Eben Venter as gewete van die vleiseters

Abstract

This artide explores the representation of meat in three novels by Eben Venter, namely Foxtrot van die vleiseters (1993) (published in translation as Foxtrot of the Meat-Eaters), Ek stamel ek sterwe (2005) (published in translation as My Beautiful Death), and Horrelpoot (2006) (published in translation as Trencherman). The author uses the metaphor of meat and meat consumption to comment on the greed and oppression associated with the white farm owner and patriarch, as well as on other related issues such as gender, the body and sexuality. Finally the artide explores the use of vegetarianism as a counter-discourse by the author to undermine the prevalent meat-loving culture associated with the farm-novel tradition in Afrikaans. In all three novels there is an opposition between life on the farm and life in the big city, predominantly life in large Australian cities after the main characters have emigrated to Australia.

Opsomming
Hierdie artikel ondersoek die simboliese uitbeelding van vleis in drie romans deur Eben Venter, naamlik Foxtrot van die vleiseters (1993), Ek stamel ek sterwe (2005) (in Engels gepubliseer as My Beautiful Death) en Horrelpoot (2006) (in Engels gepubliseer as Trencherman). Die auteur gebruik die metafoor van vleis en die eet of verbruik daarvan, om kommentaar te lewer op die gierigheid en onderdrukking wat verband hou met die blanke plaaseienaar en patriarg, sowel as ander verwante kwessies soos geslag, die liggaam en seksualiteit. Uiteindelik ondersoek die artikel ook die gebruik van vegetarisme as 'n teendiskoers deur die auteur, om sodoende die dominante vleiseterkultuur, wat verband hou met die plaasromantradisie in Afrikaans, te ondermyn. In al drie romans is daar 'n teestelling tussen die lewe op die plaas en die in die grootstad, hoofsaaklik in groat Australiese stede, nadat die hoofkarakters na Australie geemigreer het.