This study explores how contemporary Afrikaans churches represent gender in their visual culture. For these purposes, a Barthean semiotic analysis is done on visual material produced between 2007 and 2008 by three Afrikaans corporate churches in the Pretoria- Centurion area, namely the Dutch Reformed congregations Moreletapark and kerksondermure (“church without walls”), and Doxa Deo’s Brooklyn and East campuses – Afrikaans Apostolic Faith Mission congregations. The analysis seeks to demystify and denaturalise the material’s potentially mythical, ideological and hegemonic underpinnings. Operating from an interdisciplinary theoretical framework comprising aspects of Visual Culture Studies and Gender Studies, this study primarily provides a focused analysis of the representation of men and masculinity in the selected churches according to three themes, namely professional occupation and leadership; physical activity and adventurism; and fatherhood. This focus was adopted owing to the lack of available literature on men and masculinity in the church and Christianity, as opposed to the more ready availability of research on women and femininity. The representation of gender in Moreletapark, kerksondermure and Doxa Deo is conceptualised in broad terms through a comparison of the representation of masculinity with femininity as its foil. In this regard gender is analysed in the three churches according to notions of gendered ontology and matters of work, marriage and family. Exscripted, or non-represented, themes are also problematised. It is argued that the churches under investigation represent gender in dualistic, essentialist and often stereotypical terms. This particular depiction of gender attests to the churches‟ participation in the biological essentialising of gender, polarising men and women into strict binary dualisms, whilst also visually denying the existence of homosexuality and alternative sexualities. This tendency is problematic, not only because it fails to provide a realistic portrayal of men and women in the three churches, but also because it visually participates in conservative and fundamentalist gender discourses. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Visual Arts / unrestricted

Thesis (M.Div. (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Identity refers to the beliefs and values, the lifestyles, character, style and history of a congregation. A person has an identity, so a congregation develops an identity which is in a very close association with its members, their circumstances and history. The Kwe San and their unique history and circumstances have contributed to their current identity. This identity also determines the way in which the ministerial praxis is tailored for a specific congregation and community. The Kwe San’s current context has a practical theological response which is contextually based. Their traditional free-roaming abilities have been limited by the Tsumkwe Constituency, a prior homeland. The various original social organizations which form an integral part of the Kwe San’s life within their System Two, forms an integral part of their current life. These aspects need to be taken into consideration when formulating a congregation’s ministerial praxis. Within this community the practicality of theological ecclesiology has become important. This is due to the change in context of the Kwe San. To have a better understanding of the present ministerial praxis I have incorporated the Gestalt theory principles which help us to address the current situation and also the System Theory, in order to understand the current contextual nature of the Kwe San people. Any form of a holistic ministerial approach requires that we understand the interdependence of people and nature. It also emphasizes the fact that we are all connected to one another and that the church needs to raise to the occasion and play its part within each segment of the community. It needs to be an active participant within different interdependent or interrelated parts within the society in which we interact with one another, interact with nature and interact with God.