Narrative technique and readerships in postcolonial African fiction : towards reception theory

Samiselo, George

Narrative technique and readerships in postcolonial African fiction : towards reception theory

Thesis / Dissertation

2006

Abstract

[Missing pages] For sometime now studies of African fiction have neglected to explore what most African writers conceive of as a critical aspect of African literature -- the readerships of African texts. This preponderance in African criticism could probably be explained in terms of the fact that commentators of African literature are unaware of any useful theoretical model that would assist to discuss both the points of view and reading constituencies in African fiction. Be that as it may, this trend in African criticism is unacceptable, for the role of the critic is partly to develop critical tools that are commensurate with, and relevant to, drifts in fiction. For this reason, this study proposes what it considers to be one of the viable methods with which to discuss African prose fiction. It is suggested that a most meaningful way to approach African texts, in particular and literature in general, is perhaps to focus on the style and intended audience(s) in specific , texts. The reason for this is that such a critical approach would often yield insights both about the themes in the texts and the literary ideologies of the authors themselves. Applied to the African novel, this thesis points out that focusing on the style and audience(s) in particular African texts ultimately leads to an understanding of a range and variety of interesting narrative strategies and axes of reading constituencies in African fiction. To demonstrate the vitality of such a critical methodology, this thesis explores the style and readers in select novels from Anglophone Africa. The result would certainly seem to be a commendable approach to African literature, which this thesis designates as intentional criticism. Intentional criticism is a viable approach to African fiction precisely because it restricts itself to examining how specific African texts construct their intended audiences through narrative strategies. At the same time, intentional criticism attempts to show, in reverse, how particular reading constituencies are also able to construct specific narratives in particular African texts. A critical method such as intentional criticism, the study concludes, is ultimately desirable to the criticism of African literature because it assists to explain both the authorial and textual ideologies of African writers and their work. In applying intentional criticism to explore the scope and span ofreading constituencies and narrative technique in African fiction, the thesis employs insights from an eclectic variety of iv Receptionists such as Hans R. Jauss and Stanley E. Fish. Notably, Jauss's notion of "horizon of expectations" and Fish's concept of "interpretative community'' are central to the aims and objectives as well as arguments of this study. It is noted in the thesis that the theoretical implications of the views of these Receptionists on the social and historical relevance of writers and their work have far-reaching ramifications for a theory of African literature. Thus it is argued that any meaningful criticism of African fiction should focus on the style and readers in African texts, while taking cognizance of the views of the writers themselves about their own work. The point is that in focusing simultaneously on both the comments and texts of African writers, the thesis demonstrates the differences/ similarities between what African authors say and what they actually do; it further demonstrates some of the perennial problems/ contradictions in the African writer's literary programme(s). In the context of this thesis, the results of intentional criticism are a fascinating compass of national and international readers in the African regional novel, superreaders in African metanovels as well as both in African political fiction and the African quest narrative/ tale/ novel. The construction of this variety of readers, the study emphasises, is, in fact, intentional on the part of the African authors this thesis examines precisely because of the urgency that informs the literary programmes of most African novelists. In this way, the thesis concludes that the most viable critical approach with which to interrogate the main concerns/ themes in African literature is to focus on the institution of the intended reader, and narrative technique in the African novel. All this does not mean that African writers do not have problems with style and readers in their work: the thesis shows that the African writer who seems to draw inspiration from African orature, especially from the "language" of oral performances in order to work out appropriate narrative strategies for readers has insurmountable problems indeed. The study further points out that the attempt to merge aspects of orature with those of the written medium in African postcolonial fiction often leads to results that are not easily definable. In this way, the study argues that as long as African authors continue to write, they would probably do well to continue to work out/ create/ improve on narrative strategies that are commensurate with reading.

Keywords

English Language and Literature

Reference:

Collections

PhD / Doctoral

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