Joan-Mari Barendse

In this research project I investigate the representation of insects in contemporary South African literature. I analyze the works of award-winning South African authors Willem Anker, Henrietta Rose-lnnes and Ingrid Winterbach (pseudonym Lettie Viljoen) within the framework of Human-Animal Studies (HAS). HAS is an internationally bourgeoning field, and in South Africa there is recently also an increase in scholarly activity in HAS. By employing the HAS framework, I explore the position of the postcolonial, post-apartheid subject as reflected in contemporary South African literature. I examine whether the relationships between humans and insects portrayed in the works can be described as posthuman, or if they rather represent anthropocentric dualism.