The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of how women experience midlife. Social constructionism, which fits within the postmodern tradition, was the epistemological framework informing this study. Participants were asked to provide their life stories in text form. Texts were interpreted using the hermeneutic method of analysis. The researcher attempted to understand the midlife experience from the perspective of each participant whose meaning, attitudes and ideas have developed within a social context, keeping in mind that the researcher's own social context, ideas and values affected the interpretation of the texts. The research results add a new perspective to the `grand narrative' of midlife as a `crisis'. The new `voice' speaks of the possibility of positive development - of overcoming adversity; taking control; re-assessing life; breaking old patterns; discovering peace; putting down roots; confronting reality; gaining independence and finding new meaning. / Psychology / MA (Clinical Psychology)

This study explored the interaction between persons and songs in therapy, and was described according to the ideas of Social Constructionism and the Narrative Approach (Freedman & Combs, 1996; Gergen, 1985, 1994; Hoyt, 1998). The meanings around songs and the therapist-client interaction were explored. A flowing process evolved that allowed for new ideas to become part of the therapeutic conversations (Anderson & Goolishian, 1988; Hoffman, 1994). The research was qualitative as befits the above-mentioned epistemology. Therapeutic conversations evolved with a single client, in which songs and music were used to explore her life story. An unstructured interview was conducted to explore the therapeutic process underlying the incorporation of songs in therapeutic conversations. The hermeneutic method of analysis was employed to identify themes and meanings that encompassed the research participant's life story as well as the therapeutic process in which songs were utilised to facilitate therapeutic dialogues. It was found that the themes elicited in this study reflected the themes discussed in the literature. The following themes underlying the therapeutic process of songs were identified: songs created an emotional release; they elicited memories, feelings and imagery; they facilitated relaxation, coloured relationships and provided a new skill. This exploration of the themes allowed for rich descriptions of the participant's story and the therapeutic conversations, to emerge. / Clinical psychology / M.A. (Clinical psychology)

This dissertation deals with the poetry of C.S.Z. Ntuli, with specific reference to themes, diction and form. The introductory chapter deals with the aim of study, the author's biographical background, the development of modern Zulu poetry, the state of critical studies in modern Zulu poetry, the scope of study and the method of approach. Chapter 2 examines the main themes manifest in the poetry of Ntuli. Chapter 3 is devoted to diction, with particular reference to imagery, compound words, ideophones and deideophonic derivatives. Comment is also made on ways in which these amplify the theme in selected poems. Chapter 4 discusses outstanding formal features and techniques including stanza formation, refrains, alliteration, parallelism, linking and rhythm. Chapter 5 concludes the study by giving observations about the quality of Ntuli's contribution to modern Zulu poetry, and by exploring some possibilities regarding future studies on the poetry of Ntuli / African Languages / M. A. (African languages)

Archaeologists rely heavily on pottery data to make inferences about the past. Although a critical component of such inferences is knowing how the pots were used, archaeologists at present cannot reconstruct accurately pottery function. This research provides the means whereby actual pottery use can be determined from traces that remain on pots. The study focuses on an analysis of nearly 200 vessels collected in the Kalinga village of Guina-ang. Traces, in the form of organic residues, attrition, and carbon deposits, are linked to pottery use activities observed in Kalinga households. The analysis of organic residue focuses on fatty acids absorbed into the vessel wall; samples are taken from Kalinga cooking pots and several types of food. It is found that rice cooking pots can be discriminated from vegetable/meat cooking pots, though individual plant species cannot be distinguished in the latter. In several cases, however, there is conclusive evidence for meat cooking. An analysis of Kalinga "archaeological" sherds was also performed to look at fatty acid preservation. A pottery attrition analysis, similar to the study of lithic use-wear, is also performed on Kalinga pottery. The objective is to understand the general principles in the formation of an attritional trace. Nine areas on Kalinga cooking vessels are found to have attritional patches. The two forms of Kalinga cooking vessels could be discriminated based on attrition. Carbon deposits reflect what was cooked, how it was heated, and some general activities of cooking. Interior carbon deposits result from the charring of food and is governed by the source of heat, intensity of heat, and the presence of moisture. The processes that govern the different types of exterior soot are difficult to identify and several experiments are performed. It is found that soot deposition is controlled by wood type, temperature of the ceramic surface, and the presence of moisture. This research demonstrates that archaeologists can begin looking at organic residues, attrition and carbon deposits to infer how their vessels were used in the past.

