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Call for Papers Theme: Towards Histories of South African Intellectual Traditions Subtitle: The Histories and Life Trajectories of 'Coloured' Intellectuals Type: Interdisciplinary Conference Institution: Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology, University of Stellenbosch Location: Stellenbosch (South Africa) Date: 30.11.–1.12.2012 Deadline: 15.8.2012 __________________________________________________ Introduction South African political intellectual traditions are frequently discussed in broad, overarching terms related most often to various expressions of liberalism, nationalism or socialism. Such discursive treatment tends to overemphasize the dominance of one particular expression, be it liberalism in the nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries, Afrikaner nationalism in the mid-twentieth century or African nationalism in the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. The ideas that influence South African social life are however more varied and more dynamic. In the first of a series of conferences on South African intellectual histories the organisers hope to bring together scholars and researchers from a variety of disciplines to establish a comprehensive view of the ways in which intellectuals, thinkers, writers, academics and those in (business, cultural, educational, media, legal, religious, scientific, social, sporting) leadership positions responded, contested or acquiesced to their changing political and social environments. “Intellectual history” refers to an interdisciplinary approach to understand the development and formation of ideas within context, be it in formal institutional or cultural environments, social struggle or individual experiences. For a web-accessible introduction to the field see Peter E. Gordon’s article, “What is intellectual history? A frankly partisan introduction to a frequently misunderstood field” (http://history.fas.harvard.edu/people/faculty/documents/pgordon-whatisintellhist.pdf). However, this conference is aimed at a broad audience rather than strictly trained historians. We are interested in mapping South African intellectual histories in a variety of professional fields, and we wish to learn about intellectuals’ distinctive concerns and the historical forces that shaped their ideas and their responses to their professional environments. We are interested in the fullest possible spectrum of ideas that would allow us to critically engage all notions of identity, place and belonging. The context: the histories of Coloured / coloured / ‘Coloured’ intellectuals One of the features of South African social life that it shares with countries with similar colonial histories is the categorisation of its people. Terms that were used as descriptors of cultural and demographic difference or regional and ancestral origin took on, under colonial and apartheid rule, intricate meanings associated with intellectual inferiority, moral deficiency and “racial” hierarchy. One such term is “Coloured”. This categorisation started out as an unnuanced colonial category to distinguish the indigenous people from the colonists, and throughout the nineteenth, and for most of the twentieth century, took on ever-increasing narrow, even if still unnuanced, meanings. People named Coloured accepted, actively promoted or rejected the term, while many others viewed it with indifference: Coloured / coloured / ‘Coloured’/ Coloured. At various times they struggled with the constraints of “ethnic” particularity and replaced it with terminologies that suited their specific circumstances or political and social orientations. For instance, some emphasised religious or cultural identities such as “Cape Muslim” or “Griqua”, or political identities such as “African,” “African Marxist,” “African nationalist,” “Marxist,” “Black” or “Coloured Resister.” Others claim broader regional or comprehensive national identities such as “Natalian,” “Joster,” “Baainaar,” “Namakwalander” or “South African” refusing to lend credence to any ethnic appellation. Still others, live with a creolised identity or an active triple consciousness as someone self-identifying as Coloured, Black and South African. Notwithstanding their eventual self-identity choices, every person classified with the term “Coloured” had to confront and deal with it in ways appropriate to their private and public lives. While these histories of becoming are often repressed, and shielded from public discourse they circulate in private and personal spheres. The fact is that the term Coloured remains broad and unnuanced, and mostly fails to fully define people within their broader class, cultural, historical or geographical settings. More significant are the underlying histories and life trajectories that the term’s nebulosity may obscure. These are personal histories overwrought with notions of indigeneity or re-appropriated indigeneity, slavery, hybridity, social denial and self-hatred but also appropriation, social privilege and self-pride. These histories reveal interconnections with political and social resistance, while they at the same time bear the burden of strategic choices of complicity and acceptance. In short: These varied histories speak of marginality, alienation, privilege, denial, complicity, contest and resistance. However, these experiences are yet to be examined comprehensively. Over the past century people classified Coloured responded in many ways to life in South Africa, and invariably they had to counteract social stereotypes or the perceived political limitations associated with them. For instance, regarding political participation in the country leaders classified Coloured had to make deliberate choices about associating with the dominant political forces or joining their opposition. Quite often they took the lead in the formation of such bodies. Opinion-makers were characterised variously as pragmatists, assimilationists or revolutionaries in reference to prevailing intellectual traditions, i.e. local intellectual traditions in concert with among others colonial, liberal, Africanist, African nationalist or internationalist schools of thought. The same holds true for people in all pursuits of social life. Intellectuals, thinkers, academics, writers, opinion-makers, musicians, and business, cultural, educational or political leaders classified Coloured had to confront and deal with their personal histories and/or their social identity construction in whatever professional pursuit they were engaged in, be it locally in South Africa or elsewhere internationally. More than the correctness of particular orientations we are concerned with the invisibility of these histories in current South African life. By not examining and documenting their life stories and life trajectories these intellectuals, thinkers and writers might be contributing to the continued absence of these histories in South African traditions of thought. This interdisciplinary conference is interested in documenting these experiences to map a more comprehensive view of such individuals’ contributions to economic, political, social and cultural thought in South Africa, and their responses to its social dynamics. While the supposed “ethnic” commonality of these individuals is taken as a point of departure it is understood that their experiences should be explored in response to the ideological and intellectual dynamics of the broader South African political, economic and cultural context. Equally relevant are the ideas that shaped community and political organisations and institutions within this constructed community. The conference participants are encouraged to examine the changing conditions of cultural, religious, social and political practices in and across succeeding historical periods, just they are encouraged to analyze the role of individual intellectuals, thinkers, cultural workers, social movements, popular culture, community, educational, religious and political organisations and institutions. We expect participants to reflect critically on assumptions about coloured identities, and ultimately contributing to a sustained body of knowledge on South African thought. Invitation We invite submissions of abstracts from scholars of all ranks and researchers from any relevant discipline. We also invite the participation of any individual or groups of individuals who could make a meaningful contribution to the conference. Intended participants may also propose panels of no more than three panelists where a specific theme demands it. We also invite participants to share their analytical, reflexive, autobiographical or biographical considerations on their intellectual pursuits. Papers may be presented in any of the official South African languages. Where a presentation is offered in a language other than English it should be accompanied by an encompassing English-language handout. Abstracts will be reviewed and proposers should receive notes of acceptance (or rejection). The conference will take place on Friday 30 November and Saturday 1 December 2012 at the Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology, University of Stellenbosch. The conference is open to the public but preregistration is essential and a registration fee of R300 is payable. Abstracts should be submitted to Helette van der Westhuizen: [email protected] She will also assist with information on registration and accommodation. Keywords: autobiography, biography, critical theory, identity construction, workplace / local religious / sporting / cultural histories, history of ideas, traditions of thought, South African intellectual history. Organising Committee Michael Cloete, Professor of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, Systematic and Practical Theology, University of South Africa Nico Botha, Professor of Missiology, Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology, University of South Africa Nico Koopman, Dean, Faculty of Theology, University of Stellenbosch Hein Willemse, Professor of Literature, Department of Afrikaans, University of Pretoria Contact: Helette van der Westhuizen Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology Faculty of Theology University of Stellenbosch 171 Dorp Street Stellenbosch, 7600 South Africa Tel: +27 21 808 3250 Fax: +27 21 808 3251 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www0.sun.ac.za/bnc/?p=104 __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
