Tills research project arose from an awareness that many Christian women experience female sexual desire and the expression of sexual pleasure within a religious context to be a forbidden subject and that they are consequently isolated in silence. The social construction of sexuality within the history of Christianity was briefly explored to see which discourses underpin current constructions of White Christian female sexuality. Tills feminist, participatory action research project challenged the silence on women's sexuality by inviting three women to narrate their personal stories of sexuality. With the help of narrative therapeutic practices, some of the dominant social and religious discourses that constitute White Christian female sexuality were challenged and explored. This research project aimed at the co-construction of narratives of sexuality that will hopefully be life-giving to Christian women's experiences with sexuality. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Specialization in Pastoral Therapy))

This research regarding power/knowledge abuse within the church was conducted within the postmodern social construction discourse and in the context of narrative therapy, feminist theology and practical theology. It presents a chronicle of five individuals who experienced abuse within their congregations. It reflects on the co-authoring journey of these five individuals personally and within the context of the narrative group. As part of the narrative group they came to re-author their lives around what they had experienced regarding abuse within their churches. Together they challenged those dominant structures that are so often hidden just below `sacred' tradition. In conclusion the five individuals experienced a renaissance within themselves and their personal theology of God and His dealings within the church. This renaissance has led them to seek out others who have experienced this form of abuse and to give them the hope that they discovered together. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology - with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

The genre affiliation is a postmodern study: Virtual Reality (VR) becomes a comprehensive concept, in the face of modernism's illusion, when rhetoric validates all discourses. All is VR. The study is in three sections with an overall introduction and conclusion: the first section introduces VR in its postmodern setting, the second section establishes the postmodern timeless/spaceless paradigm of HyperReality in which all Hermeneutics are being done from, the last section draws the paradigm into the Creatio Ex Nihilio discourse of the Scriptures. The proposed theological model is an intratextual theological model, however when YAHWEH precedes language then all discourses become intratextually part of the Biblical discourse. Human creativity is a metaphorical journey; the Fall was the outset of two languages, one in the presence of YAHWEH, while the other one void of this presence led to a nihilistic abstract constellation. Sin in VR is the unbiblical appropriation of this constellation. / Thesis (M.Th.)

This insider research journey explores the meaning-making processes of female spousal caregivers in anticipatory mourning and the knowledges which they have gained in retrospect. The research traces the social constructions of meaning and how they influence the process of meaning-making. A phenomenological study was undertaken in which unstructured interviews were conducted with five bereaved participants, highlighting the unique way in which each woman made meaning of loss in anticipatory mourning. The main phenomenological themes to emerge from their meaning-making were: a) the significance of time; b) challenges and gifts; c) witnessing the decline; d) paradoxes; e) the significance of the spousal relationship; and f) spirituality. The therapeutic effect of telling the life story is explored in this study and the need for contextual pastoral care that is specific to the state of anticipatory mourning is highlighted. Finally, possibilities for co-constructive pastoral care are raised in the light of the research findings. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. ( Practical Theology, with Specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

In this study I apply social constructionism as propounded by Vivian Burr (1998) to show that although J. K. Rowling uses stereotypes in the Harry Potter series as a reflection of how gender is constructed across a wide range of societal institutions in contemporary Britain, she created complex characters who on an individual level subvert social constructs and thereby offers her readers alternatives to culturally defined concepts of gender. I explore the all-pervasive social phenomenon of gender and examine how it is constructed in present-day Britain and reflected in the series (bearing in mind that the first book was published in 1997 and the last one in 2007). My analysis of female and male characters in the books, and their interpersonal relationships, shows that Rowling's often tricky portrayal of femininities and masculinities gives us an honest view of teenagers’ lives and contemporary gender relations in an ever-changing, complex world. / English Studies / M. A. (English)