The thesis contributes to the research field of education, or more specific to the field of religious education. The aim of the thesis is to interpret how young adults of today describe and understand their lives, with a specific focus on existential themes, and furthermore, to develop useful concepts that can help us understand individual meaning-making in a social and cultural context. The meaning-making of young people and how they explore and develop their understanding is, in the thesis, seen both as an individual process and at the same time something socially shared. The theoretical understanding of the social context takes its point of departure in Berger and Luckmann’s theory about the social construction of reality. The methodological approach is empirical and the study is based on 21 deep-interviews with men and women between 19-29 years old. Their statements are analyzed using a hermeneutic - interpretive method. The thesis gives a picture of the young adults’ understanding of death and the meaning of life. But the study also addresses vital existential themes for the young adults around the questions: who am I, what do I want to choose and where am I heading. Still another important theme is insecurity. One important contribution of the thesis is the development of new concepts that describe the young adults’ understanding of their lives, in terms of personal and shared configurations. In the material I have seen three different kinds of shared configurations and I speak of those in terms of: life-views, taken for granted perspectives and institutions. The dynamics that the personal configurations give examples of can be understood both in light of the shared configurations but also in light of the personal agency that the young adults show signs of.

When youth novels were first written, Afrikaans speaking adolescents spent their time reading the original and absorbing youth novels then available. These suited their psychological and environmental development and they could identify with the language and style used in these novels. The contents were a representation of a world which they knew and in which they could feel secure. Although authors often dealt with issues relevant to the adolescent world, the plot reflected a secure and nurturing world where the readers and their life experiences were taken into account. In recent years the adolescent world has changed dramatically from a secure environment to a more exposed one, posing the question whether contemporary Afrikaans youth novels have retained the same traits mentioned earlier and answer to the same norms. The value of literature should never be underestimated; it can develop the imaginative skills and moral values of adolescent readers. Also, it has become clear that adolescents have a great need for reading material that deals with relevant issues. The main focus of this study is characterization and development of identity in selected youth novels by Barrie Hough, viz. My kat word herfs, Vlerkdans and Skilpoppe as revealed in textual analysis and empirical research. The literature study focuses on developmental psychology and the reading expectations of the adolescent, character development according to some narrative theories, e.g. reader response criticism and intertextuality theories. The main objective of this study is to analyze, interpret and evaluate the above three youth novels in order to establish whether or not the contemporary adolescent can identify with these specific stories. It has been found that the adolescent reader in the early years of the twenty first century is able to identify with the contemporary youth novels such as those by Barrie Hough. Although young readers do not want to steer clear of contentious themes and issues in youth novels, it seems that they still prefer evergreen classical topics and themes. This suggests that the modern adolescent is still positive about life and aspires to attain goodness and moral strength. / Thesis (M.A. (Afrikaans and Dutch))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006

