Volume 39, Issue 3, 2007
Acta Academica - Volume 39, Issue 3, December 2007
Volume 39, Issue 3, December 2007
'The secret self' : time, memory and childhood in two short stories by Katherine Mansfield
Author Candice Kent
Source: Acta Academica 39, pp 1 –20 (2007)
'Die geheime self' : tyd, geheue en kindsdae in twee kort verhale deur Katherine Mansfield
Hierdie artikel ondersoek Katherine Mansfield se denkbeeld van die self deur middel van twee van haar kort verhale 'Prelude' (1918) en 'At the bay' (1922), en haar biografiese werke. Dit koppel haar begeerte om "die geheime self" te erken met haar voorkeur om bestaande selfidees en die uitdrukking daarvan te ondersoek. Mansfield wou die self ondersoek wanneer dit minder teruggehoue was, daarom fokus hierdie artikel op haar werke wat terugkyk na haar kindsdae en op Mansfield se vindingryke gebruik van tyd om eienskappe van die geheue voor te stel. Dit ondersoek Mansfieldiese kuns en verskille tussen die konvensies en tradisies van Edwardiaanse literatuur, en hoe sy beïnvloed was deur, en haar verhouding met, haar tydgenote soos Virginia Woolf en D H Lawrence met wie sy gekorrespondeer het, en wat haar dus ook in 'n modernistiese konteks plaas. Deur gebruik te maak van Kristeva se geskrifte ondersoek dit ook hoe Freud se konsep van die onbewuste in Mansfield se fiksie funksioneer. Mansfield se onderskeidende stem as skrywer is vervleg met haar verkenning van idees van die self.
This article examines Katherine Mansfield's notion of self by considering two of her short stories, 'Prelude' (1918) and 'At the bay' (1922), as well as her biographical writing. It links her desire to acknowledge "the secret self" with her inclination to examine and contest existing notions of the self and its expression in fiction. Mansfield was concerned with exploring the self at its least inhibited, and for this reason the article focuses on works that draw on childhood reminiscences. It also discusses Mansfield's innovative use of time to suggest the properties of memory. It explores how Mansfield's art differed from the conventions and traditions of Edwardian fiction, as well as how she was influenced by, and stood in relation to contemporaries with whom she corresponded, such as Virginia Woolf and D H Lawrence, thus also placing her in a modernist context. It also examines how Freud's concept of the unconscious functions in Mansfield's fiction, drawing on Kristeva's writing for this analysis. It argues that Mansfield's achievement of her distinctive voice as a writer is interwoven with her exploration of ideas of self.
'Now, what has become of our prayers and supplications?' Faith in an Anglo-Boer War concentration camp of 1901
Source: Acta Academica 39, pp 21 –44 (2007)
'Ag, wat het van ons gebede en versugtinge geword?' Geloof in 'n konsentrasiekamp gedurende die Anglo-Boereoorlog 1901
Gedurende die Anglo-Boereoorlog (1899-1902) het die Christelike geloof 'n bepalende en belangrike rol gespeel in die konsentrasiekampe. Hierdie artikel gaan in op die dagboek van 'n jong aspirant predikant, A D Luckhoff (1874-1963). Hy het hom na voltooiing van sy teologiese opleiding beskikbaar gestel vir die bediening in die konsentrasiekamp van Bethulie. Sy dagboek word geanaliseer met die oog daarop om die spiritualiteit, onderliggende teologiese oortuigings, refleksie én aanvegting, bloot te lê. Dit word begelei met teologies-kritiese vraagstelling, historiese aantekeninge sowel as vergelyking met die dagboek van Renche van der Walt (1878-1948) wat 'n tydgenootlike inwoner van dieselfde kamp was. Deur die dagboek so ver as moontlik self aan die woord te stel, word verseker dat die geestelike en emosionele aard daarvan behou word. Die bedoeling is om aan te dui dat die beoefening van die Christelike geloof inderdaad 'n veel meer gekompliseerde en komplekse aangeleentheid gedurende die oorlog was, as wat algemeen aanvaar word.
