An Anzalduan Reading of Ben Okri’s In Arcadia (2002)

Abstract

Set against Anzaldua’s seminal text, Borderlands, this study of Okri’s In Arcadia (2002) concerns itself with the author’s psychological, emotional and artistic identity; torn as he is between African and European heritages, obliged to negotiate a middle ground or mestiza personality. What appears at first to be unqualified suffering, ignominy and stateless confusion for Lao/Okri, reveals itself in the course of the film crew’s revelatory expedition to France, to be the existential groundwork for an identity that possesses insight, compassion and tolerance. More than that, the pain of existing in the shadow lands of English society stimulates Lao to develop the sensitive antennae of a true artist: he gains what Anzaldua defines as La Facultad, the ability to see below surface meanings and evince truths about cultures and those that inhabit their bounds. His nuanced mestiza character and artistic nature stand in stark contrast to the crass attitudes of entitlement and gauche lack of self-reflection evidenced by members of the film crew who all experience differing forms of grating confrontation and humiliation before they can reach a measure of that inner Arcadian peace, which most of them hardly realised they sought so earnestly.

Opsomming

Hierdie studie van Okri se In Arcadia (2002) steun op Anzaldua se seminale Borderlands, en handel oor die sielkundige, emosionele en artistieke identiteit van 'n skrywer wat dit moeilik vind om tussen sy Europese en Afrika herkoms te kies, en as kompromis noodgedwonge 'n mestiza persoonlikheid moet aanneem. Die kameraspan onderneem 'n onthullende tog na Frankryk, en wat aanvanklik vir Lao/Okri matelose smart, oneer en verwarde staatloosheid blyk te wees, le die eksistensiele grondslag vir 'n identiteit wat insig, medelye en verdraagsaamheid openbaar. Vanwee sy moeisame bestaan aan die steelkant van die Engelse samelewing, ontwikkel Lao die sensitiewe voelspriete van 'n ware kunstenaar. Hy verwerf wat Anzaldua la facultad noem, die vermoe om deur die skyn te sien en die waarheid oor kulture en diegene wat daarin woon, vas te stel. Sy genuanseerde mestiza karakter en kunssinnige aard staan in skelle kontras met die ander lede van die kameraspan se ruwe aansprake en onbehendige, gebrekkige selfondersoek. Hulle moet irriterende konfrontasies en vernedering verduur voordat hulle in 'n mate die Arkadiese innerlike vrede smaak waarna hulle meestal onbewus so naarstig soek.