Due to the fact that Scripture is the authoritative Word of God (Belgic Confession. Article 5), the infallible written Word of God. is and stays the basis for Christian ethics. Scripture is not just another single source for Christian ethics among other sources, but it is the decisive source among all other sources. The question then arises - how is it possible in the ever-changing life situation of the modem day context of society? In an ever increasing secularized society places the Christian life and also the Christian ethics under more pressure. The acceptance of the authority of Scripture is therefore indispensable for Christian ethics. Scripture does however not present a text as an absolute answer for every possible or similar ethical problem. The deep-seated principles of Scripture must be exposed. From these principles norms should be derived that is applicable to the modem problem. The problem statement that follows from this culminates as the following: Can a thematic analysis of the Biblical dogma present a fundamental working foundation for Christian ethics in modem day society and serve as a corrective for the problematic approaches of a biblicistic as well as an over critical view of Scripture for the basis of ethics? The central theoretical argument of the study is the following: A thematic analysis of the Biblical dogma can indeed present a fundamental, working foundation for Christian ethics in modem day society and can serve as a corrective for the problematic approaches of a biblicistic as well as an over critical view of Scripture for the basis of ethics. In the second chapter the definitions of what could be defined as Christian ethical perspectives and principles is examined. In other words, the purpose of the chapter is to examine and to give a broad overview of the understanding of ethics, morality, morals etc. The qualified deontological approach is chosen due to the fact that normative approach with its focus on Scripture as authoritative therein plays a big role. The third chapter focuses on which view of Scripture and use of Scripture is normally applied in Reformed ethics in the use or interpretation of Scripture. Special attention is given to the authority of Scripture, view of Scripture and an attempt is made to convey the hermeneutical points of departure (axioms) in order to derive an intra-biblical use of Scripture. The chapter comes to the conclusion that even though the Christian ethicist does have in theory at his disposal a biblical-founded hermeneutical model it does not safeguard him against a faulty use or interpretation of Scripture in practice in the fourth chapter the present-day Scriptural principles that serves as basis and cadre for the interpretation of Scripture in light of the answering of Christian ethical questions is examined. In light of the present-day situation seems that although there is a sound hermeneutical axiom that serves as filters in the interpretation of Scripture in the reformed ethics, in practice either a biblicistic or a Criticism of Scripture approach to Scripture is chosen. The approaches of the fundamentalistic/biblicistic and Criticism of Scripture is examined and m e s to the conclusion that both, in their own way, does bring the authority and the message of Scripture in disrepute. In the event of the fundamentalistic and biblicistic approach the divine inspiration character of Scripture is overemphasized and all Scriptural Utterances is treated on the same level to such an instance that everything is sanctioned. In the event of the Criticism of Scripture the human fallible character is again overemphasized to the extent that the normative authority of Scripture for Christian ethics is not taken into account . The chapter comes to the conclusion mat a "third way” must be examined to circumvent the many pitfalls of either a fundamentalistic/biblicistic of Criticism of Scripture in the interpretation of Scripture in light of a modem day ethical problem. In the fifth chapter an adjudication and evaluation of the quality of the use or Interpretation of Scripture in light of capital punishment within the biblical view of a right to life is given as a representative of modem day ethical problems. In light of the principles given in Chapter 3 and 4 it is shown that Scripture is most often misused despite fair hermeneutical principles Only to reflect the ethicist own preconceived ideas. The last chapter indicates an approach that might possibly serve as an alternative/valid use or interpretation of Scripture in reformed ethics other than a typical biblicistic/fundamentalistic or Criticism of Scripture approach. The chapter draws to the conclusion that the contextual-paradigmatic approach is at this time the only capable approach of acknowledging the proper interpretation of Scripture to shed some light on the ethical problems of modem day society, without stepping into the boundaries of either a biblicistic/fundamentalistic of Criticism of Scripture interpretation of Scripture. The contextual-paradigmatic approach succeeds in preventing the ethicist to misinterpret Biblical texts that seems to be of importance to the debate of capital punishment and to make a scientific contribution lo important debates in South Africa today, especially those related to the interpretation of the Bible and its use in the development of South Africa. In this way an attempt is made to contribute towards and to provide guidelines for a healthy and responsible society and for the functioning of Christians within the current South African state. The message of the Bible must thus be established in a responsible and valid way, and communicated effectively to society. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Ethics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006

