Acta Academica - Volume 35, Issue 2, August 2003
Volume 35, Issue 2, August 2003
Serieuse selfstandige soeker : C M van den Heever (1902-1957)
Source: Acta Academica 35, pp 1 –34 (2003)
Die Afrikaanse skrywer en digter C.M. van den Heever was die eerste professor in Afrikaans en Nederlands aan die Universiteit van die Witwatersrand. Gedurende die duur van sy aanstelling (1933-1957) het hy 'n belangrike rol in die ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse kultuurlewe in Johannesburg en in die vertolking van gebeure en ontwikkelinge in die literatuur en in die kultuurpolitiek gespeel. Hy was 'n toegewyde ondersteuner van noue kultuurbande tussen Nederland, Vlaandere en die Afrikaanse wêreld. Hy was 'n sterk ondersteuner van generaal J.B.M. Hertzog se beleid van versoening tussen Afrikaans- en Engelssprekendes en 'n kritikus van die kultuurpolitiek van sommige leidende Suid-Afrikaners van sy tyd, Afrikaans- én Engelssprekend. Hy word oor die algemeen as die eerste Dertiger beskou, hoewel sy latere ontwikkeling nie tipies van die Dertigers is nie. In sommige van sy kultuurbeskouinge was hy 'n voorloper van N.P. van Wyk Louw, veral oor die rol van Afrikaanse intellektueles, oor die belangrikheid van kritiese denke en ten opsigte van sy pleidooie vir 'n liberale Afrikanernasionalisme.
A profound thinker with an independent cast of mind : C.M. van den Heever (1902-1957)
The Afrikaans poet and author C.M. van den Heever was the first professor of Afrikaans and Dutch at the University of the Witwatersrand. During the term of his appointment (1933-1957) he played a key role in the development of Afrikaans cultural life in Johannesburg and in interpreting events and developments in the fields of literature and cultural politics. He was a dedicated supporter of close ties between the Dutch, Flemish and Afrikaans cultures. He strongly approved Prime Minister J.B.M. Hertzog's policy of reconciliation between Afrikaans- and English-speaking South Africans and criticised the cultural politics of many leading Afrikaans and English-speaking South Africans of his day. He is generally regarded as the first writer of the Thirties generation, although his work did not develop along the lines that later became typical of the Dertigers. In some ways he was a forerunner of N.P. van Wyk Louw's ideas on the role of Afrikaner intellectuals, the importance of critical thought and the need for a liberal Afrikaner nationalism.
Poverty eradication : the need for good citizenship
Author Wim Naude
Source: Acta Academica 35, pp 35 –61 (2003)
This paper makes use of game theory to argue that poverty and inequality can be understood as the outcome of a repeated game in which the players are caught in a poverty trap, or "prisoners' dilemma". They can escape this dilemma by means of cooperation and co-ordination, requiring appropriately designed "institutions" or "game rules". However, such institutions or game rules may be only a necessary, not a sufficient condition for this. From the perspectives of evolutionary biology and evolutionary psychology a case is made for the indispensability of good citizenship to poverty eradication.
Armoedeverligting : die noodsaaklikheid van goeie burgerskap
In hierdie artikel word daar vanuit 'n spelteoretiese perspektief geargumenteer dat armoede en ongelykheid die resultaat is van 'n herhalende spel waarin die spelers in 'n armoedevalstrik of "prisoniersdilemma" vasgevang is. Hulle kan uit hierdie gevangenskap ontsnap deur koördinering en samewerking waarvoor gepaste "instellings" of "spelreëls" nodig is. Gepaste instellings / spelreëls is egter wel 'n nodige, maar nie 'n voldoende voorwaarde vir koördinering en samewerking nie. Insigte uit die evolusionêre biologie en evolusionêre psigologie word gebruik om te argumenteer dat goeie burgerskap noodsaaklik is vir armoedeverligting.
Author Willie Van der Merwe
Source: Acta Academica 35, pp 62 –80 (2003)
Various normative stances or responses in respect of multiculturalism are distinguished and briefly evaluated. The article focuses on what can be called "mosaic multiculturalism" - a multicultural condition (and concomitant responses) in which communities and individuals strive to protect (aspects of) their value systems from contamination or erosion by others and demand public recognition of them. The article examines the justifiability of such a "politics of recognition". It tries to show that the ultimate ground of "mosaic multiculturalism" is an aporia, which allows for ongoing intercultural critique, and provides a basis for intercultural tolerance.
