The main focus of this study concerns the contribution of focalisation to the creation of fictional worlds through the combination of the “building blocks” of a fictional world, namely the central focalising and focalised character(s), focalised social contexts, events and spaces, in Hermann Hesse’s Demian (1919), Narziß und Goldmund (1930), E.L. Doctorow’s Welcome to Hard Times (1960) and Homer & Langley (2009). The relationship between the focalisers and their social contexts influence their human, subjective perspectives and represented perceptions of their textual actual worlds. Focalisation is constructive in the synergistic relationship between the “building blocks” that leads to the creation of fictional worlds. Chapter 2 discusses the theoretical basis of the thesis which is formed by the concepts of M. Ryan, L. Doležel, R. Ronen and T.G. Pavel with regard to possible worlds and fictional worlds. G. Genette’s and M. Bal’s theories provide the foundation of this study with regard to this concept as regards focalisation. Chapter 3 contextualises focalisation and fictional worlds as possible worlds in Hesse’s and Doctorow’s fiction and as such constitutes part of a twofold basis for the following analyses and comparisons. Four textual analyses of the individual novels by Hesse and Doctorow then follow. In the textual analysis of Demian the notions of M. Bal, M. Ryan and A. Nünning provide a theoretical basis that is specifically relevant for the argument that through his consciousness the individual, Emil Sinclair, creates the fictional world, i.e. by “transforming” textual actual world components into individualised fictional world ones. The views of Viktor Frankl, feminist activists against prostitution such as M. Farley, M.A. Baldwin and C.A. MacKinnon as well as the views of Talcott Parsons (in conjunction with those of G.M. Platt and N.J. Smelser) offer a theoretical underpinning for the analysis of the social context as the product of the mindset in the community in Doctorow’s Welcome to Hard Times and the mindset of the focaliser, Blue, that concurs with the mindset of the community. Focalised events are considered as psychologically credible and as contributing to the fictional world in Hesse’s Narziß und Goldmund. In this textual analysis the theoretical points of departure were based on theories proposed by D. Cohn, M. Ryan and S. Chatman. Concepts advanced by J. Lothe, J. Lotman, H. Lefebvre, L. Doležel, N. Wolterstorff and D. Coste comprise the theoretical basis of the analysis of social spaces in Doctorow’s Homer & Langley. Chapter 8 consists of comparative analyses of the said focalised “building blocks” of Hesse’s and Doctorow’s novels. The analyses and comparisons argue that focalising characters “filter” their actual worlds and “transform” them through their individualistic and subjective representations, as actual people do. Even if characters are “non-actual individuals” their mindsets or physical, social and mental properties (Margolin, 1989:4) are like those of actual people, i.e. “psychologically credible”. Ryan (1991:45) identifies “psychological credibility” or “a plausible portrayal of human psychology” as an “accessibility relation”, i.e. one that allows the mental properties of a fictional character to be accessible from and possible for the actual world. The interaction between a focalising character and his social context that affects his consciousness and focalisation is comparable to the interaction between a hypothetical actual person and his social world, that would also influence his mindset and how he communicates about the actual world. Perspectives of characters such as Sinclair, Blue, Goldmund and Homer Collyer are recognisable to hypothetical actual world readers as psychologically credible. In the light of Bal’s (1990:9) argument that the whole text content is related to the (focalising) character(s), one could say that the elements of a textual actual world become, as it were, focalised “building blocks” of the fictional world. The central finding is that focalisation contributes to the creation of fictional worlds. The relationship between a fictional world and the actual one becomes apparent in literary texts through focalisation that transforms the textual actual world and its elements, i.e. the central (self-focalising) character, the social context, events and space(s), through a focaliser’s consciousness. The focaliser’s consciousness in Hesse’s and Doctorow’s fiction is marked by psychological credibility. A fictional world is comparable to the actual world with regard to other accessibility relations that Ryan (cf. 1991:31-47) identifies, but focalisation specifically allows a fictional world to become possible in actual world terms by creating credibility of this kind. A fictional world is plausible not in mimetic terms, as a factual text presents itself to be, but in possible terms, i.e. through the comparability of human psychology in fictional worlds and the actual world. Focalisation significantly contributes to the creation of a fictional world through the interaction between psychologically credible subjectivity and the imaginary level of the text on which the textual actual world obtains human value through focalisation. A fictional world is, in this sense, a possible world and, in fact, comes about through being a possible world. