Introduction: “Beyond the threshold: Explorations of liminality in literature” by Minesh Dass
“Beyond the Threshold: Explorations of Liminality in Literature” by Minesh Dass first appeared in the English Academy Review: Southern African Journal of English Studies in 2013, published online on May 13. This scholarly work provides an intricate exploration of liminality, drawing on theoretical frameworks by Victor Turner, Homi K. Bhabha, and Arnold van Gennep to investigate the transformative potential of “in-between spaces” within literature. Anchored in the South African literary context but extending its purview to global texts, the article examines how boundaries, hybridity, and liminal processes contribute to identity formation in literature. By incorporating diverse texts and critiques, including those on South African and international authors, the study highlights the intricate interplay between cultural and literary boundaries. While the collection from which it emerges is critiqued for its uneven coherence and focus, Dass’s insights into the liminal as both a theme and literary framework underscore its significance in contemporary literary theory, offering a platform for further exploration of identity, transformation, and the boundaries of human experience.
Summary of “Beyond the threshold: Explorations of liminality in literature” by Minesh Dass
Introduction and Context
- The article reviews the edited collection Beyond the Threshold: Explorations of Liminality in Literature, which emerged from the research project “Poetics of Boundaries and Hybridity” conducted by the Research Unit Languages and Literature in the South African Context at North-West University. The book, published by Peter Lang in 2007, compiles essays examining liminality, boundaries, and hybridity in literature (Dass, 2013, p. 124).
- Rooted in theories by Victor Turner, Homi K. Bhabha, and Arnold van Gennep, the editors aim to explore the “transformative power of in-between spaces” and their representation in South African and international literature (Dass, 2013, p. 124).
Main Themes and Framework
- The book investigates boundary and hybrid processes of identity formation in South African texts and draws comparisons with global literary traditions (Dass, 2013, p. 124).
- The discussion is grounded in the concept of liminality, a transitional state that challenges established boundaries and offers transformative potential. The book also delves into hybridity and boundaries, although their differentiation from liminality remains underexplored in several chapters (Dass, 2013, p. 125).
Strengths and Scholarly Insights
- The collection highlights insightful interpretations of works by authors like Douglas Livingstone, Peter Høeg, Joan Hambidge, and Antjie Krog, demonstrating how liminality informs themes of transformation, reconciliation, and identity (Dass, 2013, p. 125-126).
- Specific chapters provide notable contributions, such as Denis-Constant Martin’s discussion of creole and hybrid identity in South African literature and Etienne Terblanche’s analysis of liminality in Douglas Livingstone’s poetry (Dass, 2013, p. 126-127).
- Naama Harel’s chapter on inter-species relationships in Peter Høeg’s The Woman and the Ape introduces critical ecological concerns, challenging the anthropocentric biases of Western literature (Dass, 2013, p. 127).
Critical Observations
- Despite its rich individual essays, the collection suffers from a lack of coherence, with varying definitions and inconsistent application of the term “liminality” (Dass, 2013, p. 125).
- Some essays, such as Bracha Ettinger’s psychoanalytic exploration of the “matrixial,” deviate significantly from the book’s literary focus, underscoring the editors’ uncertain thematic scope (Dass, 2013, p. 126).
- The translations of Afrikaans texts and the uneven representation of South African works limit the book’s broader applicability, despite its efforts to include diverse perspectives (Dass, 2013, p. 125-126).
Conclusion
- While the book lacks the unifying structure expected of an academic collection, its individual chapters offer valuable insights into liminality’s role in literature. As Dass concludes, “the sum of its parts is much greater than the whole,” underscoring the uneven yet impactful contributions of the essays (Dass, 2013, p. 128).
