African Journals Online
Acta Academica

Volume 33, Issue 1, 2001
ABSTRACTS

Doubling effects in Michael K: the text, the language and the writer

Sarinjeive, Devi

Abstract: This paper seeks to correct binary readings of Life & Times of Michael K by using a post-modernist paradigm that takes into account contradictions and paradoxes in the text. By reading through a revisionary postmodern escape-entrapment framework, the encoded presence of resistance and its effectiveness in praxis in the allegorical narrative and language are assessed. It is also shown how the writer, J.M. Coetzee, in his discursive practices and philosophical standpoint, is caught up in the linguistic web he himself weaves.

Verdubbelingseffekte in Michael K: die teks, die taal en die skrywer

Hierdie artikel poog om 'n binêre lesing van Life & Times of Michael K te korrigeer deur van 'n postmodernistiese paradigma gebruik te maak wat die teenstrydighede en paradokse van die teks in ag neem. Deur aan die hand van 'n hersienende, postmodernistiese "escape-entrapment"-raamwerk te lees word die geënkodeerde aanwesigheid van weerstand en die effektiwiteit daarvan in die praktyk in die allegoriese verhaal en die taal beoordeel. Daar word ook gewys hoe die outeur, J.M. Coetzee, in sy redenering en filosofiese standpunte vasgevang word in die linguistiese web wat hy weef.

Institutionalising parliament in South Africa: the challenges to parliamentary leadership

Kotze, Hennie

Abstract: As democratisation moves from a transitional phase to one of consolidation, the legislature becomes integral to the process. In South Africa, the conflict-regulating capacity of the new democratic system is determined to a large extent by the constitutionally created institutions, on the one hand, and political leadership, on the other. This study will attempt to gauge the attitudes of the South African elites and the public to the performance or worth of parliament as an emerging institution in the aftermath of the country's first democratic elections, and in so doing, to ascertain the progress of the institutionalisation process. It is argued that attitudes are based primarily upon the performance of parliament, with the parliamentary leadership and the opportunities and dilemmas it faces forming the core of this discussion.

Die institusionalisering van die parlement in Suid-Afrika: die uitdagings vir parlementêre leierskap

In die oorgangsfase van transisie na konsolidering word die wetgewende gesag 'n integrale deel van die konsolideringsproses in nuwe demokrasieë. In Suid-Afrika word die konflikregulerende kapasiteit van die nuwe demokratiese stelsel in 'n groot mate bepaal deur die konstitusioneel-ontwerpte instellings en politieke leierskap. Hierdie studie poog om elite en openbare houdings oor die werkverrigting of waarde van die parlement as 'n ontluikende demokratiese instelling te toets ten einde vordering in die institusionalisering daarvan vas te stel. 'n Groot deel van die bespreking word gewy aan die bestaande houdings oor die waarde van die parlement, en die geleenthede en dilemmas wat dit aan die parlementêre leierskorps bied.

Music as an agent to human development: a systems approach

Van Schalkwyk, Gertina

Abstract: Human beings are uniquely rhythmic beings - without rhythm there is no life. From conception to death the human being is embedded in rhythmic patterns and pulsations. Patterns of biological and personal functioning represent the everchanging rhythmical dance of life. This article will discuss the connections between the structural and functional components of the individual and music. The dynamic processes observed in the interactions between the human being and music in various contexts lead to an understanding of the dynamics of developmental outcomes which are never a steady hum, but rather symphonic.

Musiek en menslike ontwikkeling: 'n sistemiese benadering

Die mens is 'n unieke ritmiese wese - sonder ritme is daar geen lewe nie. Van konsepsie tot die dood is daar 'n verweefdheid met ritmiese patrone en die polsing van die lewe self. Patrone en prosesse van biologiese en persoonlike funksionering is 'n voortgaande ritmiese dans. In hierdie artikel word die verwantskap tussen die strukturele en funksionele komponente van die individu en musiek bespreek. Dit is 'n dinamiese proses wat uit die interaksies tussen die mens en musiek in verskillende kontekste lei tot 'n nuwe begrip vir die dinamiese ontwikkelingsuitkomste wat in die simfonie van die lewe teenwoordig is.