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Applied Language and Literary Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The main focus of this study concerns the contribution of focalisation to the creation of fictional worlds through the combination of the “building blocks” of a fictional world, namely the central focalising and focalised character(s), focalised social contexts, events and spaces, in Hermann Hesse’s Demian (1919), Narziß und Goldmund (1930), E.L. Doctorow’s Welcome to Hard Times (1960) and Homer & Langley (2009). The relationship between the focalisers and their social contexts influence their human, subjective perspectives and represented perceptions of their textual actual worlds. Focalisation is constructive in the synergistic relationship between the “building blocks” that leads to the creation of fictional worlds. Chapter 2 discusses the theoretical basis of the thesis which is formed by the concepts of M. Ryan, L. Doležel, R. Ronen and T.G. Pavel with regard to possible worlds and fictional worlds. G. Genette’s and M. Bal’s theories provide the foundation of this study with regard to this concept as regards focalisation. Chapter 3 contextualises focalisation and fictional worlds as possible worlds in Hesse’s and Doctorow’s fiction and as such constitutes part of a twofold basis for the following analyses and comparisons. Four textual analyses of the individual novels by Hesse and Doctorow then follow. In the textual analysis of Demian the notions of M. Bal, M. Ryan and A. Nünning provide a theoretical basis that is specifically relevant for the argument that through his consciousness the individual, Emil Sinclair, creates the fictional world, i.e. by “transforming” textual actual world components into individualised fictional world ones. The views of Viktor Frankl, feminist activists against prostitution such as M. Farley, M.A. Baldwin and C.A. MacKinnon as well as the views of Talcott Parsons (in conjunction with those of G.M. Platt and N.J. Smelser) offer a theoretical underpinning for the analysis of the social context as the product of the mindset in the community in Doctorow’s Welcome to Hard Times and the mindset of the focaliser, Blue, that concurs with the mindset of the community. Focalised events are considered as psychologically credible and as contributing to the fictional world in Hesse’s Narziß und Goldmund. In this textual analysis the theoretical points of departure were based on theories proposed by D. Cohn, M. Ryan and S. Chatman. Concepts advanced by J. Lothe, J. Lotman, H. Lefebvre, L. Doležel, N. Wolterstorff and D. Coste comprise the theoretical basis of the analysis of social spaces in Doctorow’s Homer & Langley. Chapter 8 consists of comparative analyses of the said focalised “building blocks” of Hesse’s and Doctorow’s novels. The analyses and comparisons argue that focalising characters “filter” their actual worlds and “transform” them through their individualistic and subjective representations, as actual people do. Even if characters are “non-actual individuals” their mindsets or physical, social and mental properties (Margolin, 1989:4) are like those of actual people, i.e. “psychologically credible”. Ryan (1991:45) identifies “psychological credibility” or “a plausible portrayal of human psychology” as an “accessibility relation”, i.e. one that allows the mental properties of a fictional character to be accessible from and possible for the actual world. The interaction between a focalising character and his social context that affects his consciousness and focalisation is comparable to the interaction between a hypothetical actual person and his social world, that would also influence his mindset and how he communicates about the actual world. Perspectives of characters such as Sinclair, Blue, Goldmund and Homer Collyer are recognisable to hypothetical actual world readers as psychologically credible. In the light of Bal’s (1990:9) argument that the whole text content is related to the (focalising) character(s), one