Theoretical Terms/Concepts in “Beyond the threshold: Explorations of liminality in literature” by Minesh Dass
| Theoretical Term/Concept | Definition | Application in Literature |
| Liminality | A state of being “in-between,” often associated with transition, transformation, or boundary-crossing (Turner, 1969). | Explored in South African texts to depict identity formation, cultural hybridity, and spiritual transformation. Authors like Douglas Livingstone and Antjie Krog use liminality to represent physical and psychological transitions (Dass, 2013, p. 126-128). |
| Hybridity | The blending of different cultural or social elements to create new forms or identities (Bhabha, 1994). | Discussed alongside liminality in the context of South African and global literature to understand cultural intersections and mixed identities, though often not clearly distinguished from liminality in the essays (Dass, 2013, p. 125-126). |
| Boundaries | Theoretical and literal divisions that define or separate identities, spaces, or narratives. | Focused on in relation to the crossing or dissolution of boundaries in texts, highlighting their transformative potential (e.g., Keri Hulme’s The Bone People and Coetzee’s Disgrace) (Dass, 2013, p. 125-126). |
| Communitas | A concept by Victor Turner referring to an unstructured community formed during liminal phases. | Examined in the works of South African “coloured” authors like Peter Abrahams and Zoë Wicomb, emphasizing creole identity and collective transformation (Dass, 2013, p. 126). |
| The Liminoid | Turner’s adaptation of liminality for modern societies, where transitions need not be tied to rites or cosmology. | Used to analyze modernist poetry, such as Douglas Livingstone’s A Littoral Zone, depicting liminality in psychic and physical thresholds (Dass, 2013, p. 127). |
| Matrixial Theory | Bracha L. Ettinger’s psychoanalytic theory on pre-subjective, maternal-foetal relationships influencing subjective identity. | Explored in a highly technical manner, though its relevance to literature remains ambiguous; focuses on psychoanalysis rather than liminality in South African literature (Dass, 2013, p. 126). |
| Creolization | The cultural process of blending and adapting elements from diverse traditions into a unified yet plural identity. | Investigated in South African literature through characters and narratives, particularly in relation to postcolonial identity and cultural hybridity (Dass, 2013, p. 126). |
| Threshold Imagination | The use of imaginative spaces as transitional zones enabling growth and transformation. | Seen in Wenzel’s analysis of Hulme’s The Bone People, where imagination facilitates personal and social healing (Dass, 2013, p. 126). |
| Reconciliation through Liminality | The process by which individuals or societies address conflict through transitional phases of self and communal disintegration. | Illustrated in Antjie Krog’s poetry collection Kleur kom nooit alleen nie, where the liminal space facilitates dialogue and reconciliation within South Africa’s post-apartheid context (Dass, 2013, p. 127-128). |
| Alienation, Transition, and Integration | The three phases of liminal rites identified by van Gennep and extended to literature. | Wenzel identifies these phases in The Bone People, where characters’ journeys through alienation and transition lead to societal and personal integration (Dass, 2013, p. 126). |
Contribution of “Beyond the threshold: Explorations of liminality in literature” by Minesh Dass to Literary Theory/Theories
- Exploration of Hybridity: Drawing on Homi K. Bhabha’s concept of hybridity, the collection examines how South African literature negotiates cultural intersections and identity in postcolonial contexts (Dass, 2013, p. 125).
- Rewriting Boundaries: The study highlights how boundary-crossing narratives challenge colonial binaries and reflect processes of creolization, as seen in works by Zoë Wicomb and Peter Abrahams (Dass, 2013, p. 126).
- Matrixial Theory Application: Bracha L. Ettinger’s “matrixial” psychoanalytic framework is included to examine pre-subjective relationships and how they inform identity construction, though its direct connection to literature is limited (Dass, 2013, p. 126).
- Trauma and Liminality: The analysis of Karel Schoeman’s Die laaste Afrikaanse boek demonstrates how trauma manifests in liminal spaces, offering insights into the interplay between memory, identity, and literature (Dass, 2013, p. 126).
Cultural Theory and Identity Studies
- Concept of Communitas: Victor Turner’s notion of communitas is explored in the context of South African literature, particularly in how liminality fosters collective identity in creole and hybrid communities (Dass, 2013, p. 126).
