Joan Hambidge
Encyclopedia
Joan Helene Hambidge is an Afrikaans
poet
, literary theorist
and academic (the English surname notwithstanding). She is without a doubt the most prolific poet in Afrikaans, controversial as a public figure and critic and notorious for her out-of-the-closet style of writing. Her theoretic contributions deal mainly with Roland Barthes
, deconstruction
, postmodernism
, psychoanalysis
and metaphysics
.
. She received her doctorate
under André P. Brink
at Rhodes University
in 1985. She received a second doctorate
from the University of Cape Town
in 2001.
Although Hambidge says she discovered her muse
when she was young, it was while she was a lecturer
at the University of the North, Limpopo Province, South Africa
, that she started to blossom as a writer
.
She was awarded the Eugène Marais Prize for literature
for her second volume of poetry, Bitterlemoene ("Bitter Oranges"), in 1986. This prize is one of the most coveted literary prizes in South Africa. She also won the Litera Prize as well as the Poetry Institute of Africa Prize for her poetry
.
She is currently a professor
at the School of Languages and Literature at the University of Cape Town
.
, Hambidge has translated some of her poetry
into English
. Other translations have been made by an erstwhile colleague of hers, Jo Nel and a close friend, Johann de Lange
, (who is himself a poet
). Her work has been published in the Netherlands
and the UK
as well as in the USA
.
Hambidge's interest in literary theory
(especially psychoanalysis
and metafiction
) is reflected in her creative works. She tackles the differences between theory and practice in Judaskus and writes about Roland Barthes
, deconstruction
and post-modernism in her 1995 work Postmodernisme.
and writes a weekly column for a Cape Town
daily, Die Burger
. She is a critic
and columnist for the Afrikaans
literary e-zine Litnet.
approach to Afrikaans
literary traditions and cultural idol
s and re-examines previously taboo
subjects. She is also the first Afrikaans author to have dealt with lesbianism from an insider's point of view. She imposes a humorous
and satirical
twist on most of the subjects she tackles.
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, literary theorist
Literary theory
Literary theory in a strict sense is the systematic study of the nature of literature and of the methods for analyzing literature. However, literary scholarship since the 19th century often includes—in addition to, or even instead of literary theory in the strict sense—considerations of...
and academic (the English surname notwithstanding). She is without a doubt the most prolific poet in Afrikaans, controversial as a public figure and critic and notorious for her out-of-the-closet style of writing. Her theoretic contributions deal mainly with Roland Barthes
Roland Barthes
Roland Gérard Barthes was a French literary theorist, philosopher, critic, and semiotician. Barthes' ideas explored a diverse range of fields and he influenced the development of schools of theory including structuralism, semiotics, existentialism, social theory, Marxism, anthropology and...
, deconstruction
Deconstruction
Deconstruction is a term introduced by French philosopher Jacques Derrida in his 1967 book Of Grammatology. Although he carefully avoided defining the term directly, he sought to apply Martin Heidegger's concept of Destruktion or Abbau, to textual reading...
, postmodernism
Postmodernism
Postmodernism is a philosophical movement evolved in reaction to modernism, the tendency in contemporary culture to accept only objective truth and to be inherently suspicious towards a global cultural narrative or meta-narrative. Postmodernist thought is an intentional departure from the...
, psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
and metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
.
Biography
Hambidge studied at the University of Stellenbosch and the University of PretoriaUniversity of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
. She received her doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
under André P. Brink
André Brink
André Philippus Brink, OIS, is a South African novelist. He writes in Afrikaans and English and is a Professor of English at the University of Cape Town....
at Rhodes University
Rhodes University
Rhodes University is a public research university located in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, established in 1904. It is the province’s oldest university, and is one of the four universities in the province...
in 1985. She received a second doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
in 2001.
Although Hambidge says she discovered her muse
Muse
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
when she was young, it was while she was a lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
at the University of the North, Limpopo Province, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, that she started to blossom as a writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
She was awarded the Eugène Marais Prize for literature
Eugene Marais
Eugène Nielen Marais was a South African lawyer, naturalist, poet and writer.- His early years, before and during the Boer War :Marais was born in Pretoria, the thirteenth and last child of his parents, Jan Christiaan Nielen Marais and Catharina Helena Cornelia van Niekerk...
for her second volume of poetry, Bitterlemoene ("Bitter Oranges"), in 1986. This prize is one of the most coveted literary prizes in South Africa. She also won the Litera Prize as well as the Poetry Institute of Africa Prize for her poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
.
She is currently a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the School of Languages and Literature at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
.
Her major creative works
Although she writes in AfrikaansAfrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
, Hambidge has translated some of her poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. Other translations have been made by an erstwhile colleague of hers, Jo Nel and a close friend, Johann de Lange
Johann de Lange
Johann de Lange is an Afrikaans poet, short story writer and critic. He is renowned for being one of the foremost gay writers in Afrikaans, his most controversial book being Nagsweet ....