could say that the elements of a textual actual world become, as it were, focalised “building blocks” of the fictional world. The central finding is that focalisation contributes to the creation of fictional worlds. The relationship between a fictional world and the actual one becomes apparent in literary texts through focalisation that transforms the textual actual world and its elements, i.e. the central (self-focalising) character, the social context, events and space(s), through a focaliser’s consciousness. The focaliser’s consciousness in Hesse’s and Doctorow’s fiction is marked by psychological credibility. A fictional world is comparable to the actual world with regard to other accessibility relations that Ryan (cf. 1991:31-47) identifies, but focalisation specifically allows a fictional world to become possible in actual world terms by creating credibility of this kind. A fictional world is plausible not in mimetic terms, as a factual text presents itself to be, but in possible terms, i.e. through the comparability of human psychology in fictional worlds and the actual world. Focalisation significantly contributes to the creation of a fictional world through the interaction between psychologically credible subjectivity and the imaginary level of the text on which the textual actual world obtains human value through focalisation. A fictional world is, in this sense, a possible world and, in fact, comes about through being a possible world. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Applied Language and Literary Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The South African education system has experienced a paradigm shift from content-based education towards an outcomes-based education. The focus of outcomes-based education is a learner-centred approach. The criteria that learners should adhere to at the end of their school career are that they should be productive, successful lifelong learners. To achieve these criteria, learners should be able to maximise their own potential. The world of work requires learners to easily adapt and function effectively in groups and to have the ability to achieve the set criteria. This means that the world of work demands productive, critical, independent learners who are able to express themselves and communicate effectively within social situations. The question that arises is whether learners within the South African context have the ability to create opportunities to claim ownership and take responsibility for their own learning. The focus of this research is therefore on the role of maximising human potential as determined by the need of South African learners to be empowered and well prepared for the demands of the world of work. The literature pertaining to the nature, phenomenon and process of maximising of human potential is briefly examined and the fundamentals are identified. Maximising of human potential is contextualised as a component of the educational phenomenon. An observation study of two classgroups consisting of grade 8 and grade 10 learners respectively from the same school was undertaken in order to identify and determine whether learners within a realistic, diverse school setting are capable of maximising their own potential. Profiles were compiled to underline the socio-economic background of each learner and to serve as a mechanism to indicate and underline diversity in the classroom. Interviews with teachers and learners served as cross-validation of these results. The results revealed that learners from the school were demotivated with regard to maximising their potential. As a qualitative study, the final results indicated trends that may be generalised to similar classrooms. The phenomenon of maximising of human potential is based on the principle of outcomes-based education and should be the focus of learning in every classroom. Guidelines and models for a facilitator training programme in maximising human potential are suggested. The findings of the study indicate that by virtue of the fact that the teaching and learning process is to be approached from a new angle, teachers first need to have a changed perspective or execute a philosophical leap before they are able to maximise the potential of learners in the classroom. Recommendations for the future include, amongst others, that the teacher should be seen as a facilitator of opportunities for learner contributions; that because of the new and exciting demands made on the teacher by this approach, knowledge and expertise regarding maximising of human potential as didactic practice should be made available; that a longitudinal observation study of teachers who received such training, and their pupils, is undertaken as a follow-up study in order to evaluate the results of the training; and that further research is undertaken locally as well as in other countries where the maximising of human potential in language as learning phenomenon is already being practiced. / Dissertation (MEd (Curriculum Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

