The Politics of a Cultural Controversy

Langenhoven and Pornography in 1930

Dados Bibliográficos

ID20156375
AutoresStefan Sonderling (0000-0002-4282-8098, University of South Africa, autor correspondente)
Ano1998
Volume14
Fascículo3-4
Páginas322-347
Data de publicação1998-12-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Literary Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0256-4718 • E-ISSN: 1753-5387
EditoraUnisa Press (PUBLISHER • ZA)
DOI10.1080/02564719808530206
OpenAlexW2070493294
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas16

The earliest public debate on pornography in South Africa was conducted on the pages of the Cape newspaper. Die Burger, at the beginning of 1930. This debate between C.J. Langenhoven, well‐known author, journalist and politician, and a young literary scholar, is considered by literary scholars to be merely a polemic among men of letters that reflects Langenhoven's conservative morality and his dislike of literary academics. However, cultural polemic involves much more than a controversy about artistic tastes or personal morality. Culture is a battleground on which various political and ideological causes engage one another and important social issues are debated. This article explores the connections between Langenhoven's literary position and his role in Afrikaner nationalist politics and suggests that central to the polemic is a battle over the definition of an identity for a new nation for which linguistic and racial exclusivity have become the primary marks of distinction. Die eerste openbare debat oor pornografie in Suid‐Afrika is gevoer in die Kaapse koerant. Die Burger, aan die begin van 1930. Die geskil tussen C.J. Langenhoven, bekende skrywer, joernalis en politikus, en ‘n jong letterkundige word beskou as ‘n polemiek tussen skrywers wat Langenhoven se konserwatiewe sedes en afkeer in akademiese gewaad weerspieël. Kulturele polemiek is egter veel meer as ‘n geskil oor artistieke smaak en persoonlike moraliteit. Kultuur is ‘n gevegsterrein waar verskeie politieke en ideologiese kwessies mekaar die stryd aanse en waar belangrike maatskaplike kwessies gedebatteer word. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die verbintenis tussen Langenhoven se letterkundige posisie en sy rol in die Afrikaner nasionalistiese politiek en stel voor dat hierdie polemiek die stryd oor die definisie van ‘n identeit vir ‘n nuwe nasie vir wie taalkundige en raseksklusiwiteit die primêre kenmerk geword het, weerspieël

Aesthetics · Battle · Ideology · Media studies · Morality · Nationalism · Newspaper · Political science · Politics · Pornography · Sociology · Feminism, Gender, and Sexuality Studies · Gender, Feminism, and Media · History · Law · Philosophy · South African History and Culture