Christian faith played a significant and decisive role in the concentration camps of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). This article focuses on the diary of A D Luckhoff (1874-1963) who, after completing his theological training, volunteered for the ministry in the concentration camp at Bethulie. The anguish, distress and trials of this inexperienced young clergyman are disclosed by allowing the diary to speak for itself, thus ensuring that its profound spiritual and emotional character is retained in the exposition. Alongside this exposition, observations and historical notes are appended, as well as questions concerning the diarist's underlying theological convictions, which are compared and contrasted with those evinced in the contemporary diary of a young female resident of the camp, Rensche van der Walt (1878-1948). The ensuing analysis aims to demonstrate that Christian faith was a more complicated and complex issue during this war than has yet been realised.
Religion, legal scholarship and higher education : perspectives for the South African context
Author Shaun De Freitas
Source: Acta Academica 39, pp 45 –66 (2007)
Godsdiens, regsgeleerdheid en hoëronderwys : perspektiewe vir die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks
Hierdie artikel ondersoek die verhouding tussen godsdiens (in beide die tradisionele en die wye sin) en regsgeleerdheid in Suid-Afrika, met spesifieke klem op die aard van die Fakulteite van Regsgeleerdheid asook die universiteite. Die hedendaagse benadering van regsgeleerdheid word grootliks beperk tot die pragmatiese en die empiriese, in sterk opposisie met enige godsdiens. In hierdie opsig spruit daar kommerwekkende implikasies rakende die akkomodering van godsdienstige werklikheidsperspektiewe en dit is veral die aanhangers van godsdiens in die tradisionele sin wat gevolglik die onderspit delf. Veral wat laasgenoemde betref word aspekte van vakinhoud in die LLB-program gekritiseer. Onderwys, in 'n universiteitskonteks, vereis vryheid om die waarheid te ontdek, gedrewe deur verbintenisse en perspektiewe omtrent die mensdom en wat fundamenteel is, ingeslote die akkomodering van godsdiens, met spesifieke verwysing na godsdiens in die tradisionele sin. Laasgenoemde insig het veral betrekking op onderwys in die reg en by implikasie die geesteswetenskappe in die algemeen.
This article investigates the relationship between religion (in both the traditional and the broader sense) and legal scholarship in South Africa, with special emphasis on the nature of Faculties of Law and universities. The contemporary approach of legal scholarship is overwhelmingly limited to the pragmatic and the empirical, and vehemently in opposition to anything religious. This has dire implications for the accommodation of religious views on reality, and particularly disadvantages adherents of religion in the traditional sense. In this context, critical views on the LLB curriculum pertaining to subject content are included. University education, being driven by commitments and perspectives about mankind and about ultimates, including the accommodation of religion (with specific reference to religion in the traditional sense), requires freedom if it is to discover truth. This is especially true for the dissemination of the law, and by implication for the humanities in general.
The tale of three mayors : mayoral politics in the Unicity of Cape Town
Source: Acta Academica 39, pp 67 –105 (2007)
Die verhaal van drie burgemeesters : burgemeesterspolitiek in die Uniestad van Kaapstad
Vanaf Desember 2000 tot Junie 2003, die termyn wat in hierdie artikel gedek word, het die Raad van die Uniestad van Kaapstad drie burgemeesters gehad wat elk op 'n unieke wyse die Raad gelei het soos wat hulle gehandel het met die verskillende magte wat 'n impak op hulle en die Raad gehad het. Die burgemeesters moes groot veranderings in institusionele, politieke en sosiale prosesse bestuur. Die handelinge van die drie burgemeesters, Raadslede Pieter Marais, Gerald Morkel en Nomaindia Mfeketo word in hierdie artikel bespreek. Met 'n vergelykende beskrywing poog die artikel om by te dra tot 'n begrip van die vroeë burgemeesters politiek in die Uniestad van Kaapstad.