- Inter-Species Liminality: Naama Harel’s study of Peter Høeg’s The Woman and the Ape expands cultural theory by challenging anthropocentrism and exploring the fluidity of human-animal boundaries (Dass, 2013, p. 127).
- Anthrocentric Challenges: By addressing liminality in ecological contexts, particularly in Douglas Livingstone’s A Littoral Zone, the collection contributes to ecocriticism by questioning humanity’s role in and relationship to nature (Dass, 2013, p. 127).
Modernist and Formalist Theories
- The Liminoid in Modernist Poetry: Turner’s “liminoid” concept is applied to analyze modernist South African poetry, offering insights into how transitional and boundary states are represented formally and thematically (Dass, 2013, p. 127).
- Reconsidering Pastoral Traditions: The discussion of Coetzee’s Disgrace examines how the text subverts pastoral conventions, presenting the farm as a contested, liminal space addressing race, gender, and space (Dass, 2013, p. 127).
Narrative and Structural Theories
- Threshold Imagination in Narratives: The idea of the threshold as an imaginative space is explored as a narrative device facilitating character and societal transformation, notably in Keri Hulme’s The Bone People (Dass, 2013, p. 126).
- Spatial Liminality: Essays in the collection highlight how physical and psychic spaces function as liminal zones, influencing narrative structures and themes, such as in Zakes Mda’s The Whale Caller (Dass, 2013, p. 127).
Reconciliation and Transitional Justice Theories
- Role of Liminality in Reconciliation: Antjie Krog’s poetry demonstrates how liminal phases contribute to reconciliation processes in post-apartheid South Africa, aligning with broader theories of societal healing (Dass, 2013, p. 127-128).
Examples of Critiques Through “Beyond the threshold: Explorations of liminality in literature” by Minesh Dass
| Author and Work | Key Critique | Theoretical Framework Applied |
| Ingrid Winterbach – Niggie | Explores themes of physical isolation, language, and the trickster motif, though the analysis attempts to cover too many aspects. | Liminality in character development and spatial transitions (Dass, 2013, p. 125). |
| Keri Hulme – The Bone People | Identifies the three phases of liminality (alienation, transition, integration) and their role in personal and societal healing. | Victor Turner’s liminal rites and their transformative power (Dass, 2013, p. 126). |
| Douglas Livingstone – A Littoral Zone | Examines thresholds between the physical and psychic realms, reflecting liminality and reconciliation of opposing forces. | Turner’s concept of the “liminoid” adapted to modernist poetry (Dass, 2013, p. 127). |
| J.M. Coetzee – Disgrace | Highlights the subversion of pastoral traditions by presenting the farm as a liminal space that foregrounds race, gender, and space. | Liminality in spatial representation and critique of societal norms in post-apartheid South Africa (Dass, 2013, p. 127). |
Criticism Against “Beyond the threshold: Explorations of liminality in literature” by Minesh Dass
Lack of Thematic Coherence
- The collection’s focus is inconsistent, with essays addressing a wide array of topics without a strong unifying framework for the concept of liminality (Dass, 2013, p. 125).
Unclear Differentiation Between Concepts
- The terms “liminality,” “hybridity,” and “boundaries” are often used interchangeably without rigorous theoretical differentiation, leading to conceptual blurring (Dass, 2013, p. 125).
Inclusion of Irrelevant Material
- Certain chapters, such as Bracha Ettinger’s psychoanalytic essay on the “matrixial,” are tangential to the book’s literary focus and detract from its coherence (Dass, 2013, p. 126).
Uneven Representation of South African Literature
- Although the collection aims to explore South African texts, some chapters focus more on international works or tangential topics, reducing its regional specificity (Dass, 2013, p. 125).
Translation Issues
- The uneven quality of Afrikaans-to-English translations, some of which are self-translated by contributors, raises concerns about accuracy and accessibility (Dass, 2013, p. 125).
Overextension in Analytical Scope
- Certain essays, such as Heilna du Plooy’s analysis of Winterbach’s Niggie, attempt to address too many themes, diluting their critical depth and focus (Dass, 2013, p. 125).