Text in English with abstracts in English, Afrikaans and isiZulu. Translated titles in Afrikaans and isiZulu. / This study examines the symbiotic relationships between Hopi traditional arts, the use of art and narrative as mnemonic device, and embedded references to the Fourth World narrative that describes how the Hopi people climbed from a troubled Third World into the current spatio-temporal era, the Fourth World. (The original oral narrative was published by anthropologist Harold Courlander and anonymous consultants in 1971 as The Fourth World of the Hopis: The Epic Story of the Hopi Indians as Preserved in Their Legends and Traditions.) This study posits that the traditional arts of the Hopi and their forebears serve as visual and oral reiterations of the Fourth World narrative, including their emergence from an opening in the earth known as the sipaapuni. After promising to live a harsh but reverent life, the land’s guardian, Maasaw, made the arid southwestern North American land theirs. The Hopi people call these lands Hopi Tutskwa, the original home of the migrating “Ancestral Puebloan” predecessors. The Hopi consider objects, habitation sites, structures, and other sacred features to be these ancestors’ embodied “footprints.” This study describes how diverse Hopi arts are both Ancestral Puebloan “footprints,” and what archaeologists define as “exographic” objects or mnemonic forms of “symbolic storage.” The use of mnemonic objects within the Puebloan culture has been documented as early as 1630 by Fray Alonso de Benavides who noted the use of “knotted strings” as a form of recording “sins” (Morrow, 1996:42). As they relate to mnemonic technology, Hopi arts and lifeways expand the boundaries of Western art history studies to include elements of archaeology and anthropology. Within these interdisciplinary contexts, objects and imagery are not simply “art” in the Western sense, but embodiments of cultural belief and visual reiterations of oral narratives which preserve intrinsic cultural knowledge and belief. This study suggests that what has previously been categorised as Hopi “art” within Western academic contexts is instead an extension of the West’s tradition of ekphrasis, or simply “writing about art.” Therefore, Western academia inappropriately emphasises chronological form, style, and development within Hopi arts rather than the significant cognitive role art plays within the culture of the people. As traditional metaphors for or reiterations of the Fourth World narrative, this study shows how content embedded within Hopi arts is most appropriately studied through iconological and mytholinguistic analysis as they best serve the Hopi people’s non-Western oracy-based tradition. / Hierdie studie ondersoek die simbiotiese verhoudings tussen die Hopi se tradisionele kunsvorme; hulle gebruik van kuns en narratief as mnemoniese middele; en ingebedde verwysings na die Vierdewêreld-narratief wat vertel hoe die Hopi-nasie bo ’n veelbewoë Derde Wêreld kon uitstyg en die huidige tydruimtelike era, die Vierde Wêreld, kon betree. (Die oorspronklike orale narratief, The Fourth World of the Hopis: The Epic Story of the Hopi Indians as Preserved in Their Legends and Traditions, is in 1971 deur die antropoloog Harold Courlander en anonieme konsultante gepubliseer.) Hierdie studie voer aan dat die tradisionele kunste van die Hopi’s en hul voorvaders dien as visuele en orale reïterasies van die Vierdewêreld-narratief, insluitende hulle verskyning deur ’n opening in die aarde wat as die sipaapuni bekend staan.Nadat hulle beloof het om 'n moeilike dog eerbiedige lewe te leef, het die bewaker van die land, Maasaw, die woestynagtige suidweste van Noord-Amerika aan hulle gegee. Die Hopi-nasie het hierdie streek Hopi Tutskwa, die oorspronklike tuiste van die swerwende “Voorvaderlike Puebloaanse” voorgangers, genoem. Die Hopi beskou objekte, woonterreine, strukture en ander heilige elemente as vergestaltings van die voorvaders se “voetspore”.Volgens die studie is uiteenlopende Hopi-kunsvorme nie net Voorvaderlike Puebloaanse “voetspore” nie, maar ook die “eksografiese” objekte of mnemoniese vorme van “simboliese bewaring” wat deur argeoloë omskryf word. Die aanwending van mnemoniese objekte in die Puebloaanse kultuur is reeds in 1630 opgeteken deur Fray Alonso de Benavides. Hy het vermeld