The writing of politics and the politics of writing On reading Dovey on reading Lacan on reading Coetzee on reading ... (?)

Abstract

The Novels of J.M. Coetzee
Teresa Dovey 1988
Johannesburg: Ad Denker

Prompted by the publication, in 1988, of Teresa Dovey's The Novels of J.M. Coetzee- the first extended study of Coetzee's work - this review-essay takes issue with Dovey's total reliance, in her understanding of Coetzee, on contemporary theory (especially that derived from Lacanian psycho-analysis) at the expense of the "mimetic" challenge of social inter­vention and commitment. Instead of viewing history as a discursive "play of difference", the review-essay argues that in a crisis-ridden South Africa, if not in European and American intellectual circles, it might be necessary to "shut down" difference and affirm, even dogmatically, certain grand narratives of history. It is questionable whether either Coetzee or Dovey has found a voice which can address, productively, the urgent dilemmas of writing and politics in contemporary South Africa.

Opsomming

Gernisieer deur die publikasie in 1988 van Teresa Dovey se The Novels of J.M. Coetzee­die eerste uitgebreide studie van Coetzee se werk - staan hierdie artikel krities teenoor Dovey se totale steun op kontemporere teorie (veral die afgelei van Laciaanse psigo­analise) in haar begrip van Coetzee ten koste van die "mimetiese" uitdaging van sosiale tussentrede en betrokkenheid. Eerder as om geskiedenis te sien as 'n diskursiewe "spel van differensie" argumenteer die artikel dat in 'n krisis vervulde Suid-Afrika (indien nie in Europese of Amerikaanse intellektuele kringe nie), dit nodig mag wees om differensie "af te sluit" en sekere groot lyne van die geskiedenis selfs dogmaties te bevestig. Dit is twyfelagtig of Coetzee 6f Dovey 'n "stem" gevind het wat op produktiewe manier die dringende dilemmas van literatuur en politiek in tydgenootlike Suid-Afrika kan aanpak.