This thesis is a contribution to the ongoing debate over standards of criticism for the novel in Africa. After reviewing the three main approaches, the 'Afro-centric', the 'Euro-centric ' and the 'syncretic', and highlighting their shortcomings, I hope to demonstrate that if the devices of point of view ' are used properly they may provide a valuable tool for a useful reading of the novels. Point of view is seen as a holistic device and not, as Lubbock and others suggest, a question of 'the relationship of the narrator to the story'. The views of Boris Uspensky, Gerard Genette and Susan Lanser on this subject are modified to suit the eclectic and comparative designs of the study. Point of view is thus seen as the means through which a given device operates in a specific context, what it reveals, and how it relates to other textual elements. Four main categories are proposed, namely the dramatized, the inward, the multiple and the communal perspectives. These categories demonstrate the flexibility of method which point of view allows and they show how novels from different backgrounds may be examined under one 'convention' without depriving such novels of their originality. Twenty novels by British, American and African novelists are subsequently divided into these four categories and each of the novels is described, allowing them to define one another. The communal perspective is found to be a unique feature of the five African novels examined in the last three chapters. These novels require the reader to modify his opinions about point of view, for the novelists seem to speak on behalf of their communities. The communal pose thus becomes a literary device. It is a device which manifests itself in the case of the novels of Chinua Achebe, Ayi Kwei Armah and Gabriel Okara through the skilful use of character, language and setting. The reader who comes to the novels with the conviction that character is a paradigm of traits will need to bear in mind that traits in these novels are what are normally known as characters in other novels and that in the novels, therefore, characterisation is largely transferred from the individual person to the communal personality. This is the contribution these African novelists have made to world fiction. It is nevertheless shown that this distinct feature need not deny a common ground from which the critic of the African novel can define the novels' themes and methods and that ultimately the isolation which the three main approaches seem to recommend is neither desirable, nor is it helpful as a way of making the reader aware of the form and content of the novels.

