Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toronto, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 436-470).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toronto, 2005.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Copy not signed by the author. Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Drum and YOU are two general interest magazines which share the same publisher, language (English), format, and are compiled by many of the same journalists and editors. The greatest distinction between the two publications is that Drum is aimed at a specifically black readership while YOU caters for a general, cosmopolitan South African readership. With various commonalities in the production of Drum and YOU, what do the differing commodities, discourses and cultural repertoires presented in Drum in comparison to YOU communicate about the conceived black audience/s by the magazines'producers? In contrast to the dominant body of research on Drum magazine, which has been dedicated to pre-1994 editions, the investigation undertaken in this research focuses on post-apartheid editions of Drum under the commercial ownership of Media24. This also provides a unique opportunity to compare and contrast Drum and YOU which has not been extensively explored in the past. A theoretical study on some of the credible, plausible discourses circulating in Drum drew from Laden's (1997; 2003) research on black South African middle-class magazines and Steyn's (2001) studies on narratives of whiteness including colonial and apartheid policy discourses. Other theory considered to identify types of discourses included those on self-stylisation, excorporation and the historic, cultural influence of Drum in black South African identity formation. Critical discourse analysis is employed to discern the distinction and boundaries between the conceived black middle-class readerships of Drum and YOU. A multifarious content is present in Drum magazine for the diverse post-apartheid black middle-class of South Africa. Discourses of the African traditional and conservative feature side-by-side with contemporary, liberal and Western discourses; while the cultural repertoires of the bourgeois middle-class are presented beside the more modest commodities of the lower-income working class. This communicates an increasingly integrated South African consumer culture and a willing bourgeois solidarity amongst middle-class groups, creating a larger consumer class for advertisers and marketers in South Africa. In comparison to YOU, the discourses of the conservative-African-traditional provide a distinctive feature of Drum. However, this discourse is limited to realms which do not threaten the prevailing magazine culture of consumerism and the dominant global culture of Western science and reason. The other great distinction from YOU is Drum’s prominent educating and didactic function, offering an aspirant lifestyle by marketing a range of Western technologies and commodities. This is in addition to suggesting options for desirable social conduct and socially-responsible behavior.

In this investigation an attempt is made to show that in the world of radio communications in South Africa the oral mode of expression or radio oralism is manifestly more valued than the literate mode. The study deals with three basic issues: firstly, the new electronic culture which, to a large extent, depends on the spoken word, secondly, the significance of the spoken word that new mass media has developed; and, thirdly, what is likely to happen in broadcasting as a whole in South Africa, where the new oralism already had a decisive impact. The study explores the structure of the oral poetic language of radio grammar by examining black announcers' language usage. The thesis focuses on the individual announcer, her or his repertoure of repetitions and styles, and the quality of her or his practice of the traditional artistic expressions. It explores why one phrase is used and not another; it examines the many forms of repetition, their meanings, sounds, and the sound patterns formed by what precedes and follows them. starting with the individual announcer, the study worked outwards to the group to which she/he belongs, namely to other announcers who have influenced him or her and then to South African black society as a whole. The language of black South African radio announcers is in many respects stylised and ordered. In their creations, these announcers have incorporated praise names, geneologies and formulas which show their reliance both on the more specialized bardic repertoire and on the wider Izibongo tradition. At the end of this study, four things are noted: 1. The meaning of word in radio is controlled by what Goody and Watt (1968:28) call 'direct semantic ratification', that is by the real-life situations in which the word is used here and now. Words acquire their meanings only from their insistent actual habits - these include gestures, vocal inflections, and the entire human existential setting in which real, spoken words always occur. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1993.

Thesis (MA (VA)(Visual Arts))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / This thesis consists of a study that identifies and analyses the origins, nature, and spectrum of different stereotypes of Africans in popular texts. The past can only be explored through texts, which are unavoidably mediated, re-interpreted, fictional and temporary. No text can be read in isolation – it is imperative to gain knowledge about the social and ideological context in the analysis of any historical text. History shows that racism is a constructed concept, and the roots of stereotypical perceptions of the ‘Other’ can be found in antiquity – in Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece and the Jewish Torah, as well as during the Middle Ages. A historical synopsis is given of the conception and development of racial stereotyping through the ages until the present. The study demonstrates how stereotypes gradually adapt with history, politics, and ideology. Stereotypes are in my opinion not necessarily constructed on purpose. Stereotypes are developed and based on historical events, but are transformed in time to fulfil new purposes. My conclusion is that racist stereotypes of Africans are created in the West, by the West, for the West. In many ways, the adaptation of the stereotypes of Africans act as a timeline for Western involvement on the continent. The stereotypical portrayal of Africa as the Dark Continent, “White Man’s Burden” and Godforsaken Continent will firstly be studied. Secondly, the depiction of African-Americans, especially in American popular culture, is discussed through stereotypes like Mammy, Uncle Tom, Jezebel, and Buck. The theme of my practical component, a two part series about the Cape Carnival, discusses the stereotype of the “Jolly Hotnot” or “Coon” and examines the portrayal of Africans as comical. The study shows the important role popular media plays in spreading and reaffirming stereotypes. Stereotypes are often used as a survival method to make the multiplicity of reality manageable, recognisable, and understandable. Stereotyping becomes problematic if the stereotypes are used as generalisations to marginalise a group in terms of features such as skin colour. A type of “cultural decolonisation” would be necessary to counteract this marginalisation, through popular culture created by in Africa, by Africans, for Africans and international popular culture.

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Kinesiology and Health, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 101-114).