From December 2000 to June 2003, the term covered in this article, the Council of the Unicity of Cape Town had three mayors, each directing it in a unique way as they dealt with the various powers which had an impact on them and the Council. The mayors had to manage changing institutional, political and social processes. This study describes the actions of the three mayors, Aldermen Pieter Marais, Gerald Morkel and Nomaindia Mfeketo, and provides a comparative analysis which attempts to contribute to an understanding of early mayoral politics in the Unicity of Cape Town.
Pleknaamsverandering in Suid-Afrika : bevestiging van ANC mag, gesag, wettigheid en 'selfrespek'
Source: Acta Academica 39, pp 106 –128 (2007)
Place name changing in South Africa : affirming ANC power, authority, legitimacy and 'self-esteem'
Power and authority appear to underlie changes in nomenclature resulting from a need to assure and convince the supporters of a new regime that names which previously symbolised their oppression and domination have become unacceptable and must be replaced by names suiting the ethos of the new, liberating dispensation. New symbols are generated to ensure the acceptability of the new regime and to reflect the new collective values and history which will be prioritised and considered to be of importance. The symbolism underlying changes in nomenclature and the ANC's realisation of the significance of renaming form the main focus of this article, which is based mainly on newspaper sources. Throughout South Africa the tangible symbolism of the success story of liberation may be identified: in street names commemorating the "terrorists" of the previous era, in the decolonisation of the names of provinces, and in other indisputable testimony that - by means of changes in nomenclature, inter alia - this country has also finally become inherently part of Africa.
Dit blyk dat mag en gesag ten grondslag lê van naamsverandering vanweë die noodsaak om 'n nuwe bewind se ondersteuners te oortuig dat name wat hulle vroeëre onderdrukking en oorheersing versimboliseer het, onaanvaarbaar geword het en deur die etos van die nuwe bevrydende bewind vervang moet word. Nuwe simbole word gegenereer om die aanvaarbaarheid van die nuwe bewind te verseker en weerspieël die nuwe kollektiewe waardes en geskiedenis wat in die toekoms voorop gestel en as belangrik geag sal word. Die simboliek van naamsverandering en die ANC se besef van die belangrikheid daarvan word in hierdie artikel (sterk gebaseer op koerantnavorsing) sentraal gestel. Oral in Suid-Afrika is die tasbare simboliek van die suksesverhaal van bevryding af te lees, die verheerliking deur straatname van persoonlikhede wat die "terroriste" van die vorige bewind was, die dekolonisering van provinsiale name en die onbetwisbare getuienis dat Suid-Afrika ook deur sy naamgewing, uiteindelik 'n inherente deel van Afrika word.
Mothers and sex education : an explorative study in a low-income Western Cape community
Authors: Elmien Lesch and Liezl Anthony
Source: Acta Academica 39, pp 129 –151 (2007)
Moeders en seksopvoeding : 'n verkennende ondersoek in 'n Wes-Kaapse lae-inkomste gemeenskap
Sosiaal-konstruksionistiese begronde-teorie metode is gebruik om die rol van moeders in dogters se seksopvoeding te verken in een lae-inkomste Wes-Kaapse gemeenskap. Met onderhoude is moeders se persepsies van hulle dogters se seksualiteit, asook hulle interaksies met hulle dogters daaroor ondersoek. Daar is gevind dat moeders ongemaklik was om seksuele kwessies met dogters te bespreek; gerig was op die gevare verbonde aan hul dogters se seksualiteit; gepoog het om hul dogters teen gevaar te beskerm deur seksuele verkenning te ontmoedig, en beperkte vermoë het vir openlike seksuele besprekings. Dit word beklemtoon dat moeders se beperkende konstruksies van vroulike seksualiteit en seksopvoeding aandag moet geniet in seksopvoedingsprogramme in hierdie gemeenskap.
