Consider the possibility of the remnants of our present day society being excavated and studied in centuries to come. Imagine the craftsmanship, the art, artifacts and architecture that will then be compared to those of the past centuries. Our entire culture will be labelled by the endless array of rubbish that has become an integral part of our lives. The increasing prevalence of kitsch in the society goes almost unnoticed where it should be causing concern. Few people are aware of its existence, or the permanent aesthetic scars induced by this prevalence. How has this cult of sheer awfulness come about and why has it become prevalent? It is impossible to pursue all the avenues of kitsch - so vast is it but it is the purpose of this study to try and answer some of the questions, in order to make people more aware of what has crept into our society, to help them become more discriminating, and not merely to level criticism at the perpetrators of kitsch.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The central theme of this thesis is to establish the use of visual art for community development. This is done within the context of South Africa in Kayamandi, a Black Township near Stellenbosch. This example has been chosen because one of South Africa's major developmental challenges lies in Black Townships, due to the previous government's negligence toward these areas. Since the thesis focuses on a Black Township, the history of Black visual art during the 20th century, under colonial and postcolonial regimes is analysed. Subsequently, the notion of community development and how visual art contributes to development is outlined. The important role that community arts and community arts centres play in the contribution of visual art to community development is also defined. To this end qualitative and quantitative research has been conducted in Kayamandi. Artists, visual art groups and possible community arts centres were identified. By way of the Kayamandi study, it is understood that visual art is an established practice in Kayamandi. Under specified circumstances, visual art practice in Kayamandi does lead to community development. The establishment of a community arts centre could further increase people's use of visual art for community development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die sentrale doel van die tesis is om die gebruik van visuele kuns vir gemeenskapsontwikkeling vas te stel. Dit word vasgestel binne die Suid- Afrikaanse konteks met spesifieke verwysing na Kayamandi, 'n Swart woonbuurt naby Stellenbosch. Dié gemeenskap is gekies omdat Swart woonbuurte een van Suid-Afrika se grootste ontwikkelingsuitdagings vergestalt. Dié uitdaging is die gevolg van nalatigheid van die vorige apartheidsregering ten opsigte van die gebiede. Die geskiedenis van Swart visuele kuns gedurende die 20ste eeu tydens die koloniale en postkoloniale regimes word ondersoek. Gevolglik word gemeenskapsontwikkeling en hoe visuele kuns daartoe bydra uiteengesit en bespreek. Verder word die belangrikheid van gemeenskapskuns en - kunssentrums én hul bydrae tot visuele kuns vir gemeenskapsontwikkeling gedefiniëer. Vir dié doel is kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsing in die verband in Kayamandi gedoen. Kunstenaars, visuele kuns groepe en moontlike gemeenskapskunssentrums is ge-identifiseer. Die Kayamandi studie bewys dat visuele kuns 'n gevestigde praktyk in Kayamandi is. In gespesifiseerde omstandighede dra visuele kuns wel tot gemeenskapsontwikkeling in Kayamandi by. Die ontwikkeling van 'n gemeenskapskunssentrum in Kayamandi sal die inwoners se gebruik van visuele kuns vir gemeenskapsontwikkeling vergroot.

Thesis (MTech (Design)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / The research was motivated by my lived experience in the Olifants River community of Namaqualand. In this community there are many diverse ethnic and social groupings with considerable potential to contribute to indigenous knowledge and creative practices. These groupings are, however, fragmented, with no platform for their varied and rich cultural assets to be displayed and acknowledged. In addition, the research was motivated by the call for a platform for the arts in the region. It is argued that visual art practice is an instrumental tool in the advancement of both creativity and social cohesion in this community. The research commenced with a pilot study, comprising workshops, which were run by art practitioners from various sectors in the region. Primary literature that influenced the emerging research design was that of Solomon (2007) as well as the holistic cultural viewpoints of Schafer (2014). The organic process of qualitative research methods as described by Ellingson (2009) was a natural personal directive. Body mapping was used during a preparatory phase that led to the creative exploration of community members’ own identity. Storytelling and dance were included in the design methodology since they enabled a psychosocial process of validating art practice as an economic asset within the community as well as enhancing social cohesion in the community. Crystallisation methods implemented in the process-driven body map workshops were held for grassroots -, town – and township sectors in the Olifants River valley. Each of the workshops comprised ten participants who were invited to participate in a subsequent do-designed collaborative event.

D.Litt. et Phil. (Anthropology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract