Project description
Rethinking the South African literary canon from the ground up
The literary canon of South African English fiction that circulates in the global sphere remains heavily shaped by apartheid-era imaginaries and narratives. This often marginalises newer and more diverse voices. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the COMPLICANON project investigates how contemporary South African English literature (2010-2025) is received. Specifically, the project explores how translocal and globally oriented writing circulates within South Africa and whether it strengthens or complicates its international recognition, ultimately examining how local communities of interpretation shape literary value. Overall, COMPLICANON will shed light on how inclusive, locally grounded canons can challenge dominant global narratives.
Objective
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.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
20122 Milano
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.