Kollokvium "How True are Memories?"

How True are Memories? A sympathetic yet critical reflection on the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission

2. mai 2013 kell 16.15
Jakobi 2-336

Kollokviumil peab ettekande anglistika/amerikanistika külalisprofessor dr Monika Reif-Hülser Konstanzi ülikoolist. Ettekanne keskendub Lõuna-Aafrikale ning nendele paljudele viisidele, kuidas mälul põhinevad narratiivid on aidanud kaasa lepitusele eri nahavärviga inimeste vahel. Professor Reif-Hülser analüüsib Lõuna-Aafrika rassiliste probleemide peegeldust narratiivides J. M. Coetzee teose "Disgrace" (1999) ja Gillian Slovo romaani "Red Dust" (2000) põhjal ning näitab, kuidas kirjandusel on oluline roll nendes küsimustes.

Monika Reif-Hülser on Tartu Ülikooli kultuuriteaduste ja kunstide instituudi külalisprofessor 2013. aasta kevadsemestril.

Kutsume kõiki huvilisi sellel teemal kaasa rääkima! Kollokvium on inglise keeles.

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Allpool saate tutvuda ettekande teesidega.

Abstract
The years between 1990 and 1994 in South African history are called ‘the period of transition’. After Nelson Mandela’s release from his 27-years imprisonment on Robben Island in 1990, he had nothing lost of his charisma and his power of political influence. As he had not consented to abstain from armed resistance to new waves of racism against his people, politicians of all colours, clergy and members of the resistance movements feared a wave of violence which might lead to a civil war in the country.

In order to turn these energies round to a peaceful political, social and ethical construction of a new state order which could give room for transitional justice, Mandela and his friend Bishop Desmond Tutu implemented the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which was in action from 1996 to 2003.
Many such commissions followed in other countries after a political overthrow and ensuing precarious human rights’ situation, however, with varying success.

My talk today will focus on South Africa, on the many ways narratives based on memory worked for reconciliation; but there were also sceptical voices which could not be silenced: "… the antagonism between writer and state is straightforward. The writer tries to tell his truth and the state tries to stifle him." (Coetzee) "It will sometimes be necessary to choose between truth and justice. We should choose truth. Truth does not bring back the dead, but releases them from silence." (José Zalaquett).
I will approach these knotted issues with the help of two literary texts, J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace (1999) and Gillian Slovo’s Red Dust (2000) and argue that literature has a significant contribution to make to these questions.