Institutionalised Homosexuality in South Africa: Queering Same-Sex Desire
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Institutionalised Homosexuality in South Africa: Queering Same-Sex Desire Bernard Nolen Fortuin Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of English Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Professor Shaun Viljoen December 2015 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 1 DECLARATION By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third-party rights a n d that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. 08 June 2015 Copyright © 2015 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 2 Abstract This dissertation looks at South African literary and cultural representations of male homosexual desire from 1948 to 2013. It employs Michel Foucault’s concept of biopolitics/biopower and Judith Butler’s heterosexual matrix amongst others to engage with South African literary and cultural representations of male homosexuality. The country is seen to associate homosexuality with a similar sense of pathology as was the trend in the colonial centre. Later, as the continent comes to rely less on Western frameworks of self-definition there is an indigenisation of these Western identities as they rub up against conservative patriarchy and homophobia. I analyse texts set in the various institutions that form/ed the foundation of the modern capitalist state that is South Africa. They reflect my argument that in a society geared at institutionalising (white) heteronormativity there was/is still space for a queering of self and other which in turn allows moments of intimacy and transgressive dissidence. The homosexual man and his interplay with the heteronormative family, army, schools and prisons reflect the racist and gendered nature of South African society and the problematic way in which femininity has become conflated with a state of subjection. Similarly, homosexuality is seen to become a generative site where performances of masculinity and gender can be queered. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 3 Opsomming Hierdie proefskrif kyk na Suid-Afrikaanse literêre en kulturele uitbeeldings van manlike homoseksuele begeerte vanaf 1948 tot 2013. Dit werk met Michel Foucault se konsep van biopolitiek/biomag en Judith Butler se konsep van die “heterosexual matrix” as 'n lens waardeur die Suid-Afrikaner literêre en kulturele konstruksie/s van homoseksualiteit gelees kan word. Homoseksualiteit word in die land geassosieer met 'n gevoel van patologie soos die tendens was in die koloniale sentrum. Later, wanneer die vasteland minder op Westelike raamwerke van self-definisie staatmaak is daar 'n verinheemsing van hierdie Westelike identiteite soos hulle wryg teen konserwatiewe patriargie en homofobie. Ek bespreek tekste wat wys hoe biopolitiek die basis van Suid Afrika as moderne kapitalistiese staat vorm. Die tekste weerspieël my oogpunt dat in 'n samelewing gerig op die institusionalisering van (wit) heteronormatiwiteit daar nog steeds ruimte is vir 'n “queering” van die self en die ander wat op sy beurt oomblikke van intimiteit en grensoorskryding bewerkstelling. Die homoseksuele man en sy wisselwerking met die heteronormatiewe familie, weermag, skole en tronke weerspieël die rassistiese en geslagtelike aard van die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing asook die problematiese manier waarop vroulikheid verwar geword het met 'n toestand van onderdanigheid. Net so kan homoseksualiteit gesien word om 'n generatiewe terrein waar vertonings van manlikheid en geslag “queered” kan word. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 4 Acknowledgements I thank my family for your unconditional love and acceptance. I am happy and blessed to have been shaped and loved by you. I also want to thank Professor Shaun Viljoen for your support and guidance. Thank you Jaco Greeff Brink for your unwavering love. Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 5 Table of Contents: List of Figures: .............................................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................ 7 Overview: ................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Theorizing Indigenous Sexualities............................................................................................................................. 24 These Queers are un-African: On Homosexuality as Foreign Import......................................................................... 32 Chapter 2: Colonial Transcriptions of Homosexual Identities: Early Attempts at Categorization ............................................................................................................................. 45 Overview: ................................................................................................................................................................. 45 What Is This Thing? What Is Its Name? Colonial Transcriptions of Homosexual Identities ...................................... 48 Transcription as Historicizing Gay Identities ............................................................................................................. 58 Historicizing “Queered” Institutions: Proteus as Archival Project .......................................................................... 67 The Making of a “Snaakse” Boer: Early Constructions of Afrikaner Heteronormativity. ....................................... 71 Chapter 3: Armed Afrikaner Men: Militarized Male-Eroticism ........................................... 78 Overview: ................................................................................................................................................................. 78 The Hunt as Initiation into Afrikaner Manhood ....................................................................................................... 80 A Different Kind of Hunt: Melancholic Pederasty ................................................................................................... 85 Cruising/Sex-Hunt: Sex as an Attempt at Community ............................................................................................. 96 Hunting for Moffies ................................................................................................................................................ 104 Chapter 4: “Men without Women”: Queering Sex in the Carceral Space .......................... 124 Overview: ............................................................................................................................................................... 124 Papa Wag Vir Jou: Male Prisoners as Sexualised Others ....................................................................................... 127 Constructing a Queered Prison Masculinity ........................................................................................................... 144 Chapter 5: “Words Gone too Soon”: Queer Duiker.............................................................. 165 Overview: ............................................................................................................................................................... 165 “I am almost a man”: Manhood and Understanding How it feels to be a Woman ................................................. 166 The Mental Institution and Male Brothel as Spaces of Queer Community ............................................................ 175 Chapter 6: Contemporary Labels of Dissent: Die Antwoord Appropriates the Number .. 209 Overview: ............................................................................................................................................................... 209 “Let Us Set the Fokken Record Straight, DJ Hi-Tek Will Fuck You in the Ass” .................................................. 210 Conclusion: ................................................................................................................................ 226 Rooiland, ‘n Tronk Drama: More Than a “Wyfie” ................................................................................................. 226 Bibliography: ............................................................................................................................. 230 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 6 List of Figures: Figure 1: “Who’s Driving You Home Tonight?” Example A 132 Figure 2: “Who’s Driving You Home Tonight?” Example B 133 Figure 3: “They’d Love to Show You a Good Time” Example A 134 Figure 4: “They’d Love to Show You a Good Time” Example B 135 Figure 5: Still from Die Antwoord’s “Fok Julle Naaiers” music video 204 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 7 Chapter 1: Introduction Overview: As Andrew Tucker, in Queer Visibilities, Space, Identity and Interaction in Cape Town (2009) notes, South Africa took a giant step forward with regard to ensuring equality for homosexuals1 in South African society when in 2006 [i]t decided to grant same-sex couples the right to marry […] [and thereby] position [itself] as the most