The present research study is a deconstructive collaborative project situated within a postmodern paradigm. The research is premised on a notion that disability has been constructed by societies to reflect their values and norms. Despite various ancient and contemporary worldviews stabilising this normative paradigm, disability has remained a shifting and fleeting concept. For the most part, it has cast the disabled identity in more negative and alienating ways than positive. The Christian cultural context of Lesotho within which the study is situated has not done any better in terms of portraying people with disabilities. Instead, it has inherited the legacy of the ancient Mediterranean world and further re-read it in the light of the demands of contemporary society on the disabled identity. For instance, people with disabilities are still constructed as „sinners‟, „monsters‟, „add-ons‟, and pathological burdens who cannot by themselves survive the challenges of the contemporary world. Using the ideas of Foucault and Derrida, the study examines ways in which such a notion of disability is not only linguistically unstable but also founded on the binary opposites. The participatory nature of the study brings the important voices of people with disabilities to further destabilise the notion of disability and to deconstruct the dominant disability story. The immersion of this study within the participatory ethics and consciousness of Kotzé and Heshusius respectively, has led to an ambitious proposing of the participatory model of disability. The latter has leanings towards metaphors of the church as communion founded on and nurtured by the theologies of embrace, interdependence, healing and botho. It also resonates with the metaphor of the church as expounded in I Corinthians 12. As members of the body of Christ, no member can suffer without the rest of the body feeling the same. If one member of the body is disabled all the body is disabled. Alienating and marginalising others has no place in such a metaphor of church as communion, since by its own definition, all belong to and participate within it. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

This study is an exploration of the representation of masculinity in film, with particular focus on the way in which the leading male characters in a purposive sample of action genre and romantic comedy genre films represent masculinity. It is posited that masculinity is a construct, the meaning of which is dependent on the social context of the individual. Film being a social artefact could then possibly influence individuals understanding of the construct. Therefore an exploration of the kind of masculinity, the variations thereof across genres, and masculine characteristics of masculinity prevalent in each genre, is a first step in understanding possible influences of the definition of masculinity. In order to accomplish this exploration, a combination of methods is used to analyse these fictional characters according to a set of codes and „real‟ world norms. The real world norms are based on seven theoretically derived norms of masculinity developed from previous research on masculinity conducted by Levant, Hirsch, Celentano, Cozza, Hill, MacEachern, Marty and Schnedekerl (1992). The results of the findings from this study indicate that the way in which male characters are created for each genre are different, with male lead characters from the action genre having more characteristics that align with the „real‟ world norms of masculinity (Levant et al 1992). Alternatively, the male lead characters from the romantic comedy genre, have fewer characteristics that align with the seven theoretically derived norms of masculinity. The masculinity represented in the romantic comedy genre is more emotionally available and expressive, less aggressive, more compromising and reliant on others; while in the action genre masculinity is more independent, stoic, aggressive and more physically adventurous. The male lead characters in the romantic comedy genre are more about the emotional aspects of masculinity while the male lead characters in the action genre are more about the physical aspects of masculinity. / Communication Science / M.A. (Communication)

Text in Afrikaans / Die Wetenskap filosofiese en prakties teologiese posisionering word deur 'n postmoderne benadering bepaal. Met die doel van die studie naamlik, dekonstruksie van die teologiese diskoers, liefde, in die oog, volg 'n blik op kwalitatiewe navorsing. Sosiale konstruksie diskoers word as epistemologiese vertrekpunt bespreek. Metodologies het die keuse op 'n narratiewe benadering geval. Voortvloeiend hieruit volg die gebruik van metafore, eksternalisering en dekonstruksie van die gesprekke. Die doel van die studie vereis ook bestudering van verskeie sienings oor liefde. Die literatuurstudie word bespreek onder die volgende metafore, naamlik algemene sienings, 'n historiese oorsig en teologiese sienings. Die relevansie van die gekose inligting word weerspieel in die gesprekke. Met behulp van veelvuldige reflekterende gesprekke word saam met gesinne gekonstrueer aan 'n nuwe verstaan van liefde. / Both the Scientific Philosophical and the practical theological positioning are determined by a postmodemistic approach. Keeping in mind the aim of this study, namely the deconstruction of the theological discourse, iove, a view on qualitative research is given. A review of social construction discourse as epistemological starting point is given. Methodologically a narrative approach was used. Emanating from this follows the use of metaphors, externalization and deconstruction of the interviews. The aim of this study also demands the study of various views on love. The study is arranged under the following metaphors, namely general views, a historic review and theological views. The relevance of the chosen information is reflected in the interviews, and new understanding of love is constructed in collaboration with the families. / M.Th.(Practical theology)

In South African schools various factors influence relationships between facilitators and learners, compounding their frustrations: class sizes, cultural and language barriers, and hierarchical power/knowledge relations. These problems have led to a polarisation between facilitators and learners which could cause facilitators to experience a lack of appreciation and agency. Learners participated in this qualitative study experienced themselves as without voices, and wanted to be acknowledged as people with worthwhile knowledges of their own. This report shows how the therapist and participants engaged in a participatory process of narrative co-search during individual and group conversations where social construction of knowledges and practices of acknowledgement and care, enchanced by letters and externalising conversations, led to the co-creation of a better understanding of one another. This resulted in a more caring, supportive and acknowledging school community, where facilitators re-connected with their preferred stories, and learners found acknowledgement for their own knowledge and preferred ways of living. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology with specialisation in Pastoral Theology)

