Waiting for the post: some relations between modernity, colonization and writing

Abstract

The concept of "modernity" requires the exclusion of societies and practices deemed pre-modern. Today, however, the category of the "modern" can be historicized and problematised.
Repetitions across, and adjoining folds between, the modern and non-modern do exist. The expression of enlightened values in the South African liberation struggle provides one example of this, and the chiastic process by which Maori culture has been Europeanised and Western culture Maori-ised in New Zealand, another. This latter process can be celebrated under the name of the "post-cultural" but it involves a certain de-sacrilisation and de-politicisation.
In the West literature has been an important tool for secularisation and modernisation but some texts can exist on the border which joins and separates the two orders which the "modern" divides. Frederick Maning's Old New Zealand is one such.

Opsomming
Die konsep "moderniteit" sluit noodwendig samelewings wat as pre-modern beskou word uit. Tog kan die kategorie van die "moderne" vandag gehistoriseer en geproblematiseer word.
Oor-en-weer herhalings en aangrensende "invouings" tussen die moderne en die nie-moderne kom wel voor. Die uitdrukking van verligte waardes in die Suid-Afrikaanse bevrydingstryd verskaf een voorbeeld hiervan; en die chiastiese proses waardeur die Maori kultuur enersyds ver-Europees, en Westerse kultuur andersyds ver-Maoriseer is in New Zealand is nog 'n voorbeeld. Hierdie laaste proses kan onder die vaandel van die "post-kulturele" vaar, maar di! vereis 'n sekere ont-heiliging en de-politisering.
In die Weste was literatuur 'n belangrike meganisme vir sekularisasie en modernisering, maar sommige tekste kan op die grens bestaan en sodoende die twee raamwerke, wat die moderne "verdeel", heg en skei. Frederick Maning se Old New Zealand is een so 'n voorbeeld.