Multikulturalisme(s)? 'n Kritiese beoordeling
Verskeie normatiewe beskouinge van of reaksies op multikulturalisme word in hierdie artikel onderskei en kortliks beoordeel. Die fokus val op wat "mosaïek-multikulturalisme" genoem word - 'n multikulturele toestand (en die reaksies daarop) waarby gemeenskappe en indiwidue poog om (aspekte van) hulle waardesisteme te beskerm teen beïnvloeding of ondermyning deur ander waardesisteme en aandring op publieke erkenning van hul eie. Die regverdigbaarheid van so 'n "politiek van erkenning" word ondersoek. Die gevolgtrekking is dat "mosaïek-multikulturalisme" uiteindelik berus op 'n aporie, wat voortgaande interkulturele kritiek moontlik maak en tegelykertyd die grondslag lê vir interkulturele verdraagsaamheid.
Moral and medical 'prescriptions' in a fifteenth-century Sacrament play
Authors: Katharine Geldenhuys and Margaret Mary Raftery
Source: Acta Academica 35, pp 81 –102 (2003)
The purpose of this article is to investigate the manner in which Christ, perceived as present in the eucharistic host, is portrayed as the Suffering Physician in the "quack doctor" scene in the Croxton Play of the Sacrament. The dramatist's specific linguistic choices in this scene appear to have been made in an attempt to create images of and associations with the Passion and other perceived forms of healing. The many references to medicinal plants, which are particularly significant in relation to the medieval idea of Christ's role as the spiritual or moral Physician of humanity are considered in detail.
Mediese en morele 'voorskrifte' in 'n vyftiende-eeuse Sakramentspel
Hierdie artikel ondersoek die manier waarop Christus, wat deur middel van transubstansiasie as teenwoordig in die Nagmaal beskou word, in die "kwaksalwer"-toneel van die Play of the Sacrament van Croxton in Engeland, as die Lydende Geneesheer voorgestel word. Dit blyk dat die dramaturg spesifieke taalkundige keuses in hierdie toneel gedoen het om beelde van die Passie en ander vorms van genesing, asook assosiasies daarmee, te skep. Die veelvuldige verwysings na geneeskragtige plante is besonder betekenisvol in die lig van die middeleeuse konsep van Christus as die geestelike of sedelike Geneesheer van die mensdom word ondersoek.
Author Tilla Olivier
Source: Acta Academica 35, pp 103 –126 (2003)
This article offers a perspective on the topic from educational psychology, with a focus on adolescents, who often air their frustrations at growing up and developing their own unique identity by way of opposition. The literature suggests that aggressive behaviour correlates with the social environment and reaches higher levels in lower socio-economic environments. The purpose of this research was to determine teachers' experiences of aggressive adolescent behaviour at a privileged school and to provide guidelines for dealing effectively with it. A qualitative research approach was chosen. By means of analyses of the transcribed interviews central themes could be identified, and recommendations made.
Aggressiewe adolessentegedrag in skole vir bevoorregtes
Hierdie artikel bied 'n opvoedkundig-sielkundige perspektief op die adolessent wat dikwels 'n opposisie-tendens vertoon om uiting te gee aan sy frustrasies aangaande sy opgroeiproses en sy vestiging van 'n eie identiteit. In die literatuur word aggressiewe gedrag dikwels met laer sosio-ekonomiese status in verband gebring. Hierdie ondersoek wil vasstel hoe onderwysers die aggressiewe gedrag van leerders uit 'n bevoorregte omgewing op skool ervaar, asook riglyne daarstel vir die doeltreffende hantering van sulke gedrag. 'n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is gevolg. By wyse van die analisering van die getranskribeerde onderhoude kon sentrale temas geïdentifiseer en dienooreenkomstig aanbevelings gemaak word.
Authors: Gladys Phaswana and Karl Peltzer
Source: Acta Academica 35, pp 127 –147 (2003)
The purpose of this study was to investigate the way in which the tobacco issue has been framed in the mass media in South Africa. 363 South African newspaper articles published from January 1997 to December 2001 were analysed. Of the 224 articles finally selected for analysis, 100 were in line with the tobacco interest group and 124 supported the tobacco control group. The dominant frames used by the tobacco industry included "good product for the economy", "concern about teenagers and youth", "government's role in reducing marketing visibility and destruction of jobs" and "discrimination and segregation". The dominant frames used by the tobacco control advocates included "death/diseases", "innocent children", "smokers in great danger", "glamourisation of smoking; intentional lie", "passive smokers' rights" and "smoking areas". A major finding is that the frames used by both the tobacco control movement and the tobacco industry have changed over time. The tobacco industry has been steadfast in consistently targeting core human values as its dominant framing tactic. The finding may have implications for developing more effective arguments for tobacco policies.
