Abstract
Within the framework of the debate sparked off by the recently declared State of Emergency, with its curbs on freedom of expression especially of a political nature, the author investigates the role played by N.P. van Wyk Louw in his attempt to prevent the imposition of curbs on freedom of expression in the literary field. Louw’s challenging article, “Sensuur of pornografie?” written in 1947, when the idea of a system of local publications control was put to the government by a representative delegation headed by prominent church leaders, is taken as point of departure for this investigation, In this article Louw warned against the imposition of a censorship board for local publications. The main arguments of his manifesto are discussed and evaluated. A number of inconsistencies in it are pointed out, evaluated and put into perspective. These inconsistencies are shown to have been brought to the fore more vividly by concrete events in later years, especially round about the imposition of the Publications Control Board (1963). As an essentially purely theoretical document, “Sensuur of pornografie?” could not foresee what would happen in the field of concrete actions and reactions, not the least that Van Wyk Louw himself would accept the Board. Despite this, the article remains a classic on the theme of free, responsible expression.
Highlights
W ithin the framework of the debate sparked off by the recently declared State of Emergency, with its curbs on freedom of expression especially of a political nature, the author investigates the role played by N.P. van Wyk Louw in his attem pt to prevent the im position of curbs on freedom of expression in the literary field
L ouw ’s challenging article, “Sensuur of pornografie?” w ritten in 1947, when the idea of a system of local publications control was put to the government by a representative delegation headed by prom inent church leaders, is taken as point of departure for this investigation, In this article Louw warned against the imposition of a censorship board for local publications
A num ber of inconsistencies in it are pointed ou t, evaluated and put into perspective. These inconsistencies are shown to have been brought to the fore more vividly by concrete events in later years, especially round about the im position of the Publications Control Board (1963)
Summary
Die sentrale strukturerende beginsel in sy werk, wat na aanleiding van ’n konsep wat hyself gemunt het, sy “intellektuele houding” genoem kan word (Van Rensburg, 1975:1-26), is ’n hartstog vir volheid, en, direk daarmee verbandhoudend, in feite daaruit voortspruitend, ’n afkeer van eensydigheid. In hierdie samehangende begripspaar is myns insiens die sleutel tot Van Wyk Louw se sensuursiening geleë. Mens en wêreld is in Van Wyk Louw se werk ’n ryk, wonderbaarlik bestel. Uit hierdie ryk heelal kan, en moet daar derhalwe, niks weggeneem word nie. As dit nie gebeur nie, het ’n mens op een of ander manier ’n eensydige bestel, omdat ’n polêre makker van iets anders verwyder is. Daarom sluit Lojale verset met hierdie sin af, wat die laaste van ’n aantal riglyne vir “’n lewenshouding vir ’n moderne mens” bevat; . Sensuur is in die grond ’n torring aan hierdie gawe, wondere geheel
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