Glowfly Dance: Literature as changemaker

GLOWFLY DANCE: LITERATURE AS CHANGEMAKER

Dr Jade Gibson, anthropologist, artist, writer

Friday 30 January  3.00 pm  COURSE FEES R115; Staff and students R58

Jade Gibson’s debut novel, Glowfly Dance, is a powerful and haunting account of intimate partner violence as witnessed through the eyes of a young girl. The book was part of a major social change process in addressing domestic violence, including the #MeToo movement in 2017. Although autobiographical, Glowfly Dance was published as a novel but crosses memoir and fiction genres, loosely described as literary autofiction. Jade will speak about the personal experience of navigating the difficult terrain between subjectivity and objectivity; how a novel can be part of a process of bringing about social change; and the impact on her personal and professional life as a speaker and writer. The discussion will appeal to all those interested in the writing process, both memoir and fiction, and how personal stories can act as a catalyst for change.

Recommended reading

Gibson, J. 2015. Glowfly Dance. Cape Town: Penguin Random House.

https://thisisafrica.me/arts-and-culture/writing-glowfly-dance/

TO BOOK: https://www.webtickets.co.za/performance.aspx?itemid=1575250931

Dr N Jade Gibson (PhD) is an interdisciplinary anthropologist researching visual and historical anthropology, author and visual artist. She has a PhD in Anthropology (University of Cape Town), MA in Visual Anthropology , (University College of London) BA Hons Fine art (Central Saint Martins London), and BSc Hons in Biomedical Science (St Georges Medical School, London), She has lectured and researched in the UK and SA in areas of visual anthropology, film and media, heritage, cities, arts, dance, African studies, transport, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and recently the Recentring Afro-Asia: Musical Migrations 700-1500 AD project. Her prize-listed novel Glowfly Dance (Penguin Random House Umuzi 2015) is certified by the South African Department of Education as useful for education on domestic violence, and she speaks widely on the need for social change.