A group of satirical sculptures examining social and political paradoxes in the South African context

Murray, Brett

A group of satirical sculptures examining social and political paradoxes in the South African context

Master Thesis

1988

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Michaelis School of Fine Art

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

My proposal was to produce a group of satirical sculptures thematically embracing paradoxes within the broad South African context. My intention was to work within the tradition of social and political satire. Strict definitions of satire were to be expanded to include both comedy and tragedy. By satirising particular stupidities, abuses and "evils of all kind" within South African society, I hoped to address the same in a broader context by implication. By discussing some artists who have worked within this tradition my intention was to determine an art-historical context within which to place my work, to extract elements of a shared experience and to attempt to define the nature of satire.