Practise what you preach: Stanford's German songs

Van der Mescht, Heinrich

Abstract: Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) had an immense influence on the young composers who were his students at the Royal College of Music in London where he taught from 1883. Unlike many other composers, Stanford committed his views on composition to paper: they are to be found in his book Musical composition: a short treatise for students (1911) and in certain chapters (especially "The composition of music") of his book Interludes, records and reflections (1922). The application of his strict ideas on composition to his own German songs (all eighteen on texts by Heine), reveals that he generally adheres to his own advice: he practises what he preaches. An analysis of the songs also shows them to be worthy of much wider recognition. With a few exceptions, the meaning of the text is very convincingly and movingly conveyed.

"Practise what you preach": Stanford se Duitse liedere

Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) het 'n baie groot invloed uitgeoefen op die jong komponiste wat sy studente was aan die Royal College of Music in Londen waar hy vanaf 1883 klas gegee het. In teenstelling met baie ander komponiste het Stanford sy mening oor komposisie op skrif gestel. Dit word gevind in sy boek Musical composition: a short treatise for students (1911) en in sommige hoofstukke (veral "The composition of music") van sy boek Interludes, records and reflections (1922). Wanneer Stanford se streng idees oor komposisie toegepas word op sy eie 18 Duitse liedere (almal op tekste van Heine) word vasgestel dat hy meesal sy eie advies gevolg het. Hy het uitgevoer wat hy self voorgestel het. 'n Analise van die liedere toon dat hulle op baie meer erkenning geregtig is. Hulle is liedere waarin, op enkele uitsonderings na, die betekenis van die woordteks baie oortuigend en roerend uitgebeeld word.

Die uitbeelding van swart mense in Suid-Afrikaanse skoolgeskiedenishandboeke

De Wet, Corene

Abstract: Kurrikulum 2005 en die Chisholm-verslag het die doodsklok vir geskiedenis as 'n afsonderlike dissipline in Suid-Afrikaanse skole gelui. Geskiedenis sal in die toekoms deel van mens- en sosiale wetenskappe vorm. Die doel van hierdie artikel is om aan die einde van 'n era met betrekking tot skoolgeskiedenis 'n oorsig te bied van skrywers van skoolgeskiedenishandboeke se uitbeelding van swart mense. Uit die ondersoek blyk dit dat 1994 as 'n waterskeidingsjaar beskou moet word. Voor 1994 was swart mense gesiglose randfigure in skoolgeskiedenishandboeke. Hulle optrede, geloof en beskawing is fel gekritiseer. Na die eerste demokratiese verkiesing is daar 'n totale paradigmaverskuiwing. Skoolgeskiedenishandboeke verteenwoordig nou die siening van swart mense en die blanke koloniste en apartheidsregering word die teiken van meedoënlose kritiek.

The portrayal of black people in South African school history textbooks

Curriculum 2005 and the Chisholm Report tolled the knell of history as an individual discipline in South African schools. In future history will form part of the human and social sciences. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the portrayal of black people in school history textbooks. It appears that 1994 was a watershed year. Before then, black people were represented as faceless, peripheral figures in school history textbooks. Their actions, religion and civilisation were strongly criticised. After the first democratic election a total paradigm shift occurred. School history textbooks now represent the view of black people; hence white colonists and the apartheid regime have become the target of scathing criticism.

Strategies for ensuring sustainable democracy in South Africa

Hilliard, Victor G.; Notshulwana, Mxolisi

Abstract: This article examines the South African experience of democracy and focuses in particular on the democratisation of South Africa's government and administration. The democratisation process has not been problem-free. The tone was set by the negotiation of the 1993 Interim Constitution Act, and later the promulgation of a 1996 Constitution Act. Both these Constitution Acts made provision for a host of human rights and for a democratic dispensation intended to function in a multiparty context. To promote sustainable democracy, and to ensure that the majority of constitutional principles are upheld as far as possible, various checks and balances have to be built into the South African governmental system. It is essential that all public functionaries be accountable for their actions and/or lack thereof. This article examines some of the mechanisms or strategies to keep democracy vibrant and to ensure that public functionaries serve the general good, and do not pursue selfish, parochial interests.

