This thesis attempts to investigate how affect functions within mythological structures, thus strengthening and resonating the effect of these myths upon the public who are exposed to them. Focusing on Roland Barthes’ writings on mythology and Brian Massumi on affect, I combine these two ideological structures into a dynamic form that is both interrogative and performative in its approach. This approach allows for a more open and embodied deconstruction of these myths.

This structure was first used in Brazil as a test case to represent the mythological construction of the Casa Do Povo (est. 1953). The lessons learned from this initial experiment are then used to analyse a longer-term research on the psychological experiments and legislative acts developed by South African Prime Minister, Hendrik Verwoerd.

Three forms of narrative models are used, that are seen as self-contained performative textual spaces:

The first of these three are introductory narratives that encapsulate each part of this thesis through historical research embedded within a narrative in the present, each time elaborated upon with a drawing.

The second is a series of responses to a performance in São Paulo, Brazil, while on a study trip. For this narrative, I have asked three of my fellow students, who witnessed the performance, to write about their experience in viewing the performance. These texts act as subjective pauses in the text where the point of view shifts away from my own.

The last is a narrative conclusion to the thesis that, rather than closing off the thought process of the text, leaves the interpretations to be sought from each reader through an open-ended script between two characters who discuss the various parts of the thesis as if in a discussion.