Abstract

GLANVILL, Siobhan. Analysing the construction of South African youth in historical-related images and texts around the time of 16 June 2011. Y&T [online]. 2012, n.7, pp.169-184. ISSN 2309-9003.

This paper aims to investigate how young people in post-apartheid South Africa are being constructed in negative ways in the fight of how we commemorate and teach the Anti-apartheid struggle. Is it possible to teach the stories of the past without burdening this generation with guilt and paralysing the youth in terms of their own struggles? It specifically focus on how the media are currently reconstructing the struggle icons as superhuman, and in so doing, implying that the youth can never live up to the achievements of these heroes. I am interested in how history, as it is taught in our schools can play a role in restoring agency and a healthy respect for the past.

Keywords : Media; Construction of youth; Commemoration; Icons; June 16 2011; History lessons; Youth agency.

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