The complexities of heritage production in a South African community from the 1900s to the present : Graaff-Reinet, a case study

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dc.contributor.advisorGrundlingh, Alberten_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorGrundlingh, A. M., 1948-en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorKayster, Anziske Florenzaen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-26T06:56:59Z
dc.date.available2024-02-26T06:56:59Z
dc.date.issued2024-03
dc.descriptionThesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary argument behind this investigation is the observation that heritage has become ubiquitous in contemporary societies. The need for heritage is contagious and is observed globally, albeit that this need is subject to fluctuations which include the influence of geographical place. This study, therefore, engages with heritage theory in Graaff-Reinet as a geographical microcosmos of South Africa, and evaluates if heritage is the contemporary usage of the past in current societies. The primary argument behind this investigation is the observation that heritage has become ubiquitous in contemporary societies. The need for heritage is contagious and is observed globally, albeit that this need is subject to fluctuations which include the influence of geographical place. This study, therefore, engages with heritage theory in Graaff-Reinet as a geographical microcosmos of South Africa, and evaluates if heritage is the contemporary usage of the past in current societies. This study draws on examples extracted from the historical record. The researcher aspires to address and rectify the lacunae that exist regarding heritage in Graaff-Reinet. She casts the heritage net wider to also include an investigation of the heritage of the Black and Coloured population of Graaff-Reinet, and to narrate their role in the production process as opposed to previous histographies, who omitted or moderated their role in scholarship. In addition, the study offers insights into the heritage consumption process during certain important time periods in the history of South Africa and thus, Graaff-Reinet. During this investigation of the uses of heritage, the researcher utilises various examples of heritage to determine what the primary use of heritage is and how it was employed to achieve cultural, political, and economic objectives. Lastly, this exploration aims to shed light on the inherent dissonant nature of heritage and particularly the stimuli that provokes dissonance in heritage in a post-colonial society such as Graaff-Reinet. For this purpose, the researcher once again extracted examples from the historical record which were subjected to critical analysis. For this study, a qualitative research approach was adopted. This approach allows the examination of a community within a particular geographical area and encouraged a detailed enquiry into people’s experiences, utilising research methods which included in-depth interviews and the interpretation of information collected through oral history interviews. In addition, this information was augmented by the theoretical interpretation of the archival material obtained from repositories such as the local municipality, museums, churches, a local school and from the private collections of the residents of Graaff-Reinet.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die primêre oorweging wat hierdie ondersoek lei, is die waarneming dat erfenis alomteenwoordig in die hedendaagse samelewing geword het. Die behoefte aan erfenis is aansteeklik en word wêreldwyd waargeneem, alhoewel hierdie behoefte na ’n verlede fluktueer en byvoorbeeld beïnvloed word deur die geografiese area waarin dit beoefen word. Hierdie studie gebruik dus Graaff-Reinet as 'n geografiese mikrokosmos van Suid-Afrika om erfenisteorie te evalueer en om te bepaal of erfenis uiteindelik maar net die huidiglike gebruik van die verlede in hedendaagse samelewings is. Tradisionele ondersoeke oor Graaff-Reinet se verlede bevredig nie hierdie hunkering na erfenis nie, maar het eerder gekonsentreer op historiese bevestiging. Boonop is erfenis in Graaff-Reinet twyfelagtig aangesien dit wat as erfenis aangebied word, aan ’n siftingsproses onderwerp is deur 'n sekere groep mense wat dit aan die buitewêreld as die ware erfenis van Graaff-Reinet voorgehou het. Die implikasie hiervan is dat daar alternatiewe interpretasies van erfenis en dus die verlede van die dorp, bestaan. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus om die aard van erfenisproduksie in Graaff-Reinet te ondersoek, om vas te stel in wie se diens erfenis tydens sekere tydperke was en hoe dit aangewend word om kulturele, politieke en ekonomiese doelwitte te bereik asook om die oorsake van betwiste erfenis in Graaff-Reinet as 'n postkoloniale samelewing, te identifiseer. Hierdie ondersoek is gebaseer op voorbeelde wat uit die historiese rekords bekom is. Die navorser streef daarna om bestaande gapings ten opsigte van erfenis in Graaff-Reinet aan te spreek en reg te stel. Sy gooi die erfenisnet wyer om ook 'n ondersoek na die erfenis van Swart en Bruin mense van Graaff-Reinet in te sluit, en om hul rol in die produksieproses te vertel in teenstelling met vorige geskiedskrywers wat hulle rol weggelaat of versag het. Die studie bied ook insigte in die gebruik van erfenis tydens sekere hoogtepunte in die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika en dus ook Graaff-Reinet. Daar word dus hoofsaaklik op die bruikbaarheid van erfenis gefokus en gebruik die navorser verskeie voorbeelde om te bepaal wat die primêre gebruik van erfenis is en hoe dit aangewend word om kulturele, politieke en ekonomiese doelwitte te bereik. Hierdie studie word afgesluit deur ’n bykomende ondersoek na die inherente verdraaide aard van erfenis en veral die prikkel wat teenstrydighede in erfenis in ’n postkoloniale samelewing soos Graaff-Reinet ontlok het. Dit word ook aan die hand van voorbeelde gedoen. Vir hierdie studie het die navorser 'n kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering gevolg aangesien 'n gemeenskap binne 'n bepaalde geografiese gebied ondersoek word. Hierdie ondersoek na mense se ervarings maak gebruik van navorsingsmetodes soos in-diepte mondelinge onderhoude, ondersteun deur die kritiese ontleding van inligting wat so bekom is. Hierdie inligting is aangevul deur die teoretiese interpretasie van argivale materiaal verkry uit bewaarplekke soos die plaaslike munisipaliteit, museums, kerke, 'n plaaslike skool en uit die privaatversamelings van die inwoners van Graaff-Reinet. af_ZA
dc.description.versionDoctoralen_ZA
dc.format.extentxiv, 350 pages : illustrations, includes annexuresen_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130187
dc.language.isoen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshGraaff-Reinet (South Africa) -- Historyen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshGraaff-Reinet (South Africa) -- Social conditionsen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshCultural pluralismen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSocial changeen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshCultural property -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.nameUCTD
dc.titleThe complexities of heritage production in a South African community from the 1900s to the present : Graaff-Reinet, a case studyen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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