Prof. Dr. Erhard Reckwitz

Universität Duisburg-Essen

Erhard Reckwitz, one of the coordinators of the Centre for Southern African Studies at Duisburg-Essen University, has held several Visiting Professorships in South Africa and is a reputed expert on this literary area.

• June 14th, 2006: Between Satire and Suture: Aspects of White Writing in Post-Apartheid South Africa
  Current writing by white South Africans shows signs of a deepseated uncertainty as to the writer's position in a rapidly changing society. Reaction to the current political situation takes two forms that are diametrically opposed: writers can be seen to adopt either a satirical stance that is critical of the ‘New South Africa’, or to take on a more humble attitude that is intent on social integration. The focus of this talk will be on some of the problems arising from this dichotomy.