The final image in her series was the simplest: her own hand, holding Iris’s last letter, the ink so faded it was almost a whisper.
Here is a comprehensive review of Loslyf magazine, broken down by its historical context, content, cultural impact, and legacy.
Hattingh’s editorial letters boldly proclaimed that the magazine was meant for ordinary, adult Afrikaans speakers who wanted to see their natural human desires reflected openly in print, rather than whispered about in bars or around a family braai (barbecue). By bringing the Afrikaans language—previously weaponized as the language of state oppression—into the realm of raw, uninhibited human sexuality, Loslyf attempted to strip the language of its rigid, authoritarian connotations. loslyf magazine
The magazine frequently used biting satire and dark humor to mock conservative politicians and religious figures who attempted to censor them.
Whether writing about sex, art, or politics, always tie it back to the question of what it means to live in South Africa today. to be more satirical or academic? The final image in her series was the
The specific the magazine faced
Loslyf (meaning "loose-bodied" or "relaxed") holds a unique and controversial place in South African media history. Launched in , it was the first—and for a long time, the only—pornographic magazine published in Afrikaans . to be more satirical or academic
What is next for this upstart publication? According to internal leaks and investor pitches (the magazine recently accepted a small grant from a mental health non-profit), plans are underway for a physical edition. However, staying true to their brand, it will not be a glossy, perfect print magazine.
The magazine’s editors have responded to this directly in their third issue's editor's letter: "We do not romanticize struggle. We document its texture. There is a difference between celebrating dysfunction and acknowledging that life, for most people, does not look like an Ikea catalog. We are not saying 'stay poor.' We are saying 'stop pretending you aren't.'"
Loslyf Magazine flipped the script. Its tagline? “Celebrating the beautiful mess.”