Thesis (MPhil) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2004 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: After 1994, the year in which the first democratic election in the country was held and which placed South Africa irrevocably on the road to the creation of a new society, many institutions had to change to adapt to the new circumstances. All government and private institutions were compelled to adhere to transformation requirements. This study investigates the damage to blacks in the period before 1994, as well as the legal instruments and other regulations of the new government to assist black empowerment, with a view to creating a more equal society. The transformation of media institutions is a subject which, up to now, has not yet been researched thoroughly. This study was undertaken to establish the progress that has been made by Media24, a Naspers affiliate. The paper discusses the practical problems surrounding transformation, specifically those attached to an historic Afrikaans "white" institution like Media24. The conclusion which was derived at after interviews with top management, is that the company's leadership has moved into a position where transformation isn't questioned any more. Practical efforts are now being made to accelerate affirmative action and transformation. An audit of Media24 which was completed in 2004, and which is indicative of the company's achievements according to the transformational charter for black economic empowerment, was studied. The result shows that Media24 has made excellent progress in some areas, but has failed to achieve the desired results in others. Resulting from this, Media24's management began to set specific goals in order to be able to adhere to certain legal requirements (which includes, amongst others, affirmative action) within a specific time frame. Some of the proposals in this study include: That Media24's upcoming leadership should be measured against its ability to understand the requirements to do business in a new, diverse society; that more successful communication measurements be instituted around transformational processes and measurements and that a transformational ombud be appointed to highlight shortcomings and to help accelerate the process. The study has not exhausted the subject and, with transformation being an ongoing process, it is recommended that it be investigated further. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ná 1994, die jaar waarin die eerste demokratiese verkiesing in die land gehou is en Suid-Afrika onherroeplik op pad na die skepping van 'n "nuwe samelewing" geplaas is, sou baie instellings moes verander om by die nuwe omstandighede aan te pas. Alle staats- en private instellings sou aan transformasievereistes onderhewig wees. Dié werkstuk ondersoek kortliks die benadeling van swart mense in die tydperk voor 1994 en die wetlike instrumente en ander maatreëls van die nuwe regering om swart bemagtiging te help versnel en 'n meer gelyke samelewing te help skep. Die transformasie van media-instellings is 'n onderwerp wat nog nie behoorlik nagevors is nie en dié studie is aangepak om vas te stel hoe ver Media24, 'n filiaal van Naspers, gevorder het daarmee. Die praktiese probleme rondom transformasie word uitgelig, spesifiek dié by'n histories Afrikaanse "wit" instelling soos Media24. Die afleiding wat gemaak word uit onderhoude met die topbestuur van Media24 is dat die maatskappy se leierskap verby die punt is waar transformasie bevraagteken word. Praktiese pogings word nou aangewend om regstellende aksie maatreëls te versnel en transformasie vinniger te laat geskied. 'n Oudit van Media24 wat in 2004 uitgevoer is en wat die maatskappy se prestasie volgens die bemagtigingstelkaart vir swart ekonomiese bemagtiging aandui, is bestudeer. Die resultaat daarvan het getoon dat Media24 op sekere gebiede van swart bemagtiging goed vaar, maar op ander gebiede ver agter is. Media24 se bestuur het na aanleiding hiervan bepaalde teikens begin stelom die wetlike vereistes, wat onder meer regstellende aksie insluit, binne 'n sekere tydperk na te kom. Van die voorstelle in die studie sluit in: dat Media24 se opkomende leierskorps gemeet word aan die mate waarin hulle die vereistes verstaan om in die nuwe, diverse samelewing sake te doen, daar groter kommunikasie in die maatskappy moet wees oor transformasieprosesse- en maatreëls en dat 'n transformasie-ombud aangestel word om op tekortkominge te wys en die proses te help versnel. Die studie het nie die onderwerp uitgeput nie en verdere navorsing kan aangepak word, veralomdat transformasie 'n deurlopende proses is.

[Introduction] An investigation of relevant literature reveals numerous studies on the principles of effective advertising communications. These studies are based on work done overseas and may not apply to Blacks in South Africa. Pioneer advertising research into the Black market has been conducted in recent years by the University of South Africa's Bureau of Market Research (BM). The resultant data obtained indicated that communicating to the Black market should be treated separately from communicating to Whites in South Africa and further research is required on the effectiveness of advertising communications aimed at Blacks. This study was designed to supplement the research conducted by the Bureau of Market Research rather than to validate these findings.

This thesis examines the discourse strategies used to construct initiation schools in online media and message boards. The focus is on understanding the tensions that come with enacting traditional practices in the face of modernity and its associated cultural expectations. The thesis describes the manner in which these tensions are constructed in text by the media in news reports and participants in discussion forums. While there is still debate around whether the internet will revolutionise public participation and create a digital utopia; the internet is acknowledged as one of the widest reaching sources of information and entertainment. Specifically, the internet provides a platform to challenge the traditionally top-down communication between the elite, who have privileged access to the media, and the general public, who were previously constructed as passive recipients of information. Using the male circumcision initiation rite, this thesis examines how the South African public discursively constructs the epistemic location of African traditions in South Africa. The study drew on a sample of news articles from the News24 site, the largest news site in South Africa, ranging from January 2008 to December 2013. A corpus of 62 articles were analysed using the Critical Discourse Analysis technique described by Teun van Dijk. The findings of the thesis were that the initiation rite is used as a rhetorical tool to argue for the abandonment of African cultural practices in favour of modern, Western influenced beliefs and values. The findings also indicate that the initiation rite is reduced to the act of circumcision in the media by focusing on the injury and deaths of the initiates and excluding the meaning of the rite as a meaningful cultural practice. The conclusion of the thesis challenges the epistemicide committed against the male circumcision initiation rite from within the Decolonial school of thought, which critically examines everyday interaction for universalising, normative language that aims to commit cultural epistemicide to reinforce the white, male, European, Christian traditions of masculinity. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)