Koos Prinsloo’s “New World”

Abstract

This article uses the term “new world”, which features prominently in the first story in Koos Prinsloo’s debut collection, Jonkmanskas, to explore the developing relation-ship in his short stories between fiction and non-fiction, as well as processes of fiction-alisation and defictionalisation. I argue that Prinsloo’s radical transgression of the boundary between fiction and non-fiction, especially in the depiction of known public and other figures – which led to allegations of impropriety and unethical writing practices – is characterised by a strong textual transformation of both the self and others. I show that Prinsloo’s supposed unethical practices are informed by a resistance to all forms of repression and silencing in a world depicted as a relentless “slaughter house” of violence.

Opsomming

 Hierdie artikel gebruik die term “nuwe wêreld”, wat prominent uitstaan in die eerste verhaal in Koos Prinsloo se debuutbundel, Jonkmanskas, om die ontwikkelende verwantskap in sy kortverhale tussen fiksie en niefiksie, sowel as fiksionaliserings- en defiksionaliseringsprosesse, te ondersoek. Ek voer aan dat Prinsloo se radikale oorskryding van die grens tussen fiksie en niefiksie, veral in die uitbeelding van bekende openbare en ander figure – wat tot bewerings van onbehoorlikheid en onetiese skryfpraktyke gelei het – gekenmerk word deur 'n sterk tekstuele omvorming van sowel die self as ander persone. Ek wys daarop dat Prinsloo se veronderstelde onetiese praktyke geïnspireer is deur 'n weerstand teen alle vorme van onderdrukking en stilmaking in 'n wêreld wat uitgebeeld word as 'n genadelose “slagplek” van geweld.