Mrs Sowerby and Mrs Craven from The Secret Garden. The portrayal of the secondary male characters are additionally explored according to feminist literary theory: The Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Lion and the wizard Oz from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; Matthew Cuthbert and Gilbert Blythe from Anne of the Green Gables’ and Mr Craven, Colin Craven and Dickon Sowerby from The Secret Garden. The comparison of these children’s classics by Baum, Montgomery and Burnett provides insight into the selected works of all three writers, through the lens offered by feminist literary theory. Through the interrogation of these representative female protagonists found in early children’s literature, an understanding of not only the subordination of women, as evident in literature during this era, is illustrated but also the comprehension that women’s liberation was foreshadowed in these early children’s novels.
- Full Text:
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