Ideal Representatives

Ideal Representatives

Publications & Reports

Bleek questions the calibre of men that the Cape Colony electorate elects to legislate on its behalf in parliament (the "great organism") after two parliamentary vacancies appear forthcoming. Furthermore, true representatives serve constituents ideally by behaving as a pronoun does when referring to the noun they represent (the antecedent). His analogy may also suggest that representatives should resemble placeholders, as undesigning conduits for public concerns, whose "meaning" (purpose) is entirely referential. He reminds the public of unpopular Acts of Parliament and representatives that failed to champion public concerns. He advises that they be more selective while accepting the scarcity or absence of virtuous paragons.

Printed newsprint glued on paper

15/12/1864

Two cut out columns of newsprint text, positioned vertically parallel, pasted onto a plus-sized A4 unlined sheet with visible warping. "Ideal Representatives" is subsequently handwritten onto the mount/paper backing as the title.