“Cultural development” in Mangaung: reflections on the discourse of a development agency

Abstract

English: This study investigates the 12-year involvement of the MUCPP in “cultural development” in Mangaung. Since “development” and “culture” are highly ramified concepts, their application is first explained. Next, since the stance adopted by Ferguson (1990) towards development is particularly useful when considering development discourses, his discussions on development will serve as the theoretical and methodological basis of this article. Thus, the main objective of this study will not be to survey or explain the success or failure of the institutionalised production of “cultural development” in Mangaung. Instead, the article will strive to understand, explain and analyse the “cultural development industry” of the MUCPP in terms of its dominant ideas and its discourse. This will be done within certain constraints, including the paucity of written information. The findings will thus depend largely on interviews conducted to supplement the documentary information. Finally, conclusions will be drawn, raising questions that may inform any future cultural interventions in Mangaung on the part of the MUCPP .

Afrikaans: Die MUCPP se betrokkenheid die afgelope 12 jaar by “kulturele ontwikkeling” in Mangaung vorm die tema van hierdie bydrae. Aangesien “ontwikkeling” en “kultuur” begrippe met allerlei implikasies is, word die gebruik daarvan eerstens verduidelik. Wat die teoretiese en metodologiese vertrekpunte betref, word in die tweede plek aansluiting gevind by die standpunt van Ferguson. Die hoofoogmerk met die studie is nie om die geïnstitusionaliseerde produksie van “kulturele ontwikkeling” in Mangaung in oënskou te neem ten einde te bepaal of dit suksesvol of onsuksesvol was en die redes daarvoor uit te wys nie. Die kerndoelwit met die artikel is die verstaan, verduideliking en ontleding van die “kulturele ontwikkelingsindustrie” van die MUCPP in terme van dominante idees en diskoerse en dit word derdens gehanteer. Ofskoon voldoende inligting nie altyd beskikbaar was nie, word vierdens ’n ontleding van die diskoersindustrie van die MUCPP oor “kulturele ontwikkeling” gegee en laastens word gevolgtrekkings wat bepaalde vrae laat ontstaan, gemaak.