Replenishing and Recycling an Exhausted History in Lydia R. Diamond’s Voyeurs de Venus

Abstract

In this article, I offer an analysis of Lydia R. Diamond’s Voyeurs de Venus and argue that the replenishment of Saartjie Baartman’s history by Diamond can provide alternative perspectives to that exhausted piece of history. In my analysis, I explore the ways that Diamond uses to flashlight the dark and unknown areas in the life of this historical figure. I demonstrate how the repetition and revision of that history links the present to the past and helps the playwright to make a comparison between the status of black women at different eras and areas. Since the play draws upon a strong feminist potential to interrogate the intersectional concerns of race, sex, class and gender, I also approach the play from the standpoints of intersectionality. I argue that the intersections of race, sex, class and gender have five outcomes or “Penta Ps,” namely the promotion of white male scientists and white race, the privilege of whiteness, the perversion of the black female body, culture and race, the profit of white masters, and the pleasure of white male spectators and owners.

Opsomming

In hierdie artikel bied ek ’n ontleding van Voyeurs de Venus deur Lydia R. Diamond. Ek voer aan dat Diamond se aanvulling van Saartjie Baartman se geskiedenis alternatiewe perspektiewe op daardie holrug geryde stuk geskiedenis kan bied. In my ontleding ondersoek ek die maniere wat Diamond gebruik om die donker en onbekende areas in die lewe van hierdie historiese figuur te belig. Ek toon hoe die herhaling en hersiening van daardie geskiedenis ’n verband tussen die hede en die verlede lê, en hoe dit die dramaturg help om die status van swart vroue in verskillende eras en areas te vergelyk. Die drama gebruik ’n sterk feministiese potensiaal om die kruisende belange van ras, geslag, stand en gender te ondersoek, dus benader ek dit ook vanuit die standpunte van oorkruising (intersectionality). Ek voer aan dat die oorkruising van ras, geslag, stand en gender vyf uitkomste (Penta Ps) het, naamlik die bevordering (promotion) van wit manlike wetenskaplikes en die wit ras, die bevoorregting (privilege) van witheid, die perversie (perversion) van die swart vrou se liggaam, kultuur en ras, die profyt (profit) van wit base, en die genot (pleasure) van wit manlike toeskouers en eienaars.