Representations of Xenophobia and Animalisation in Zebra Crossing, Zoo City and Wolf, Wolf

Abstract

This article explores the depiction of xenophobia and animalisation in three recent South African novels to determine whether these narratives offer ways of re-imagining relations with others. It is specifically interested in the depiction of encounters with those dehumanised by xenophobic discourse as well as the ways in which animals figure in these texts. The texts under discussion are: Meg Vandermerwe’s Zebra Crossing (2013), Lauren Beukes’s Zoo City (2010) and Eben Venter’s Wolf, Wolf (2013). All three novels, in unusual ways, engage with xeno-phobia and employ animals, animal metaphors and animalised humans in their narratives. All trouble the boundaries between self and other and centre bodies as the place from which relations with others are conducted. This article will focus on the descriptions of African migrants in these texts, and the manner in which they are animalised. It will also question the extent to which writing embodied others – be they animal or foreigner – remains a way of writing about the embodied self. Finally, this article will consider whether the use of animal metaphors disrupts humanist exhortations against xenophobia.

Opsomming

Hierdie artikel ondersoek die uitbeelding van xenofobie en verdierliking in drie onlangse Suid-Afrikaanse romans, om te bepaal of hierdie vertellings maniere bied om nuut oor verhoudings met ander te dink. Daar word spesifiek gekyk na die uitbeelding van ontmoetings met diegene wat deur xenofobiese diskoers ontmenslik word, sowel as die maniere waarop diere ʼn rol speel in hierdie tekste. Die tekste onder bespreking is Meg Vandermerwe se Zebra Crossing (2013), Lauren Beukes se Zoo City (2010) en Eben Venter se Wolf, Wolf (2013). In al drie hierdie romans word daar op ongewone maniere met xenofobie omgegaan en word diere, dier-metafore, en verdierlikte mense in die verhale ingespan. Al drie vervaag die grense tussen die self en die ander en sentreer liggame as die plek van waar verhoudings met ander gehandhaaf word. Hierdie artikel fokus op die beskrywings van Afrika-migrante in hierdie tekste, en die manier waarop hulle verdierlik word. Dit bevraagteken ook die mate waarin skryfwerk wat ander – hetsy dier of vreemdeling – beliggaam, steeds ʼn manier is om oor die beliggaamde self te skryf. Laastens word in hierdie artikel oorweeg of die gebruik van diermetafore humanistiese vermanings teen xenofobie versteur.