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Reflections in a broken mirror : a cinematic exploration of Afrikaans theatre post-apartheid, c. 1984–2022

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.

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Main Author: Fox-Martin, Amber Dawn
Other Authors: Bickford-Smith, Vivian
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author Fox-Martin, Amber Dawn
author2 Bickford-Smith, Vivian
author_browse Bickford-Smith, Vivian
Fox-Martin, Amber Dawn
author_facet Bickford-Smith, Vivian
Fox-Martin, Amber Dawn
author_sort Fox-Martin, Amber Dawn
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/127147
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:42:09.814Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2023
publishDateRange 2023
publishDateSort 2023
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/127147 Reflections in a broken mirror : a cinematic exploration of Afrikaans theatre post-apartheid, c. 1984–2022 Fox-Martin, Amber Dawn Bickford-Smith, Vivian Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History. Identity Theater -- History -- South Africa Afrikaans language -- Theater Documentary-style films -- South Africa -- 20th century Theater and society -- South Africa Theater in community development -- South Africa Afrikaans drama -- History and criticism Post-apartheid era UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. ENGLISH SUMMARY : The documentary-thesis, Reflections in a broken mirror, uses the medium of film to explore Afrikaans theatre history from 1984 to 2022. More specifically, this research defines and investigates a sub-genre of Afrikaans theatre that bears the following traits: engaging, cathartic, self-reflective, existential and boundary-pushing. Exploring theatre history through documentary film methodology is underutilised, moreover, this research proposes that the visual storytelling medium of theatre is best represented through film. The central question driving the film asks how this genre of Afrikaans theatre survived and adapted to a post-Apartheid South Africa. Reflections in a broken mirror explores theatre’s role in capturing the zeitgeist of different periods. While existing research has investigated broader trends in Afrikaans theatre post-1994 and the Afrikaans theatre festivals, these dissertations end their analyses between 2003 and 2006, leaving the subsequent period unchartered. Film sequences present case studies by combining archival sources with interviews to capture the historical moment of each case study. The key theatre productions explored in the film are TRITS (Mis, Mirakel, Drif) (1992–1994), Donkerland (1996), Drie Susters, Twee (1997), Boklied (1998), Ek, Anna van Wyk (1999), Aars! (2001), Saad (2007), Ons vir Jou (2008), Sakrament (2009), Die kortsondige raklewe van Anastasia W. (2010), and Balbesit (2013). Three generations of theatre makers emerged in this study. The first generation operated within the apartheid state-funded infrastructure between the 1970s and 1990s and were referenced in the preceding study, A Feast in Time of Plague. The second generation emerged as creators during the period of transition between the 1980s and 1990s. The third generation emerged at the turn of the century, creating work in the 2000s. The film notes that this sub-genre of theatre has experienced existential struggles throughout each period, with a recent decline in industry infrastructure after 2013. This study concludes that the methodological practice of documentary filmmaking is effective when exploring theatre history, due to the correlations between both storytelling mediums. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Hierdie dokumentêre tesis, Reflections in a broken mirror, gebruik film as medium om die geskiedenis van Afrikaanse teater tussen 1984 en 2022 te verken. Meer spesifiek, definieer en ondersoek dié navorsing ’n subgenre van Afrikaanse teater wat die volgende kenmerke het: innemend, katarsies, selfrefleksief, eksistensieel en grensverskuiwend. ’n Dokumentêr as navorsingsmetodologie om teatergeskiedenis te verken is ’n onderbenutte veld en hierdie navorsing stel voor dat die visuele medium waardeur teater stories oordra, die beste deur ’n filmmedium verken kan word. Die kernvraag wat hierdie rolprent dryf, vra hoe dié genre van Afrikaanse teater oorleef en aangepas het in post-Apartheid-Suid-Afrika. Reflections in a broken mirror verken die rol wat teater in die vaslegging van ’n tydsgees van verskillende periodes speel. Alhoewel bestaande navorsing breër neigings in Afrikaanse teater ná 1994 en die Afrikaanse toneelfeeste ondersoek het, beëindig bestaande proefskrifte hul ontledings tussen 2003 en 2006, wat die daaropvolgende tydperk onverken laat. Filmreekse bied gevallestudies deur argiefbronne met onderhoude te kombineer om die geskiedkundige oomblik van elke gevallestudie vas te vang. Die hoofteaterproduksies wat in die film ondersoek word, is: TRITS (Mis, Mirakel, Drif) (1992-1994), Donkerland (1996), Drie Susters, Twee (1997), Boklied (1998), Ek, Anna van Wyk (1999), Aars! (2001), Saad (2007), Ons vir Jou (2008), Sakrament (2009), Die kortsondige raklewe van Anastasia W. (2010), Balbesit (2013). Drie generasies teatermakers tree in hierdie studie na vore. Die eerste generasie funksioneer binne die apartheid staatsbevondsde infrastruktuur tussen die 1970’s en 1990’s en is in die voorafgaande studie, A Feast in Time of Plague, bespreek. Die tweede generasie tree na vore as skeppers binne die oorgangsperiode tussen die 1980’s en 1990’s. Die derde generasie tree na vore met die draa van die eeu en skep werk in die 2000’s. Hierdie film toon aan dat hier subgenre van teater bestaanskrisisse tydens elke periode beleef het met ’n onlangse verswakking van die Afrikaanse teaterbedryf infrastruktuur ná 2013. Hierdie navorsing stel voor dat ’n dokumentêr ’n effektiewe medium is om teatergeskiedenis te verken, as gevolg van die feit dat film en teater beide visuele en gehoormediums is waardeur verhale vertel word. Masters 2023-03-07T15:08:16Z 2023-05-18T07:06:46Z 2023-03-07T15:08:16Z 2023-05-18T07:06:46Z 2023-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/127147 en_ZA Stellenbosch University vi, 76 pages : illustrations, includes addendums application/pdf application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Identity
Theater -- History -- South Africa
Afrikaans language -- Theater
Documentary-style films -- South Africa -- 20th century
Theater and society -- South Africa
Theater in community development -- South Africa
Afrikaans drama -- History and criticism
Post-apartheid era
UCTD
Fox-Martin, Amber Dawn
Reflections in a broken mirror : a cinematic exploration of Afrikaans theatre post-apartheid, c. 1984–2022
title Reflections in a broken mirror : a cinematic exploration of Afrikaans theatre post-apartheid, c. 1984–2022
title_full Reflections in a broken mirror : a cinematic exploration of Afrikaans theatre post-apartheid, c. 1984–2022
title_fullStr Reflections in a broken mirror : a cinematic exploration of Afrikaans theatre post-apartheid, c. 1984–2022
title_full_unstemmed Reflections in a broken mirror : a cinematic exploration of Afrikaans theatre post-apartheid, c. 1984–2022
title_short Reflections in a broken mirror : a cinematic exploration of Afrikaans theatre post-apartheid, c. 1984–2022
title_sort reflections in a broken mirror a cinematic exploration of afrikaans theatre post apartheid c 1984 2022
topic Identity
Theater -- History -- South Africa
Afrikaans language -- Theater
Documentary-style films -- South Africa -- 20th century
Theater and society -- South Africa
Theater in community development -- South Africa
Afrikaans drama -- History and criticism
Post-apartheid era
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/127147
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