Abstract
This study contributes to the nascent field of queer historical materialism and introduces it to Afrikaans literary research. It problematises contemporary queer theory, as postulated from a poststructuralist framework, and offers preliminary historical materialist perspectives towards a queer historical materialist approach in (Afrikaans) literary critique.
Although Loftus Marais is an acclaimed, awarded and canonised poet, no single academic study has been devoted to his oeuvre in its entirety. Three studies have been published in reference to Marais’ poetry at the time of completing this thesis. These include two academic articles, both devoted to the debut volume, Staan in die algemeen nader aan vensters (2008), both choosing a poststructuralist approach; and a dissertation focusing on narrative and narrative structure in poetry in the second volume, Kry my by die gewone plek aguur (2012). The third, penultimate volume in the oeuvre, Jan, Piet, Koos en Jakob (2019), has only received critical attention in book reviews. As a contribution to the ongoing critical discourse on Marais’ poetry, this dissertation expands the canonised views on it, by conducting a critical reading of his entire oeuvre; and by doing so through a queer historical materialist lens. While queer historical materialism is still a young and developing theory, the views and insights put forward by its exponents, is relevant and useful in a critical reading of the oeuvre, and more encompassing than only the previously suggested relevance of queer theory – especially in view of the poet-speaker’s sensitivity and concern with sociopolitical issues that has been largely ignored commentators on his work.
Towards this aim, the study’s theoretical point of departure is anchored in recent writings on queer historical materialism which include topics such as the reification of desire, aspirations to totality thinking, alienation and the latest thinking on the base-superstructure scheme as it pertains to art in historical materialist theory.
Bringing a queer historical materialist approach to a reading of Marais’ oeuvre is deemed valuable, since Marais’ poems offer a keen observation of the following societal issues: gays on the fringe of society, the unequal distribution of wealth, race
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as a marker of poverty, conspicuous consumption, instant gratification, and the influence of capitalism on culture. A critical reading of a selection of Marais’ poems which addresses these thematic concerns are given to broaden the existing reception of his oeuvre. At the same time, the critical reading makes a first contribution of queer historical materialism, to Afrikaans poetry criticism.