Using a social constructionist grounded theory method, the investigation reported on in this study explored the role of mothers in their daughters' sex education in a low-income Western Cape community. Mothers were interviewed in order to explore how they viewed their daughters' sexuality and how they interacted with their daughters about it. The mothers were found to be uncomfortable with discussing sexual issues with their daughters; to equate their daughters' sexuality with danger; to attempt to protect their daughters from danger by discouraging sexual exploration, and to have only a limited capability for open sexual discussion. It is argued here that mothers' limiting constructions of female sexuality and sex education should be targeted in sex education programmes in this community.
The transforming influence of the Greeks on Roman medical practice
Source: Acta Academica 39, pp 152 –164 (2007)
Die transformerende invloed van die Grieke op Romeinse geneeskunde
Toe Rome Griekeland in die tweede eeu vC verower, was daar geen Romeinse ekwivalent van Griekse rasionele geneeskunde soos daargestel deur Hippokrates en die Aleksandryne nie. Romeinse geneeskunde was van kwasi-religieuse aard, deurdrenk met volkstradisies en kruie-medikamente; die paterfamilias het binne familieverband siekes (familielede, slawe, selfs diere) met 'n verskeidenheid volksgeneesmiddels behandel. Griekse rasionele geneeskunde, aanvanklik deur veral die Romeinse elite baie skepties ontvang, het egter stelselmatig die Romeinse toneel getransformeer. Die impak van bygeloof en magiese kragte is verplaas deur vertroue in die natuurwetenskap soos destyds verstaan. Kruiegeneeskunde en die Asklepios-kultus se tempel-geneeskunde het egter invloedryk gebly, en Rome het ook 'n eie unieke bydrae gelewer in die veld van higiëne (veral deur voorsiening van water, dreinering en riolering) en militêre geneeskunde (daarstelling van die eerste hospitale). Griekse geneeshere is mettertyd deur Romeinse kollegas vervang, en teen die die vyfde eeu het Latyn 'n beduidende mediese skryftaal geword. Weens 'n grotendeel foutiewe begrip van basiese mediese wetenskappe was Griekse rasionele geneeskunde in die praktyk nie noodwendig meer effektief as Romeinse volksgeneeskunde nie.
When Rome conquered Greece in the second century BC, she had no equivalent to Greek rational medicine as established by Hippocrates and the Alexandrians. Roman medicine was of a quasi-religious nature, with a strong element of folk traditions and herbal medicine; the paterfamilias would treat any sickness in the family (including slaves and even animals) with his array of folk remedies. Greek rational medicine was initially received with great skepticism by the Roman elite, in particular, but it gradually transformed the scene, replacing superstition and magic with a reliance on rational science as it was understood at the time. However, the belief in herbal remedies and the Asclepian cult of temple medicine remained strong. Rome also made its own unique contributions in the fields of hygiene (effective water supplies, sewage and drainage) and military medicine (including the introduction of the first hospitals). Roman doctors gradually replaced their Greek colleagues, and by the fifth century Latin had established itself as a significant medical language. In practice Roman folk medicine was not necessarily much inferior to Greek rational medicine, because the latter was based on ill-understood and largely erroneous concepts of medical science.
Wildlife tourism : creating memorable and differentiated experiences
Source: Acta Academica 39, pp 165 –182 (2007)
Wildlewetoerisme : skep van onderskeibare ervarings wat onthou sal word
Die studie probeer vasstel of wildbesigtiging in wildreservate ervarings bied wat besoekers sal onthou omdat dit anderssoortig is en die lewensiklus van die wildbedryf in Suid-Afrika sal verleng. 'n Verskeidenheid kwalitatiewe metodes is gebruik; onderhoude is gevoer met 68 besoekers wat 267 nagte by verskillende wildoorde aangrensend aan die Kruger Nasionale Park oornag het, asook met 50 beïnvloeders en rolspelers. By hul vertrek was die besoekers uitgelate, en die ervaring was vir hulle buitengewoon. Hulle het 'n fantasiewêreld uit vergange se dae beleef en vir 'n wyle die diere se wêreld gedeel. Die besoek het aan 'n behoefte na avontuur voldoen en 'n diepgewortelde begeerte om diere in 'n egte wildernis te sien.