Koerantdekking van Suid-Afrikaanse tabakkwessies, 1997-2001
Die doel van die studie was om die wyse waarop tabakaangeleentheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse massamedia aangebied word, te ondersoek. 363 Suid-Afrikaanse koerantartikels wat vanaf Januarie 1997 tot Desember 2001 gepubliseer is, is ontleed. Van die 224 artikels wat uiteindelik geselekteer is vir ontleding, was 100 die tabakbelangegroep goedgesind, terwyl 124 die tabakbeheergroep gesteun het. Die algemeenste argumente wat deur die tabakbedryf gebruik is, was dat tabak "'n goeie produk vir die ekonomie" was; dat hulle 'n "besorgdheid oor tieners en jeugdiges" koester; dat "die regering sigbare bemarking wegneem en werksgeleenthede vernietig" en dat die owerheidsmaatreëls "diskriminasie en segregasie" in die hand werk. Die voorstaanders van tabakbeheermaatreëls het weer meestal van argumentasiekaders soos "sterftes / siektes", "onskuldige kinders", "rokers in groot gevaar", "romantisering van rookgewoonte; opsetlike leuen", "passiewe rokers se regte" en "rookareas" gebruik.'n Belangrike bevinding is dat die argumentasiekaders wat gebruik word deur die tabakbeheergroep sowel as die tabakindustrie, met verloop van tyd verander het. Die tabakindustrie het deurgaans sy argumentasiekadering toegespits op menslike kernwaardes. Die bevinding kan van nut wees in die ontwikkeling van meer effektiewe argumente ten opsigte van tabakbeleid.
Authors: Sally Matthews and Hussein Solomon
Source: Acta Academica 35, pp 148 –168 (2003)
One of the goals of the African renaissance and related projects is the transformation of the power relations between the West and Africa. This paper demonstrates the way in which western discourses on Africa perpetuate problematic power relations. The portrayal of Africa as an ailing patient in need of western assistance is scrutinised. These discourses are shown to be part of the complex structures which allow western dominance to continue. The African renaissance's response is briefly discussed, with special attention to NEPAD. Finally, the paper suggests a new response, emphasising the importance of challenging western discourses as part of the African renaissance.
Die noodsaak om westerse politieke diskoerse uit te daag deur die Afrika-renaissance
Een van die doelstellings van die Afrika-renaissance en verwante projekte is die transformasie van magsverhoudinge tussen die Weste en Afrika. Die wyse waarop westerse diskoerse oor Afrika problematiese magsverhoudinge tussen die Weste en Afrika perpetueer, word in die artikel aangetoon. Diskoerse wat Afrika as 'n kwynende pasiënt beskryf wat westerse hulp benodig, word onder die loep geneem. Daar word aangetoon dat hierdie diskoerse deel van die komplekse strukture is wat die westerse dominansie laat voortduur. Die strewe na 'n Afrika-renaissance antwoord op hierdie diskoerse word kortliks bespreek en spesiale aandag word aan die NEPAD-inisiatief verleen. Voorstelle word gemaak oor hoe die Afrika-renaissance behoort te reageer op westerse diskoerse, met spesiale klem op die belangrikheid daarvan om die westerse diskoerse uit te daag.
Mythmaking as self-making and nation-building : a reading of Wole Soyinka's "Idanre"
Author Sandile Ndaba
Source: Acta Academica 35, pp 169 –183 (2003)
This paper investigates how Soyinka uses Yoruba mythology in his poem "Idanre". It avers that Soyinka uses Ogun as his tutelary deity in an attempt at self-reclamation and nation-building. It shows how Soyinka transposes the nature and symbolism of Ogun in Yoruba mythology to an interpretation of the contemporary postcolonial socio-political situation in Africa. Furthermore, the paper argues that Soyinka borrows mythical symbols from Greek mythology and blends these with those from Yoruba myth in an attempt to forge a new, hybrid African identity.
Mitevorming as selfvorming en nasiebou : 'n interpretasie van Wole Soyinka se "Idanre"
In hierdie artikel word die wyse ondersoek waarop Wole Soyinka Yoruba mitologie in sy gedig "Idanre" benut. Die afleiding is dat Soyinka Ogun as sy beskermgod aanwend in 'n poging om selfherwinning en nasiebou te bewerkstellig. Daar word aangetoon hoe Soyinka die aard en simboliese waarde van Ogun in Yoruba-mitologie transponeer om 'n interpretasie van die eietydse postkoloniale en sosiopolitieke situasie in Afrika moontlik te maak. Voorts word geredeneer dat Soyinka simbole uit die Griekse mitologie met dié uit die Yoruba-mites vermeng in 'n poging om 'n nuwe hibridiese Afrika-identiteit daar te stel.