, (who is himself a poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
). Her work has been published in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as well as in the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Hambidge's interest in literary theory
Literary theory
Literary theory in a strict sense is the systematic study of the nature of literature and of the methods for analyzing literature. However, literary scholarship since the 19th century often includes—in addition to, or even instead of literary theory in the strict sense—considerations of...
(especially psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
and metafiction
Metafiction
Metafiction, also known as Romantic irony in the context of Romantic works of literature, is a type of fiction that self-consciously addresses the devices of fiction, exposing the fictional illusion...
) is reflected in her creative works. She tackles the differences between theory and practice in Judaskus and writes about Roland Barthes
Roland Barthes
Roland Gérard Barthes was a French literary theorist, philosopher, critic, and semiotician. Barthes' ideas explored a diverse range of fields and he influenced the development of schools of theory including structuralism, semiotics, existentialism, social theory, Marxism, anthropology and...
, deconstruction
Deconstruction
Deconstruction is a term introduced by French philosopher Jacques Derrida in his 1967 book Of Grammatology. Although he carefully avoided defining the term directly, he sought to apply Martin Heidegger's concept of Destruktion or Abbau, to textual reading...
and post-modernism in her 1995 work Postmodernisme.
Other contributions
Hambidge is a prolific travellerTravel
Travel is the movement of people or objects between relatively distant geographical locations. 'Travel' can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.-Etymology:...
and writes a weekly column for a Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
daily, Die Burger
Die Burger
Die Burger is a daily Afrikaans language newspaper, published by Naspers. By 2008, it had a circulation of 91,665 in the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa...
. She is a critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
and columnist for the Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
literary e-zine Litnet.
Literary style
Hambidge is famous for her iconoclastic and irreverentReverence
Reverence may refer to:* Reverence a subjective response to something excellent in a personal way* Reverence , the acknowledgement of the legitimacy of the power of one's superior or superiors...
approach to Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
literary traditions and cultural idol
Role model
The term role model generally means any "person who serves as an example, whose behaviour is emulated by others".The term first appeared in Robert K. Merton's socialization research of medical students...
s and re-examines previously taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
subjects. She is also the first Afrikaans author to have dealt with lesbianism from an insider's point of view. She imposes a humorous
Humour
Humour or humor is the tendency of particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement...
and satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
twist on most of the subjects she tackles.
Volumes of poetry
- Hartskrif (1985) ("Heart Script")
- Bitterlemoene (1986) ("Bitter Oranges")
- Die Anatomie van Melancholie (1987) ("The anatomy of melancholy")
- Palinodes (1987)
- Geslote Baan (1988) ("Closed Circuit/Track")
- Donker Labirint (1989) ("Dark Labyrinth")
- Gesteelde Appels (1989) ("Stolen Apples")
- Kriptonemie (1989) ("Cryptonomy")
- Verdraaide Raaisels (1990) ("Twisted Riddles")
- Die Somber Muse (1990) ("The Sombre Muse")
- Tachycardia (1990)
- Die Verlore Simbool (1991) ("The Lost Symbol")
- Interne Verhuising (1995) ("Internal house moving")
- Ewebeeld (1997) ("Mirror Image")
- Lykdigte (2000) ("Memorial Poems")
- Ruggespraak (2002) ("Back Speech")
- Die Buigsaamheid van Verdriet (2004) ("The flexibility of sorrow")
- En skielik is dit aand (2005) ("And suddenly it's evening")
- Dad (2006)
- Koesnaatjies vir die proe (2008)
- Vuurwiel (2009) ("Wheel of fire")
Novels
- Swart Koring (1996) ("Black Corn") (Parody on the pulp romance novel, with a lesbianLesbianLesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
twist) - Die Swart Sluier (1998) ("The black veil") (Parody on pulp detective novels and ghost stories)
- Judaskus (1998) ("Judas Kiss")
- Sewe Sonjas en wat hulle gedoen het (2001) ("Seven Sonyas and what they did") (An electronic novel published by Contentlot.com))
- Skoppensboer (2001) ("Jack of Spades": this refers to a poem by Eugene MaraisEugene MaraisEugène Nielen Marais was a South African lawyer, naturalist, poet and writer.- His early years, before and during the Boer War :Marais was born in Pretoria, the thirteenth and last child of his parents, Jan Christiaan Nielen Marais and Catharina Helena Cornelia van Niekerk...
, that calls the grim reaper by this name) - Palindroom (2008) ("Palindrome")
- Kladboek (2008) ("Notebook")
Criticism
- Psigoanalise en lees (1989) ("Psychoanalysis and reading")
- Postmodernisme (1995) ("Postmodernism")
External links
- Joan Hambidge (1956 - )Sanlam ATKV LitNet Afrikaanse Album
- Murray La Vita: Die krokodil en die brose glimlag
- Louise Viljoen: Onderhoud met Joan Hambidge oor En skielik is dit aand
- Desperately seeking Susan Sontag: ’n essay-verhaal
- Globalisering en die Afrikaanse letterkunde
- Hibriditeit en die internet
- Die hipnose van die digkuns: TT Cloete-gedenklesing