tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2968006723625514014.post2454242263054140875..comments2011-11-24T08:17:12.742+02:00Comments on Notes on the South African Condition: On Art, Race and Being PresumptuousUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2968006723625514014.post-51739048977501246822011-06-27T19:05:51.246+02:002011-06-27T19:05:51.246+02:00Thanks Simon. I agree that actually having a discu...Thanks Simon. I agree that actually having a discussion about offensive terms is sometimes difficult without uttering the term; not everyone is likely to know what you mean by 'the k-word' or 'the n-word'. Nevertheless, I can only count two occasions where I felt I had little option, and in both cases I was distinctly uncomfortable - the words themselves do make me cringe, instinctively.<br /><br />My problem with said consultant was two-fold. First, it was a staged challenge. The conversation didn't naturally arise, she created it. Second, it was clear that she positively relished rolling the word off her tongue. Interestingly, all her black colleagues were noticeably uncomfortable. Of course, as per my characterisation, this did not bother her in the slightest. <br /><br />Back to Kannemeyer et al. One obvious question that comes to mind is: "Really? You couldn't come-up with anything better than this?". Is Kannemeyer artistically incapable of coming up with something that doesn't require racist imagery? Can't Brett Murray come up with something that doesn't look like a Grade 10 joke: "Hey okes, let's take this poster and replace 'freedom' with 'Chivas Regal'. HA HA." Ja, nee. I suppose at least Zapiro has the excuse of a deadline to meet.Mfundzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17498410911995439998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2968006723625514014.post-76363740512039977092011-06-27T10:51:42.703+02:002011-06-27T10:51:42.703+02:00I'm not going to comment on the piece's ar...I'm not going to comment on the piece's argument, but rather recount something I've struggled with. I think words like "k*****" and others provide a very difficult area for a white male to discuss, specifically in the context of being overseas in non-commonwealth countries where people are less likely to know about or to understand South Africa's history. For example, I have had to use the word in explaining the problems of its use to Italians when we encountered someone together who used it and they didn't understand it or its attendant meanings. I couldn't really work around using the word itself and I've since concluded that in similar situations I just need to use it to explain it. It doesn't mean that I'm comfortable with it or not self-reflective though.<br /><br />Also, I have to endorse your comments on Kannemeyer. Amy and I saw a show in Vienna where he was exhibited and it felt like his work was propagating a certain form of representation rather than problematising and interrogating it, what made it worse was that there wasn't sufficient background to help people to understand the work or the problems surrounding it. Consequently, I had conflicting feelings - enjoyment of seeing SA work abroad that could get people discussing SA and its history, but frustration that the debate would be shallow because his work is simply shallow. <br /><br />Anyway, enjoyable as always Sean - I look forward to chatting about this and more soon.Simon Hallidayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04289994368497331598noreply@blogger.com