Musical parody, “zef” and the politics of belonging: “Dankie vir die antwoord maar wat was die vraag?”

Abstract

Drawing on the parodic representations of poor whites in the lyrics and music videos of Die Antwoord and Die Vraag, this paper explores whether mediated representations of poor whites open up a space to contest class-based stereotypes or whether they merely work to perpetuate middle-class white normativity. Drawing on Mason's (2010) assertion that the media constantly “rediscovers” poor white South Africans, we will argue that Die Antwoord as well as Die Vraag are complicit in this “rediscovery”, but at cost. We will explore what this cost entails and what its implications are within the socio-politics of belonging in contemporary South Africa.

Keywords:

• zef
• politics of belonging
• musical parody
• middle-class white normativity

Additional information

Notes on contributors

viola candice milton

viola candice milton is an associate professor in media studies at the University of South Africa's Department of Communication Science. Her research focuses on issues of citizenship and identity and the negotiation of media policy in South Africa.

Hannelie Marx

Hannelie Marx is a lecturer in media studies at the University of South Africa's Department of Communication Science. Her current research focuses on the construction and negotiation of identity and citizenship in the South African media, with a specific focus on whiteness studies.