Laia Maldonado Llobera
Department of Theory of Literature and Comparative Literature, Faculty of Philology and Communication, University of Barcelona, Spain
This research paper explores the intersection of critical theory, comparative literature, and urban studies through the lens of Emily Apter’s concept of the untranslatable, as applied to Koleka Putuma’s poetry collection, Collective Amnesia. The paper argues that Putuma employs untranslatable elements as a form of resistance against colonial discourse, challenging the expectations of colonial readers and asserting her literary agency. Furthermore, it examines how these untranslatables illuminate the complexities of Johannesburg as a contested urban space. Utilizing contemporary urban theory, particularly David Delaney’s notion of the nomosphere, the analysis reveals how Putuma’s poetry serves as a symbolic marker of the city’s spatial politics and socio-cultural tensions. This study highlights the significance of untranslatable elements in understanding the dynamics of power and resistance in postcolonial literature.
Keywords: Untranslatable, Resistance, Koleka Putuma, Colonialism, Urban Theory
The above abstract is a part of the article which was accepted at The 10th International Conference on Languages, Linguistics, Translation and Literature (WWW.TLLL.IR), 1-2 February 2025, Ahwaz.