AIDS in schools : a human rights perspective on parameters for sexuality education
Source: Acta Academica 35, pp 184 –204 (2003)
This article is set against the background of a sustained HIV / AIDS epidemic affecting the South African population, including the education sector. It explores the education sector's responses to the epidemic in the area of sexuality education for learners. It is submitted that lifeskills education - the main medium for imparting sexuality education - is an essential instrument in the armamentarium against HIV / AIDS. However, lifeskills education is not value-free. The values that underpin lifeskills education are libertarian in orientation. They cherish diversity, and do not sit easily with a sectarian view of life. The success of lifeskills education will depend, in part, on striking an acceptable balance between the duty of the school to impart the knowledge and skills essential for development and survival, the evolving capacity of the learner, and parental authority. In the final analysis, the impetus is towards a sexuality education in which the core values of human dignity, liberty and equality are protected and promoted in accordance with the imperatives of the Constitution.
VIGS in skole : parameters vir die seksualiteitsopvoeding vanuit 'n menseregteperspektief
Hierdie artikel is geskryf teen die agtergrond van 'n volgehoue MIV / VIGS-epidemie met volskaalse effek op al die sektore in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing, insluitende die onderwys. Die reaksie van die onderwyssektor op die epidemie is op die gebied van seksualiteitopvoeding vir leerders ondersoek. Die vertrekpunt is dat onderrig van lewensvaardighede - die hoofmedium waardeur seksualiteitsopvoeding gegee word - 'n essensiële instrument is in die bewapening teen MIV / VIGS. Opvoeding in lewensvaardighede het egter 'n prys nie, aangesien die waardes wat lewensvaardighede onderlê libertyns van aard is. Hoewel diversiteit dus gekoester word, word ongemak met 'n sektariese uitkyk op die lewe bespeur. Die sukses van onderrig in lewensvaardighede sal deels daarvan afhang om 'n aanvaarbare balans te vind tussen die plig van skole om kennis en vaardighede oor te dra (wat essensieel is vir ontwikkeling en oorlewing), die vormende kapasiteit van die leerder, asook die outoriteit van die ouer. Uit die finale analise blyk dit dat die noodsaaklikheid van seksualiteitsopvoeding in ooreenstemming met die Grondwet is waarin die kernwaardes van menslike waardigheid, gelykheid en vryheid beskerm en bevorder moet word.
Coping styles and quality of life in people with HIV / AIDS : a review
Authors: Mignon Coetzee and Judora Spangenberg
Source: Acta Academica 35, pp 205 –222 (2003)
In the midst of the dramatic global escalation of the HIV / AIDS pandemic, the relative longevity of patients continues to increase. The success with which one manages to cope with the continuous stress attached to HIV / AIDS impacts directly on one's quality of life. It is therefore of major importance to determine which coping styles correlate positively with quality of life in people with HIV / AIDS. In general, the research literature indicates that problem-focused, active coping styles are superior to emotion-focused, passive coping styles, including avoidance. However, interesting contradictory findings have come to light in South Africa, namely that an avoidant coping style also seems to be beneficial in the African socio-cultural context.
Streshanteringstyle in die lewenskwaliteit van mense met MIV / VIGS : 'n oorsig
Te midde van die dramatiese wêreldwye eskalasie van die MIV / VIGS-pandemie, is daar 'n volgehoue toename in die oorlewingstyd van mense wat aan die siekte ly. Die sukses waarmee 'n individu die voortdurende stres verbonde aan MIV / VIGS hanteer, het 'n direkte impak op sy of haar lewenskwaliteitervaring. Dit is dus essensieel om vas te stel watter streshanteringstyle positief verband hou met beter lewenskwaliteit vir mense met MIV / VIGS. Die bevindinge in navorsingsliteratuur dui oor die algemeen daarop dat probleemgeoriënteerde, aktiewe streshanteringstyle meer doeltreffend is as emosiegeoriënteerde, passiewe streshanteringstyle, insluitend vermyding. In Suid-Afrika het egter interessante teenstrydige bevindings aan die lig gekom, naamlik dat vermyding skynbaar ook in hierdie verband voordelig is binne die sosiokulturele konteks van Afrika.