Analysing the construction of South African youth in historical-related images and texts around the time of 16 June 2011.

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate how young people in post-apartheid South Africa are being constructed in negative waysin the light of how we commemorate and teach the Anti-apartheidstruggle. Is it possible to teach the stories of the past without burdening this generation with guilt and paralysing the youth in terms of their own struggles? It specifically focus on how the media are currently reconstructing the struggle icons as superhuman, and in so doing, implying that the youth can never live up to the achievements of these heroes. I am interested in how history, as it is taught in our schools can play a role in restoring agency and a healthy respect for the past.