A tese utiliza o conceito de paisagem para discutir questões relacionadas às áreas da Arquitetura e Urbanismo e de Planejamento Urbano e Regional, focando essencialmente na questão patrimonial. Assume como pressuposto que a paisagem enquanto construção social evidencia valores não usualmente considerados pela prática profissional, mas que participam efetivamente na criação e/ou manutenção de identidades, por isso essenciais para o êxito de projetos e planos em diferentes escalas de atuação. A pesquisa sustenta que tais valores estão presentes nas paisagens comuns, cotidianas, evocadas aqui como paisagens ordinárias, em contraponto àquelas porções de território tradicionalmente destacadas como patrimônio por seu caráter excepcional. O percurso da investigação considera uma aproximação filosófica histórica com o conceito de paisagem no ocidente, identificando vertentes estruturais para seu estudo, de onde derivam os parâmetros de atuação nas disciplinas em que a tese se inscreve. A investigação também discute distintos métodos de leitura e interpretação da paisagem de diferentes realidades, analisando seus contextos técnicos e administrativos para, finalmente, construir uma interpretação sobre as paisagens de Agudo, no Rio Grande do Sul, a partir de suas representações técnica e comuns, indicando outra perspectiva para as práticas profissionais diretamente envolvidas. Por fim, evidencia o papel decisivo das paisagens ordinárias na conformação de identidade territorial, requisitando uma postura mais ampla, integrada e ativa em relação ao patrimônio e à paisagem na área do planejamento urbano e regional e da arquitetura e urbanismo. / The thesis uses the concept of landscape to discuss questions related to the fields of Architecture and Urbanism and of Urban and Regional Planning, focusing essentially on heritage aspects. It assumes that the landscape, while social construction, conveys values that are not usually considered by professional practice but that effectively participate in the creation and/or maintenance of identities, and are thus essential for the success of the projects and plans in different scales of activity. The research sustains that such values are present in the usual, daily landscapes, evoked here as ordinary landscapes, in contrast to those areas of the territory, which are traditionally highlighted as patrimony by their exceptional character. The investigation considers a philosophical-historical approach with the concept of western landscape, identifying structural frameworks for its study, from which derive the parameters of action in disciplines related to the thesis. The investigation also discusses distinct methods of reading and interpreting the landscape of different realities to finally construct an interpretation about the landscapes of Agudo, Rio Grande do Sul, from its technical and common representations, indicating another perspective for the professional practices directly involved. Finally, it shows the decisive role of ordinary landscapes in the conformation of territorial identity, calling for a broader, integrated and active attitude towards heritage and landscape in the field of urban and regional planning and architecture and urbanism. / La tesis utiliza el concepto de paisaje para discutir cuestiones relacionadas a las áreas de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, así como de Planificación Territorial, enfocando en la cuestión patrimonial. Asume como premisa que el paisaje en cuanto construcción social evidencia valores no usualmente considerados por la práctica profesional, pero que participan efectivamente en la creación y/o mantenimiento de identidades, por lo tanto, esenciales para el éxito de proyectos y planes en diferentes escalas de actuación. La tesis sostiene que tales valores son parte de los paisajes comunes, cotidianos, evocados aquí como paisajes ordinarios, en contraposición a aquellas porciones de territorio tradicionalmente destacadas como patrimonio por su carácter excepcional. El curso de la investigación considera una aproximación histórico-filosófica con el concepto de paisaje en el occidente, identificando vertientes estructurales para su estudio, desde dónde derivan los parámetros de actuación en las disciplinas en las que la tesis se inscribe. La investigación también discute distintos métodos de lectura e interpretación del paisaje de diferentes realidades, analizando sus contextos técnicos y administrativos para, por fin, construir una interpretación de los paisajes de Agudo, en Rio Grande do Sul – Brasil, a partir de sus representaciones técnicas y comunes, indicando otra perspectiva para las prácticas profesionales directamente involucradas. Por fin, evidencia el papel decisivo de los paisajes ordinarios en la conformación de identidad territorial, demandando una postura más amplia, integrada y activa hacia el patrimonio y el paisaje en el área de la planificación territorial y de la arquitectura.