The purpose of the study reported here was to investigate whether wildlife viewing at privately-owned game reserves in South Africa creates memorable and differentiated experiences capable of extending the lifecycle of the wildlife industry. Various qualitative methods were used; 68 visitors who spent a total of 267 bed nights at various lodges adjacent to the Kruger National Park were interviewed, along with 50 influencers and role-players. Upon departure visitors were ecstatic, as the experience had been unique. They had lived in a fantasy world of the past and shared the animals' environment for a while. The visit had satisfied their spirit of adventure, as well as their long-term fascination with seeing animals in a genuine wilderness.
Teaching Pre-medical Science to large groups : matching teaching and learning styles in higher education
Author Nico Allers
Source: Acta Academica 39, pp 183 –199 (2007)
Groot Pre-mediese Wetenskapklasse : gepaste hoëronderwysonderrig- en leerstyle
Hierdie studie vergelyk die voorkeur van verskillende leerstyle onder studente in 'n groot klas vir Premediese Wetenskap met die voorkeur in onderrigstyle van hul dosente. In die studie word 'n analise en evaluering ingesluit van die onderrigmetodes en hulpmiddels wat huidiglik deur hierdie groep dosente gebruik word. Dit analiseer en evalueer ook die huidige onderrigmetodes en hulpmiddele wat hierdie groep dosente gebruik. 'n Kritiese analise van die data toon dat studente 'n groter voorkeur toon vir koöperatiewe en aktiewe onderrig-/leerervaringe as vir die tradisionele onderrigmetodes wat tans deur dosente gebruik word. Die studie beklemtoon verder die belangrikheid dat studente aktief en koöperatief betrokke sal wees in die onderrig- /leerproses. Daardeur kan kognitiewe vaardighede, soos kreatiewe denke, interpretasie, kritiese denke en probleem-oplossende denke ontwikkel word.
This study compares the various preferred learning styles of students in a large Premedical Science class with the various preferred teaching styles of the lecturers. It includes an analysis and evaluation of the teaching methods and aids actually used by lecturers. Critical analysis of the data revealed that students have a stronger preference for being taught by means of co-operative and active teaching / learning experiences than their lecturers have for using such means. The emphasis of the study thus falls on the importance of actively involving students in the teaching / learning process by way of co-operative teaching / learning methods. This would be likely to enhance the students' ability to utilise cognitive skills such as creative thinking, interpretation, critical thinking and problem-solving.
Onderwysers in die Wes-Kaap se persepsies en belewing van huidige onderwysveranderinge : vir of teen?
Author Arend Carl
Source: Acta Academica 39, pp 200 –223 (2007)
Western Cape teachers' perceptions and experiences of current educational changes : for or against?
Within the context of the South African education system, teachers have been confronted with extensive curriculum changes over the past 10 years. The role of the teacher is vital in the successful implementation of new curricula. How do teachers experience and perceive the curriculum changes which have confronted them? An investigation was undertaken into these aspects of change, specifically with regard to Grade 10-12 teachers, who have been exposed to the introduction of the new National Senior Certificate curriculum since 2006. Important findings were made regarding both teachers' perceptions of the recent curriculum changes. The main argument of this article is that teachers' perceptions do not necessarily indicate that they are negative about these changes or that they resist them, but that they are influenced by other factors.