<p>Ова дисертација се бави проучавањем средњовјековних историјских тема у<br />периодици која је излазила на подручју данашње Црне Горе у периоду од 1835. године до<br />1941. године. Циљ нашег истраживања био је сакупљање и анализа разнородне грађе о<br />темама из средњовјековља јужнословенског простора, које су третиране и објављене у<br />периодици на простору Црне Горе у посматраном периоду, њихово груписање у тематске<br />цјелине, хронолошко излагање, као и састављање једног потпуног и вјеродостојног<br />историјског прегледа развоја медијевистике у периодици на простору Црне Горе у<br />поменутом периоду. У раду је обрађено 458 текстова у којима је заступљена<br />средњовјековна тематика, од којих је највећи број објављен у часописима: Гласу<br />Црногорца, Зетском гласнику, Записима, Просвјети, Гласу Боке, Гласнику Народног<br />универзитета Боке Которске и Зети. Такође, кроз систематизовани преглед, углавном<br />дескриптивног карактера, жељели смо да дамо потпунију слику и што свестраније<br />изложимо све радове из средњовјековне историје јужнословенског простора објављене у<br />периодици на простору Црне Горе у посматраном периоду. Намјера је била да изложимо<br />сваку помена вреднију активност на овом пољу, што би могло представљати допринос<br />изучавању и заокруживању слике заступљености медијавистике у историографији Црне<br />Горе.<br />Значај дисертације огледа се у томе што овој проблематици, до сада, није<br />поклоњена пуна пажња у радовима који су се бавили периодиком на простору данашње<br />Црне Горе у посматраном периоду. Такође, чланцима који се односе на средњовјековни<br />период јачала се национална свијест, утврђивао идентитет, његовала културна баштина и<br />фолклор.&nbsp;</p> / <p>Ova disertacija se bavi proučavanjem srednjovjekovnih istorijskih tema u<br />periodici koja je izlazila na području današnje Crne Gore u periodu od 1835. godine do<br />1941. godine. Cilj našeg istraživanja bio je sakupljanje i analiza raznorodne građe o<br />temama iz srednjovjekovlja južnoslovenskog prostora, koje su tretirane i objavljene u<br />periodici na prostoru Crne Gore u posmatranom periodu, njihovo grupisanje u tematske<br />cjeline, hronološko izlaganje, kao i sastavljanje jednog potpunog i vjerodostojnog<br />istorijskog pregleda razvoja medijevistike u periodici na prostoru Crne Gore u<br />pomenutom periodu. U radu je obrađeno 458 tekstova u kojima je zastupljena<br />srednjovjekovna tematika, od kojih je najveći broj objavljen u časopisima: Glasu<br />Crnogorca, Zetskom glasniku, Zapisima, Prosvjeti, Glasu Boke, Glasniku Narodnog<br />univerziteta Boke Kotorske i Zeti. Takođe, kroz sistematizovani pregled, uglavnom<br />deskriptivnog karaktera, željeli smo da damo potpuniju sliku i što svestranije<br />izložimo sve radove iz srednjovjekovne istorije južnoslovenskog prostora objavljene u<br />periodici na prostoru Crne Gore u posmatranom periodu. Namjera je bila da izložimo<br />svaku pomena vredniju aktivnost na ovom polju, što bi moglo predstavljati doprinos<br />izučavanju i zaokruživanju slike zastupljenosti medijavistike u istoriografiji Crne<br />Gore.<br />Značaj disertacije ogleda se u tome što ovoj problematici, do sada, nije<br />poklonjena puna pažnja u radovima koji su se bavili periodikom na prostoru današnje<br />Crne Gore u posmatranom periodu. Takođe, člancima koji se odnose na srednjovjekovni<br />period jačala se nacionalna svijest, utvrđivao identitet, njegovala kulturna baština i<br />folklor.&nbsp;</p> / <p>This dissertation deals in with the study of medieval historical themes in Montenegrin<br />periodicals which coming out on the territory of Montenegro in the period from 1835 to 1941.<br />The aim of our study was the collection and analysis of diverse materials on topics from<br />medieval on area of the South Slavic, which treated and published in Montenegrin periodicals<br />on area of Montenegro in the observed period, their grouping into thematic units, chronological<br />presentation, as well as the drafting of a comprehensive and credible historical overview<br />development medieval history in Montenegrin periodicals on area of Montenegro during this<br />period. The study included 458 articles in which he represented a medieval theme, of which the<br />largest number was published in magazines: Glas Crnogorca, Zetski glasnik, Zapisi, Prosvjeta,<br />Glas Boke, Glasnik Narodnog univerziteta Boke Kotorske and Zeta. Also, through the systematic<br />review, mainly descriptive character, we wanted to give a more complete picture and most<br />comprehensive expose all the works of the medieval history about area of the South Slavic<br />published in Montenegrin periodicals on the area of Montenegro in observed period. The<br />intention was to expose every noteworthy activity in this field, which could represent a<br />contribution to the study and completing the image representation medieval history in the<br />historiography of Montenegro. The importance of the dissertation is reflected in the fact that this<br />issue does not give full attention until now in papres which dealt with periodical on the area of<br />present-day Montenegro in the observed period. Also, the articles which refers to the medieval<br />period by strengthening the national consciousness, determined the identity, cherished cultural<br />heritage and folklore.</p>

One of the main objectives of this thesis is not only to map the life of Czech sculptor Vladimir Astl, but also explore various inspirational sources he might have used when creating social oriented pieces. Those are critical in is work. Typical avatars of plastics with social context are Žízeň (Thirst), Smutek (Sadness) or Stará žena (Old Woman), all of them from the period of 1905 - 1910. The initial chapter shortly discusses social problem which existed during the verge of 19th and 20th century and immediately influenced increasing use of social topics in art. Next chapter elaborates on these topics in more detail and focuses on changes of French society which were closely tied to the occurence of ambitious ideas to build monuments celebrating work of men. This chapter also discusses sculpture in France in more depth with focus on labor-oriented pieces from August Rodin, Jules Dalou and Henri Bouchard. The work of mentioned sculptors was dedicated to monuments celebrating labour. These formed a common inspiration source for social related themes in Czech sculpture of the turn of the 19th and 20th century. Next chapter continues to describe the foreign social tendencies and introduces a Belgian sculptor Constantin Meunier who made a significant impact on Czech lands with his pieces being...