dat knope in toue gemaak is om van “sondes” boek te hou (Morrow, 1996:42). Die verband wat Hopi-kunsvorme en -lewenswyses met mnemonise tegnologie hou, verbreed die grense van Westerse kunsgeskiedenisstudie om ook elemente van argeologie en antropologie in te sluit. In hierdie interdissiplinêre kontekste is objekte en beelde nie net eenvoudig “kuns” in die Westerse sin van die woord nie; dit is ook ’n vergestalting van kulturele oortuigings en visuele reiterasies van orale narratiewe wat intrinsieke kulturele kennis en oortuigings bewaar. Hierdie studie voer aan dat dit wat voorheen in Westerse akademiese kontekste as Hopi-“kuns” gekategoriseer is, in werklikheid ’n verlenging is van die Westerse ekphrasis-tradisie, wat eenvoudig beteken “om oor kuns te skryf”. Westerse akademici plaas dus ’n onvanpaste klem op die chronologiese vorm, styl en ontwikkeling van Hopi-kuns in plaas daarvan om die kognitiewe rol wat kuns in die kultuur speel, te beklemtoon. Hierdie studie toon hoe die ingebedde inhoud van Hopi-kunsvorme, as tradisionele metafore vir en reiterasies van die Vierdewêreld-narratief, op die mees gepaste wyse bestudeer kan word deur ikonologiese en mitolinguistieke ontleding van die Hopi-nasie se nie-Westerse tradisie wat op geletterdheid van die gesproke woord (oracy) gebaseer is. / Lolu cwaningo luhlolisisa ubuhlobo bobudlelwane obukhona phakathi kobuciko bamasiko endabuko amaHopi, ukusetshenziswa kobuciko nokulandisa njengamadivaysi aphathelene nokukhumbuza kanye nezinkomba ezifakwe emlandweni Wesine Womhlaba ochaza ukuthi abantu bamaHopi bakhuphuka kanjani ezweni elabe liyinkinga ukufinyeleleni kulesikhathi sanamuhla soMhlaba Wesine. (Indaba yokuqala elandisayo exoxwayo yashicilelwa umuntu oyisazi seanthropholoji esaziwa ngokuthi nguHarold Courlander kanye nabaxhumanisi abangaziwa ngonyaka ka1971 njengengoMhlaba Wesine wamaHopi: Indaba Yokubonga Amaqhawe abantu abangaMandiya angamaHopi njengoba Kugcinwe kuyiZinganekwane Namasiko abo). Lolu cwaningo lubonisa ukuthi ubuciko bamasiko bamaHopi kanye nabokhokho babo babedlulisa imilayezo ngezinto eziphindaphindiwe ezibukwayo nezidluliswa ngomlomo ekulandiseni ngoMhlaba Wesine, kufaka phakathi ukuvela kwawo ekuvuleni emhlabeni owaziwa ngokuthi yisipaapuni. Ngemuva kokuthembisa ukuthi uzophila impilo enzima kodwa ehloniphekile, umgcini wezwe uMasaaw wenza umhlaba omelele eningizimu nasentshonalanga neNyakatho neMelika ukuthi ube ngowabo. AmaHopi abiza lemihlaba ngokuthi yiHopi Tutskwa, okuyikhaya langempela olwafuduka “koKhokho wePuebloan” owayekhona esikhundleni ngaphambilini. AmaHopi abheka izinto, izindawo zokuhlala, izakhiwo kanye nezinye izici ezingcwele ukuba zibe yilezo zinto ezifakwe "ezinyathelweni" zokhokho. Lolu cwaningo luchaza ubuciko obuhlukahlukene bamaHopi obusho “izinyathelo” Zokhokho bePuebloan kanye nalokho okuchazwa ngabantu abaphenya ngezinto zasendulo okuthiwa ama-akhiyoloji njengezinto "eziyi ekzografi " noma izinto iziphathelene nokukhumbula okuthile "okuwuphawu olugciniwe". Ukusetshenziswa kwezinto eziphathelene nokukhujulwayo osikweni lwamaPuebloan laqoshwa phansi kusukela eminyakeni ye-1630 nguFray Alonso de Benavides oye waqaphela ukusetshenziswa “kwezintambo eziboshiwe” njengento yokuqopha noma ukurekhoda “izono” (Morrow, 1996:42) Njengoba zihlobene nobuchwepheshe bezinto ezikhunjulwayo, ubuciko bamaHopi nokuphila kwabo kwandisa imingcele yezifundo zomlando yaseNtshonalanga okufaka phakathi izinto zama-akhiyoloji nama anthropholoji. Ngaphakathi komongo wezizinda ezahlukene, izinto nemifanekiso akuzona nje izinto ezilula “eziwubuciko” ngokomqondo waseNtshonalanga, kodwa ukukhombisa izinkolelo zamasiko kanye imilayezo ngezinto eziphindaphindiwe ezibukwayo nezidluliswa ngomlomo ezigcina ulwazi lwangaphakathi olujwayelekile lwamasiko nenkolelo. Lolu cwaningo lubonisa ukuthi yini eyabekwa yahlelwa nje "ngobuciko" bamaHopi ngaphakathi kwezimo zezemfundo zaseNtshonalanga kunalokho kwandiswa isiko laseNtshonalanga okuwu buciko bokukhuluma, noma “ukubhala ngosiko”. Ngakho-ke, izazi ngezemfundo zaseNtshonalanga zagcizelela okungalungile ngendlela yokulandelana, isitayela nentuthuko ngaphakathi kobuciko bamaHopi esikhundleni sendima ebalulekile yokuqonda edlalwa ubuciko osikweni lwabantu. Njengamazwibela wendabuko wokungathekisa noma ekulandiseni ngoMhlaba Wesine ngokuphindaphindiwe, lolu cwaningo lubonisa ukuthi okuqukethwe kufakwe kanjani ebucikweni bamaHopi okuyindlela efanelekile okufundwa ngayo kusetshenziswa ukuhlaziya ayikhonoloji kanye nesayensi ephathelene nolimi lwezinganekwane njengoba babechaza abantu abangamaHopi olwakhelwe osikweni lokuxoxwa ngomlomo okungelona lwaseNtshonalanga. / Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Art History)