Binne die konteks van onlangse kurrikulumverandering ten opsigte van die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwysstelsel is onderwysers die afgelope 10 jaar met omvattende veranderinge gekonfronteer. Die rol van die onderwyser ten opsigte van die suksesvolle implementering van nuwe kurrikula is van kardinale belang. Hoe ervaar onderwysers hierdie verandering en wat is hul persepsies van die kurrikulumverandering waaraan hulle blootgestel word? 'n Ondersoek is geloods om hierdie aspekte te ondersoek, spesifiek ten opsigte van die graad 10-12 onderwysers wat vanaf 2006 blootgestel word aan die infasering van die nuwe Nasionale Senior Sertifikaat-kurrikulum. Belangrike bevindinge is gemaak ten opsigte van onderwysers se persepsies van onlangse kurrikulumveranderinge.
Mid-career problems of academics in higher education
Authors: Cobus Pienaar and Coen Bester
Source: Acta Academica 39, pp 224 –237 (2007)
Middelloopbaanprobleme van akademici in hoëronderwys
Die doel van die studie was om die kenmerkende loopbaandprobleme van akademiese personeel gedurende die middelloopbaanfase binne 'n veranderende Suid-Afrkaanse hoëronderwysinstelling te verken en te identifiseer. Die data is bekom deur middel van die Delphi-tegniek om respondente in staat te stel om vryelik aan te dui wat hulle ervaar. Respondente moes die belangrikste loopbaanprobleme wat hulle tans in hulle werksomgewing ervaar, identifiseer. Die prominente loopbaanprobleme wat geïdentifiseer is behels probleme aangaande prestasiebestuur en bevordering; roloorbelading; finansiële vergoeding; bestuurskwessies; gebrek aan werksekuriteit en diskriminasie. Die implikasie van hierdie bevindinge is dat topbestuur van hierdie probleme moet kennis neem en dat daar in samewerking met akademici wat hulle in hierdie loopbaanfase bevind, daadwerklike stappe geneem moet word om die geïdentifiseerde probleme aan te spreek.
The purpose of this study was to explore and identify typical mid-career problems experienced by academic staff working at a changing institution of higher education in South Africa. Data were obtained by means of the Delphi technique in order to enable respondents to reveal their experiences fully. Respondents had to identify the most prominent career problems that they were experiencing in the work environment. The problems thus identified related, inter alia, to performance management and promotion; role overload; financial remuneration; management issues; lack of job security, and discrimination. The implication of these results is that top managements should familiarise themselves with these problems and take the necessary steps to address them in collaboration with academics in the mid-career stage.
Society and the multiple communities of higher education
Author Milly Daweti
Source: Acta Academica 39, pp 238 –257 (2007)
Die samelewing en meervoudige hoëronderwysgemeenskappe
Professionele belangstellings, persoonlike verbintenisse, rolle en diensvoorwaardes wat groepe identifiseer en afsonder, is lank reeds deel van universitêre tradisies. Professionele gemaksones word egter versteur namate nuwe sosiale en institusionele eise na vore tree. Tradisionele praktykgemeenskappe word toenemend oop en deelnemend. In hierdie artikel word die moontlikhede en probleme wat hierdie gemeenskappe in die gesig staar belig vanuit nasionale en institusionele hoeke. Ondersoek word ingestel na gemeenskappe wat op grond van kurrikulumontwerpbesluite die lig sien, gesprekke wat plaasvind tussen outeurs en lesers van studietekste, asook kennisdomeine waaraan legitimiteit verleen word of wat verwerp word. Daar word spesifiek na die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika (UNISA) verwys ter illustrasie van sommige van die uitdagings van veranderende omstandighede by onderriginstellings en die samelewing.
Professional interests, affiliations, roles, and conditions of service that identify and separate groups have long been established within university traditions. As new social and institutional imperatives emerge, however, professional comfort zones are disturbed. Traditional communities of practice are gradually becoming more open and more participatory. This paper investigates the possibilities and complexities of community building from national and institutional perspectives. The communities created by means of curriculum design decisions, conversations between authors and readers of teaching and learning texts, and knowledge domains which are either legitimised or rejected will also be explored. The University of South Africa (UNISA) will be used as an example to illustrate some of the challenges presented by the changing conditions of institutions and society.