Representations of Masculinity in Selected Post - 2000 South African Fictional Narratives

Abstract

Studies have shown that there is an increased awareness and direct engagement with masculinity/masculinities creation in South African fictional novels written in the post-2000 epoch. The sensitivity to the construction of black men’s masculinities creation in fiction has been necessitated by what some scholars have termed focusing away from struggle literature and a constant misrepresentation of what black masculinity creation entails. The study placates itself around Connell and Messerschmidt’s (2005) theory of the creation of power and hegemony around men, opening spaces to explore power relations between ideal masculinity and non-hegemonic masculinity and between men and women. The study engages with novels authored by young black authors whose ideas of masculinity creations have not received academic attention. This study argues that while there are still reflections of stereotypical black men, there is a distinct breed of man seeking to perform and transcend hegemony but face a crisis as old traditions still hold. The selected primary novels for this study are Angela Makholwa’s The 30th Candle, (2009), Black Widow Society, (2013), Cynthia Jele’s Happiness is a Four Letter Word, (2010), Zukiswa Wanner’s Men of the South, (2010), Thando Mgqolozana’s A Man who is not a Man, (2009), Un-importance (2014) and Songeziwe Mahlangu’s Penumbra(2014).