Ulwaluko (the subject of this study) is a Xhosa male initiation or rite of passage normally marked by elaborate ritual ceremonies and authenticated by circumcision. Human longing for ritual is deep, and in our contemporary culture is often frustrated. As an artist working in such an environment, my close association with these 'visible experiences' or contradictions in life has been the source and stimulus of my creative impulse. Ulwaluko is very close to me and an intensely personal aspect of my history and experience. It forms part of my identity and I ascertain very little distance between it and myself, if there can be any. It should be understood that this study is not an anthropological analysis of the Xhosa society and their cultural practices. Rather, it is a combination of autobiography and social commentary in which emphasis on first-hand experience is of primary importance for better understanding of the subject studied. This subjective experience also provides the basis, both conceptual and emotional, of the theoretical and creative process of this body of work. This project premises itself on the contentious issues around ulwaluko as practised by the Xhosa society, with particular reference to communities in Engcobo and Cape Town, and the tension in the creative work is rooted in the conflict and debate around this subject. An attempt is made to examine the impact of colonialism in the displacing and disrupting of this traditional Xhosa cultural practice. Basically, this study is a visual response to and an exploration of the tensions and conflicts that arise from the practice of ulwaluko and its representation in contemporary South Africa. And more important, it is a reflection of the struggle and the affirmation of the self in relation to my work as an artist. However, due to the complexity and sensitivity of this subject, I cannot generalise my understanding and experience of ulwaluko to be that of every Xhosa. The Xhosa people are not a homogeneous group as has been often perceived and discussed in various European discourses that are now under severe criticism by contemporary theorists such as Edward Said. It is a fact that people are different individuals, with dissimilar life experiences. Explaining other people's beliefs and feelings in an objective manner can seem to ignore or does not necessarily take into account, the personal value of emotions, of the joys and sorrows, and even of the transformation of the participants in the practice analysed. In recent years the practice and the visual representation of ulwaluko in South African society, by both 'insiders' and 'outsiders, has stirred concerns and provoked heated moral debates.

This thesis discusses the social and economic conditions which influenced the novels of William Godwin, and looks at his works and their criticisms of the conditions of the age.

There are many forms of humor. Irreverent, dark, and black humor have been used throughout history for social commentary. Irony, parody, sarcasm, and satire can break through preconceived notions, barriers and the tensions we experience when confronted with uncomfortable issues such as bigotry, elitism, and genetic superiority. Humor provides an opportunity for a release of tension giving way to a more receptive audience and a more effective message. My thesis is an exploration of the use of irreverent, dark, annd black humor as vehicles for effective social commentary in communication design.

This thesis supports the Master of Arts exhibition entitled "Figurative Sculpture and Social Commentary" at the Slocumb Gallery located on the campus of East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee, from April 10 - April 14, 2006. This is an exploration of human form in sculpture and the use of representational human form to make comments about society.

This exhibition is a direct response to my own religious upbringing. I chose to explore the oppression upon women, gays and people of color by religious intolerance. The Church dictates social and political mores that affect our society and culture and the way we are treated and governed. The use of the bible and conservative belief structures to defend the ill manner in which we are treated should not be ordained in today’s social construct. In the Name of god addresses issues from the Inquisition to the current war for control over women’s bodies and our reproductive systems. By revisiting the past and illustrating earlier evidence of religious corruption, I intend to demonstrate this countries lack of understanding of anything other.

To scholars of Victorian literature, Samuel Butler has always been a rebel who strikes out at society with wide-ranging criticism. After years of studying subjects as varied as music, art, biology, literature, and theology, Butler felt (like many Victorian writers) that he could make valuable social comments with his satires, travelogues, biological studies and one novel. Critical studies of Butler have tended to treat in broad outline all facets of his life and work. This study, however, examines in depth Butler’s novel The Way of All Flesh, as the focal point of his critical analysis of Victorian society. It treats the work as a sociological novel showing the main character Ernest Pontifex manipulated by harsh societal forces and presents the thesis that man needs to be freed from restrictive social determinism. It is thus the purpose of this study to suggest that Samuel Butler wrote The Way of All Flesh to summarize his criticism of Victorian society and to set forth his plea for a society governed by the principle rational moderation in human affairs. To demonstrate this thesis, the present study will begin with Butler’s life, emphasizing his study with schoolmasters, exposure to the clergy, and life with his parents in an attempt to show the development of his unconventional attitude toward contemporary society. A short introduction to Butler’s life is particularly important to study of The Way of All Flesh because this novel contains a great deal of pure autobiography. Following this introduction, the three strongest areas of sociological comment will be examined as they appear in The Way of All Flesh. Victorian schoolmasters, clergymen, and parents all force Ernest Pontifex to suffer a repressive existence. An inquiry into Butler’s criticism of these three social types and their influence Victorian society will form the main body of this study. The next chapter of this thesis will be devoted to explaining how Butler proposes to solve the problems that he has introduced with his social criticism. Following this chapter, the conclusion will summarize the main ideas of this study and will deal with Butler’s critical reputation. Also the conclusion will show the debt our freer society owes to Samuel Butler’s Way of All Flesh by examining some similarities between his novel’s social criticism and other targets of social criticism found in four influential twentieth century novels of rebellion. It will finally be seen that Samuel Butler was not a flawless novelist (or for that matter, a flawless philosopher), but the critical message of his Way of All Flesh far outweighed the strengths or weaknesses of its artistic form for a whole generation of anti-Victorians.

All that pushes and pulls is a modern dance work that investigates the blurred relationship between individuality and conformity in Western society. The ensemble piece explores the influence of trends of individuality - social movements that emphasize individualism in an attempt to break from the conformity of mass society yet eventually become adopted into mainstream norms. Through an emphasis on personal movement styles, manipulation of uniform choreography, and explorations of group dynamics and spacing, the piece illustrates how individuals navigate these trends in a society where individual expression has become a requirement rather than a suggestion.

This thesis looks to explore the musical Cabaret through a critical, historical and political lens, with particular focus on Sally Bowles, questioning the creation and agency of this character in contrast with the political and societal values of various productions. Using a socio-political analysis, this thesis discusses the important relationship between politics and theater, using the pro-choice abortion movements of the 1960's as a way to understand Sally Bowles as a complex device for political and social commentary.

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The life of Elisha P. Hurlbut (1807-1889) has been mostly forgotten since his death. This examination of his personal journal, which he wrote from 1858 to 1887, brings back to the forefront an influential figure that lived most of his life in and around Albany, New York. Prior to beginning the journal, Hurlbut was a lawyer and then a Supreme Court justice in New York. Seven years after retiring from public life in 1851, he commenced work on the journal that provided a detailed social and political commentary on New York, the United States, and the world as a whole. While the journal offers detailed insight into many specific subjects, this thesis focuses on Hurlbut’s views and expertise in civil rights, religion, and phrenology. This body of work will demonstrate how he shaped arguments for equality for all people, despised the influence of organized religion, and was a leader in phrenological studies.