A history of failure

Roussouw, Chad

A history of failure

Master Thesis

2011

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Michaelis School of Fine Art

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

A history of failure implies several things. It can point to a chronology of the concept of failure, like so many contemporary history books that chart a minute aspect of culture. It could refer to a personal record, like a criminal having a history of violence. The implication is also there that history itself has failed to achieve, failed to describe, failed to move forward, failed to be history at all. History in this essay is not just the study of the past, but also its use in culture - to separate us from nature, to validate ideologies or to provide insight into our present. History in these terms is not a sequence of physical events, but the representation of these events. These representations exhibit curious behaviour: no matter their function they appeal to truth. History uses the language of the real to validate itself (Culler 2002: Kindle edition'), and this language is often constituted into narrative (which I will discuss in some detail later).

Description

Includes bibliographical references.

Keywords

Fine Art

Reference:

Collections

Masters

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