I recently celebrated the conferral of my Master of Arts degree in Afrikaans and Dutch at Nelson Mandela University's Autumn Graduation 25. My thesis, titled "Themes and trends in the poetry of Clinton V. du Plessis," offers the first in-depth academic study of Du Plessis’s extensive body of work. Spanning over four decades, his poetry has long remained on the periphery of scholarly attention - until now.
Du Plessis, an acclaimed poet whose work has historically occupied a position on the periphery of the Afrikaans literary canon, was present for the awarding of my degree. I had the honour of presenting Du Plessis with a bound copy of my completed thesis - symbolising the convergence of primary creative work and critical scholarship.
My research makes a substantial contribution to the field of contemporary Afrikaans literary studies through its systematic identification and analysis of dominant thematic concerns and stylistic characteristics in Du Plessis's poetry. The study particularly focuses on the representation of marginalized figures, racial discourse, working-class experiences, distinctive language usage, concepts of transience, and intertextual relationships - elements that have defined Du Plessis's unique literary voice.
The scholarly significance of my research extends beyond the completion of degree requirements, addressing a notable lacuna in the critical examination of poets on the fringes of the literary canon. By methodically investigating an important yet previously under-researched corpus of work, my thesis enhances our understanding of the sociocultural dimensions of contemporary Afrikaans poetry.
I am profoundly grateful to my supervisor, Professor Marius Crous, whose intellectual mentorship and exceptional guidance were instrumental throughout my research process. I also wish to express my appreciation to my co-supervisor, Dr. Stefan van Zyl, for providing rigorous feedback and constructive criticism that facilitated both my scholarly advancement and personal intellectual development during this research journey.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to Clinton V. du Plessis for his generosity in granting me access to his work and for his gracious support throughout my research. His poetry continues to challenge, move, and inspire - and it was an honour to engage with it so closely.
