COMPLICANON · Local Reception, Translocal Narratives: COMPLIcating the South African English CANON

COMPLICANON investigates local mechanisms of canon formation in recent South African literature in English, providing the first extensive study of the contemporary South African English literary field. Emerging studies reveal that the notion of a ‘South African English canon’ that circulates in the Global North still corresponds to fictional works that deal with apartheid and are often written by an older generation of white writers. By adopting a world literary and postcolonial perspective, my research will examine the local reception of contemporary South African English fiction (2010-2025) through institutional literary awards and grassroots book clubs. This project investigates whether the translocal features of this new and diverse body of writing–often set outside South Africa and engaged in global conversations–contribute to its local circulation through literary awards and reading circles, but hinder it globally. To explore the contemporary South African literary field, this study will innovatively combine literary analysis and archival methods with empirical research, foregrounding the role of local literary awards and book clubs in the emergence of a more inclusive and flexible notion of a ‘South African English canon’ that boldly challenges the normative vision of ‘South African literature’ sanctioned in the global stage. Given its scope and purpose, the proposed research is a timely contribution to current global debates on the decolonisation of literature and reading practices, and it can offer significant insights into the role of local communities of interpretation. This three-year action will be undertaken under the supervision of Prof. G. Iannaccaro (UMIL) and Prof. C. Thurman (WITS). It will comprise a transversal training, including a short visit at the Institute for World Literature, and the acquisition of transferable skills, as well as a targeted programme of dissemination and communication activities.