We started the day off at the District 6 Museum. I appreciated the role of archaeology on a personal level because of my area of study. In terms of our discussions on recording history, archaeology represents a record into the past. Especially when some groups like the San and the Khoi did not have a written record, archaeology can be used to document their stories. The archaeological work at District 6 seems to take on both roles of truth-telling and memorialization. On one hand, artifacts are used to document the lives of the people living in District 6 bef
ore they were forcibly removed. As seen in the collage, the artifacts serve a purpose of memorialization through the use of art. Art has been pervasive in its purpose in memorializing. Specifically, poetry was written both about the Xhosa cattle killing and the South African War. To me, art expresses emotions and viewpoints about the past in this context and thus, serves more of a memorializing role. The process of creating art may also serve as a healing process for the artist and the observer. I loved the tiled floor in the District 6 museum as well.
ore they were forcibly removed. As seen in the collage, the artifacts serve a purpose of memorialization through the use of art. Art has been pervasive in its purpose in memorializing. Specifically, poetry was written both about the Xhosa cattle killing and the South African War. To me, art expresses emotions and viewpoints about the past in this context and thus, serves more of a memorializing role. The process of creating art may also serve as a healing process for the artist and the observer. I loved the tiled floor in the District 6 museum as well. 
The smell of fresh paint and filth defines my experience at Langa Township. Fresh paint expresses the community development occurring. This smell seemed to be more than the smell of paint in the pottery area but literally painting the building as well. Considerable thought in terms of sustainability appears to be present. The symbolism of the red bricks used in Constitutional Court returned for me with the Happy Feet dancers (children performing the boots dance as an after school program) uses something with a painful past and transforms it into something constructive for the future. The past is remembered but 
in a spirit that is moving towards a future of peace. These youth are given a space to express themselves off of the streets (as one of the program directors described).
in a spirit that is moving towards a future of peace. These youth are given a space to express themselves off of the streets (as one of the program directors described). The tour guide for Robben Island was a great orator and I have many great quotes from him. “In England they have watches. In Africa, we have time.” For me, this quote was more than just funny and reminded me of the international experience. The
idea of African studies is fairly knew but such a view point as this quote is part of what I am noticing in my process of thinking about ‘what is African?’ On a different note, the tour guide also said the prison wardens were “all victims of a vicious society.” The prison wardens and the prisoners all took part in the ‘university of the lime stone quarry.’ This is almost an ideal form of education where inequity is being addressed.
idea of African studies is fairly knew but such a view point as this quote is part of what I am noticing in my process of thinking about ‘what is African?’ On a different note, the tour guide also said the prison wardens were “all victims of a vicious society.” The prison wardens and the prisoners all took part in the ‘university of the lime stone quarry.’ This is almost an ideal form of education where inequity is being addressed. 
I appreciated that Nelson Mandela’s prison cell was not marked and you only knew which one had been Mandela’s by listening to the guard saying it was the fourth one in. Visiting this area was one of my more emotional experiences thus far. I wonder what I believe in so strongly to become a political prisoner fighting for it.I am still processing the viewpoints surrounding and the role of Nelson Mandela. On the boat ride back, I was talking to VuVu(?) a woman that leads tours especially for school children. She expressed a desire for a space for children to process the anger they feel when visiting the island. These emotions must be addressed and processed so that a cycle of oppression does not continue. Perhaps, this is one of the places for mindfulness. VuVu and I also discussed the role of Nelson Mandela. She believed that his role as an icon is an importation of a western style of thought. She also described children coming to the island only being interested in Mandela’s story and not being able to be happy at another president. I see the glorification of Mandela as potentially problematic. If he is seen as symbolic of the struggle, that may be fine unless his role overpowers the memory of the struggle itself. There was also a considerable history and buildup that allowed a figure like Mandela to shine. I am still developing these ideas.
No comments:
Post a Comment