Limited Engagement with Secondary Criticism
- Some chapters fail to adequately engage with existing scholarly work, such as the omission of Zoë Wicomb’s critique of “colouredness” as an in-between identity (Dass, 2013, p. 126).
Ambiguity in Scope and Purpose
- The collection’s intent to focus on South African literary studies is diluted by the inclusion of essays that deviate from this aim, such as those centered on psychoanalysis or international literature (Dass, 2013, p. 126).
Inconsistent Quality of Essays
- While some essays are insightful and well-researched, others lack depth, focus, or alignment with the collection’s purported goals (Dass, 2013, p. 125).
Representative Quotations from “Beyond the threshold: Explorations of liminality in literature” by Minesh Dass with Explanation
| Quotation | Explanation |
| “The transformative power of in-between spaces represented in literature in light of theoretical work on liminality.” | Highlights the central theme of liminality, where “in-between” spaces serve as zones of transformation, crucial for character and narrative development in literature. |
| “How are boundary, liminal, and hybrid processes of identity formation represented and configured in selected South African texts?” | Frames the research question of the collection, emphasizing the interplay of boundaries and hybridity in shaping identity, particularly in the South African postcolonial context. |
| “Certain authors’ handling of the liminal is much elucidated and invigorated by their discussion in this context.” | Acknowledges the success of the collection in deepening understanding of specific authors’ works through the lens of liminality, such as Antjie Krog and Douglas Livingstone. |
| “The field of enquiry, which should limit and clarify the purpose of the project, namely South African literary studies, is only sometimes clearly the subject of the work.” | Criticizes the collection’s lack of focus, as it includes essays that diverge significantly from the stated aim of exploring South African literature. |
| “While some contributors write as if there is clearly a border to be established between liminality and hybridity, others seem to use the terms interchangeably.” | Points out a conceptual inconsistency in differentiating liminality and hybridity, reducing the collection’s theoretical clarity. |
| “If liminality is a thing in literature and also a form of literature, perhaps even literature’s ontological state… then under the banner of liminality one can discuss practically anything.” | Raises a critique that the broad application of liminality risks making it a catch-all term, diluting its analytical precision. |
| “The quality of translation is therefore uneven and debatable, though in some cases the authors themselves have approved the translations used.” | Highlights a practical issue with translations of Afrikaans texts, which affect the accessibility and accuracy of the analysis in the collection. |
| “Wenzel’s deployment of liminality as a common thematic and formal concern in both South African and New Zealand literature is interesting and could lead to further scholarship.” | Acknowledges the cross-cultural potential of liminality as a framework, extending its relevance beyond South African literature. |
| “The inclusion of a chapter by renowned artist and psychoanalytic theorist Bracha L. Ettinger…makes only a small reference to art in general…and never to literature.” | Critiques the inclusion of material irrelevant to the central theme of literature, undermining the coherence of the collection. |
| “The binding agent which the editors hope liminality will form proves not to be very strong at all and the collection veers in every direction all at once.” | Summarizes the main critique of the book’s fragmented focus, despite the value of individual chapters. |
Suggested Readings: “Beyond the threshold: Explorations of liminality in literature” by Minesh Dass
- Dass, Minesh. “Beyond the threshold: Explorations of liminality in literature.” (2013): 124-128.
- Joseph, Michael. “Liminality.” Keywords for Childrens Literature, edited by Philip Nel and Lissa Paul, NYU Press, 2011, pp. 138–41. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt9qg46g.33. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.
- GADOIN, ISABELLE, and ANNIE RAMEL. “LIMINALITY – INTRODUCTION.” The Hardy Review, vol. 15, no. 1, 2013, pp. 5–10. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/45301764. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.
- Kalua, Fetson. “Homi Bhabha’s Third Space and African Identity.” Journal of African Cultural Studies, vol. 21, no. 1, 2009, pp. 23–32. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40647476. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.