Afrikaans: Die aard, oorsprong, relevansie en hersiening van literere kanons in 'n snel veranderende wereld
is tans, nie net in Suid-Afrika nie, maar internasionaal 'n uiters aktuele saak. Oproepe om
kanonhersiening word tans nie net uit die geledere van tradisionele minderheidsgroepe (socs
vroue en swartmense) gehoor nie, maar ook vanuit establishment-geledere.
In hierdie studie word die kanonisering van die Afrikaanse vroulike prosa-outeur tussen die
dertiger- en negentigerjare vanuit 'n feministiese perspektief ondersoek. Orie voorbeelde van
vroulike outeurs as verteenwoordigers van verskillende literatuur'soorte" word ondersoek, naamlik
Hettie Smit ("ernstige" literatuur), die Klerewerkers (werkersliteratuur) en Eleanor Baker (goeie
gewilde literatuur). Daar word gepostuleer dat die vroulike prosa-outeur binne die Afrikaanse
literere sisteem steeds 'n mindere kanon- en kanoniseringstatus het, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van
patriargale vooroordele. Voorts word gevra na maniere waarop s6 'n toedrag van sake gewysig
kan word.
Die bevindings kan heel moontlik op Afrikaanse vroulike prosa-outeurs in die algemeen betrekking
he. Die volgende stellings word bevestig:
i. Vroulike prosa-outeurs geniet steeds mindere kanon- en kanoniseringstatus in die
Afrikaanse literatuursisteem. Argumente wat die teendeel wil bewys, streef nie daarna om
enige dieperliggende problematiek te ontbloot nie. Die oppervlakkige aard van sulke
argumente word alleen duidelik wanneer bepaalde kontradiksies en polemieke random die
herskrywing van 'n bepaalde auteur aan die lig gebring word. Die herskrywing van Hettie
Smit as "vroulike aanvulling" by die manlike Dertigerdigters lei daartoe dat Sy kom met die
sekelmaan selfstandige kanonstatus ontbeer, terwyl die "gehalte" -argument in die geval
van die Klerewerkers politieke en ideologiese faktore verberg. Die tipering van Baker se
produkte as (goeie) "middelmoot" of "populere" tekste, verberg die marginalisering daarvan.
ii. Die bestaan van vroulike outeurs wat nie in die kanon opgeneem is nie, en dus geen
kanonstatus het nie, kan aangedui word. Die Klerewerkersliteratuur is 'n sprekende
voorbeeld van hierdie soort afwesigheid.
iii. Die status quo met betrekking tot die vroulike auteur se posisie ten opsigte van Afrikaanse
kanons is onaanvaarbaar vanuit 'n feministiese perspektief. Die historiese posisie van die vrou binne die Afrikaanse literatuur is veral onaanvaarbaar - sy is feitlik afwesig uit die
vroee geskiedskrywing van ons literatuur. Die eietydse situasie met betrekking tot
kanonisering is binne die feministiese raamwerk van pogings tot verandering, ook nog lank
nie aanvaarbaar nie. Aandag behoort geskenk te word aan die daarstelling van 'n vroulike
tradisie binne die kader van die Afrikaanse literatuur, waarbinne outentieke "vroulike"
norme vir literatuur, eerder as die tradisioneel "manlike" norme sal geld. S6 'n vroulike
tradisie behoort volgens die riglyne van oorsese feministiese ondersoekers
ge'implementeer te word; ook sal dit 'n heeltemal ander karakter he as die paternalistiese
nie-outentieke "vroulike" kategorie. 'n Afsonderlike tradisie sal eerder bevrydend as
onderdrukkend wees, en kan modelle daarstel vir verdere teksproduksies deur vroue.
iv. Die sogenaamde multifunksionele benadering kan op teoretiese vlak die kanonisering van
verskillende literatuur''soorte" beskryf en verklaar, en kan op praktiese vlak dien as riglyn
vir kanoniseringsprosesse.
Die regstelling van patriargale herskrywings moet as prioriteit beskou word. Slegs op hierdie
manier kan ('n) algemeen aanvaarbare en verteenwoordigende, asook teoreties-gefundeerde
kanon/s van Afrikaanse literatuur werklikheid word.
English: The nature, origins, relevance and revision of literary canons in a fast-changing world is at present
a most topical concern, not only in South Africa, but also internationally. Calls for the revision of
canons are heard not only from the ranks of traditional minority groups but also from
establishment-ranks.
In this study the canonisation of the Afrikaans female prose author in the years between the thirties
and the nineties is examined from a feminist perspective. Three examples of female authors
representing three "kinds11 of literature are examined, namely Hettie Smit ("serious11 literature), the
Garment Workers (workers' literature) and Eleanor Baker (good popular literature). It is postulated
that the female prose author within the Afrikaans literary system still has an inferior canon and
canonisation status, mainly as a result of patriarchal prejudices. Ways in which such a state of
affairs can be remedied are examined.
On the strength of the results of the investigations the following premises can be confirmed:
i. Female prose authors still have an inferior canon and canonisation status in the Afrikaans
literary system. Arguments that attempt to prove the opposite do not strive after revealing
any more deep-seated problem. The superficial nature of such arguments only becomes
clear when specific contradictions and polemics around the rewriting of a certain author are
brought to light. The rewriting of Hettie Smit as female supplement to the male Dertiger
poets has resulted in her text being denied independent canon status, while the argument
of "quality'' has obscured political and ideological factors in the case of the Garment
Workers. The characterisation of Baker's products as (good) "popular" texts obscures the
marginalisation thereof.
ii. It is possible to point out female authors who have been excluded from the canon, thus
lacking any canon status. The Garment Workers' literature is an example of this kind of
absence.
iii. The status quo regarding the position of the female author with reference to Afrikaans
canons is unacceptable from a feminist perspective. Especially unacceptable is the
historical position of women - they are virtually absent from the early historiography of
Afrikaans literature. The contemporary situation is likewise unacceptable within a feminist framework. Attention should be paid to the establishment of a female tradition within the
cadre of Afrikaans literature; within which authentic ''female" norms for literature rather than
traditional "masculine" norms will operate. A female tradition should be implemented along
guiding lines laid down by overseas feminist researchers, resulting in a character
completely different from that of the paternalistic non-authentic "feminine" category. A
separate tradition would be liberating rather than oppressing, and could set up models for
further text productions by women.
iv. At a theoretical level the multifunctional approach could describe and explain the
canonisation of various kinds of literature, and at a practical level serve as a guideline for
canonisation processes.
The rectification of patriarchal rewritings should be regarded as a priority. Only in this way can (a)
generally accepted and representative, as well as theoretically founded canon( s) of Afrikaans
literature become a reality.