Strategieë om 'n volhoubare demokrasie in Suid-Afrika te verseker

Hierdie artikel ondersoek hoe die demokrasie in Suid-Afrika ervaar word en fokus veral op die demokratisering van die Suid-Afrikaanse regering en administrasie. Die demokratiseringsproses was nie sonder haakplekke nie. Die onderhandeling van die interim Grondwet in 1993 en die promulgering van die Grondwet in 1996 was toonaangewend vir die demokratiseringsproses. Albei hierdie Grondwette het voorsiening gemaak vir 'n wye verskeidenheid menseregte en vir 'n demokratiese bestel wat in 'n veelpartyopset moet funksioneer. Om volhoubare demokrasie te bevorder en om te verseker dat die meerderheid van die grondwetlike beginsels sover moontlik gehandhaaf word, moet verskeie wigte en teenwigte in die Suid-Afrikaanse regeringstelsel ingebou word. Dit is noodsaaklik dat alle openbare funksionarisse verantwoordelik gehou moet word vir hulle optredes of die versuim daarvan. Hierdie artikel ondersoek sommige van die meganismes of sogenaamde strategieë om die demokrasie lewenskragtig te hou en om te verseker dat elke openbare funksionaris die algemene welsyn dien en nie selfbelang najaag nie.

An eye for an eye: ocular motifs and picaresque envisagement in pictures

Van den Berg, Dirk

Abstract: Conjectures regarding portraits of the Fool as performative hyper-icons in the picaresque tradition initiate an investigation of canny performances of duplicity in pictures on display. The focus falls on performances of unexpected convolutions acted out by spectators while looking repeatedly at deceptive pictures. The emphasis is on the role of the eye in visual shaping and in iterated performance of rhetorical roles and on recurrent ocular motifs as typiconic features in the picaresque tradition.

'n Oog vir 'n oog: oogmotiewe en pikareske voorstellings in prente

Besinning oor Narreportrette as performatiewe hiperikone in die pikareske tradisie dien as prikkel van hierdie ondersoek na geslepenheid en valsheid in prente. Die fokus val op toeskouers wat opnuut en by herhaling bedrieglike voorstellings aanskou. Klem word gelê op die aandeel van die oog in die visuele vormgewing en herhaalde uitvoering van retoriese rolle en op herhalende oogmotiewe as tipikoniese kenmerke in die pikareske tradisie.

Academic workload, performance appraisal and staff development: issues of quantification, criteria, perception and affect

Ruth, Damian

Abstract: There is graving concern over the intrusion of managerialism into academe. The debate often centres on the concept of quality management and involves problematic assumptions about the notions of workload, performance and development. This article problematises these assumptions, with reference to the role of perception and affect in the quantification of workload, the production of performance criteria, and the construction of development programmes. It argues that these activities need to be part of an organic process arising out of specific circumstances. There are real conceptual difficulties involved and any failure to attend to the role of perception and affect will seriously undermine education.

Akademiese werkslading, prestasie-evaluering en personeelontwikkeling: kwessies van kwantifisering, kriteria en die rol van persepsie en affek

Daar is 'n stygende kommer oor die inbreuk wat bestuurswese op die akademie maak. Die debat sentreer gereeld om die nosie van kwaliteitbestuur en betrek problematiese annnames aangaande die begrippe werkslading, prestasie en ontwikkeling. Hierdie artikel problematiseer dié aannames met verwysing na die rol van persepsies en invloed betreffende die kwantifisering van werkslading, die produksie van prestasiekriteria en die daarstelling van ontwikkelingsprogramme. Daar word geargumenteer dat hierdie aktiwiteite 'n organiese proses behoort te wees wat voortspruit uit spesifieke omstandighede. Werklike konseptuele probleme is hierby betrokke en die onvermoë om aandag te skenk aan die rol van persepsie en invloed kan onderwys ernstig ondermyn.