Tshepang: The Third Testament was written in a post-apartheid South Africa, still struggling with the culminations of the past. Lara Foot Newton adopted a Post-modernism style in order to depict the conditions of our country and to raise society’s consciousness level regarding the issues crippling South Africa.
In 2001, a brutal rape of a nine month old devastated South Africa, on which “Tshepang” was based. This act was a symptom of the conditions that an ailing South Africa was facing. In a post-apartheid landscape, not much had changed; many townships were desperately poor and unemployment in many areas reached a rate of over 85%. Poverty was rife as well as alcoholism, violence, corruption and a general disillusionment with life (worthlessness); the legacy of apartheid was still resonating. In a country where freedom was supposed to reign, people felt disempowered and violated. South Africa was also suffering …show more content…
Through Tshepang she makes a statement saying society needs to reflect upon itself and take responsibility for what happens and for the society we live in so “we don’t produce more Alfred Sorrows”. Foot Newton discusses violence because we’re living in it all the time, but despite the exploration of violence there is still a possibility for the future and overall for hope- “Tshepang.” Her work juxtaposes the light and the dark because that is what society is comprised of. Lara Foot Newton intends to make an impact with the audience because she engages with the audience. She wants her audience to, first of all be aware but also to reflect by providing the “commentary on suffering”. She intends to shock the audience by deconstructing an ultimate truth; society is to blame, not just the rapist- “Shame on you, shame on all of us”. However through the juxtaposition of light and dark, she also intends for her text to be an opportunity for people to engage and find personal
In 2001, a brutal rape of a nine month old devastated South Africa, on which “Tshepang” was based. This act was a symptom of the conditions that an ailing South Africa was facing. In a post-apartheid landscape, not much had changed; many townships were desperately poor and unemployment in many areas reached a rate of over 85%. Poverty was rife as well as alcoholism, violence, corruption and a general disillusionment with life (worthlessness); the legacy of apartheid was still resonating. In a country where freedom was supposed to reign, people felt disempowered and violated. South Africa was also suffering …show more content…
Through Tshepang she makes a statement saying society needs to reflect upon itself and take responsibility for what happens and for the society we live in so “we don’t produce more Alfred Sorrows”. Foot Newton discusses violence because we’re living in it all the time, but despite the exploration of violence there is still a possibility for the future and overall for hope- “Tshepang.” Her work juxtaposes the light and the dark because that is what society is comprised of. Lara Foot Newton intends to make an impact with the audience because she engages with the audience. She wants her audience to, first of all be aware but also to reflect by providing the “commentary on suffering”. She intends to shock the audience by deconstructing an ultimate truth; society is to blame, not just the rapist- “Shame on you, shame on all of us”. However through the juxtaposition of light and dark, she also intends for her text to be an opportunity for people to engage and find personal