Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Conventional HIV intervention strategies are based on the presupposition that scientific
knowledge and appropriate information about HIV will curb the spread of the disease. The
dominant approaches to the HIV debate and pandemic focus mostly on the medical,
pedagogical and ethical dimensions of the pandemic. Governments are concerned with
democratic and human rights and the juridical implications of HIV. This study proposes that
a team approach should be followed, with the emphasis on a holistic model of prevention
care. In this regard it is hypothesised that the spiritual dimension, emphasising our human
quest for meaning, moral decision-making and virtues as related to the transcendent
dimension of our being human, should play a substantial role.
One of the most burning issues in the pandemic is the phenomenon of stigmatisation. This
investigation is in search of an approach that can effectively penetrate the realm of prejudice,
blaming, and discrimination. If spirituality can address stigmatisation, antistigma
interventions must acknowledge the role of pastoral care with its emphasis on ‘soul care’,
values and meaning.
The study explores the possibility of extending the traditional understanding of theology as
fides quarens intellectum, with its emphasis on knowledge (the rational), to fides quares
imaginem, with its emphasis on imagination (the aesthetic dimension of life). Therefore the
important presupposition that, due to the aesthetic dimension of faith, care to people living
with HIV should include the aesthetic dimension. If one links fides quares imaginem to fides
quarens visum new options can be created for Practical Theology. In this regard, the visual
dimension of life as represented by media, and specifically film, should be investigated in a
HIV prevention strategy.
The study thus proposes that a specific form of art, namely film, has potential as an effective
antistigma intervention. It is hypothesised that film inherently has a spiritual dimension. This
spiritual dimension could be linked to issues that can determine the direction and meaning of
life, as well as the understanding of human identity and dignity. In this regard the study
wants to determine to what extent film can play a fundamental role in addressing the realm of
attitudes, convictions and belief systems. Film is thus suggested as a medium for spiritual
intervention in order to bring about change on the level of perceptions. Lesser-educated people are very vulnerable, especially in relation to HIV. The study wants to
explore whether film can be an effective medium of addressing, educating and influencing
such people at their level. In order to test this, an empirical study was done to assess the
effect that film has on HIV stigmatisation within such a group of people. The aim of the
empirical research was not to create statistical evidence, but to illustrate certain trends and
tendencies. A group of people from Vlaeberg, a rural area outside of Stellenbosch, South
Africa, was chosen for the study.
In order to empirically explore the potential of film in addressing HIV stigmatisation it was
decided to use the film Yesterday, the first South African film to be nominated for an Oscar.
The film was chosen for the following reasons: a) it is set within South Africa, depicting
vulnerable persons within a rural setting; b) it has a positive, though realistic approach to
HIV; c) it depicts the cruelty of stigmatisation; d) it shows how you can assist those with
HIV; and e) it is easily understandable.
The film was positively received and able to influence the stigmatising perceptions, attitudes
and convictions of the target group. The empirical study proved that film has a spiritual
dimension and should be used as a medium for spirituality formation. Due to this, it has an
important role to play in antistigma interventions. In this regard, the research showed that
film can indeed play a decisive role in a HIV prevention strategy and an antistigma
intervention. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Konvensionele MIV-ingrypingstrategieë word gebaseer op die aanname dat wetenskaplike
kennis en geskikte inligting aangaande MIV die verspreiding van die virus sal kan halt. Die
dominante benaderings tot die MIV-debat en –pandemie fokus meesal op die mediese,
pedagogiese en etiese dimensies van die pandemie. Regerings is bemoeid met die
demokratiese regte, menseregte en wetlike implikasies van MIV. Hierdie studie stel voor dat
’n spanbenadering gevolg moet word, waarbinne die fokus sal wees op ’n holistiese model
van voorkomende sorg. Die hipotese is dat die spiritualiteits-dimensie ’n substansiële rol
moet speel, aangesien dit ons menslike strewe na betekenis, morele besluitneming en
waardes, soos dit in verhouding staan tot die transendente dimensie van ons menswees, in ag
neem.
Een van die kwellende vraagstukke van die pandemie is stigmatisasie. Hierdie navorsing
soek ’n benadering wat effektief die gebied van vooroordele, beskuldiging, en diskriminasie
kan penetreer. Indien spiritualiteit stigmatisasie kan aanspreek, moet antistigma-ingrypings
die rol van pastorale sorg, wat klem lê op ‘sielesorg’, waardes en betekenis, erken.
Die studie ondersoek die moontlikheid dat die tradisionele verstaan van teologie as fides
quarens intellectum, met die klem op kennis (die rasionele), uitgebrei moet word na fides
quares imaginem, met die klem op die verbeelding (die estetiese dimensie van die lewe).
Daarom word die belangrike aanname gemaak dat, as gevolg van die estetiese dimensie van
geloof, sorg vir dié met MIV die estetiese dimensie moet insluit. As ’n mens fides quares
imaginem skakel met fides quarens visum word nuwe moontlikhede ontsluit vir Praktiese
Teologie. In hierdie opsig moet die visuele dimensie van die lewe, soos dit uitgebeeld word
deur die media en meer spesifiek film, ondersoek word in ’n MIV-voorkomingstrategie.
Die studie stel voor dat ’n spesifieke vorm van kuns, naamlik film, potensiaal het as ’n
effektiewe antistigma-ingryping. Daarom die hipotese dat film inherent ’n spirituele dimensie
het. Hierdie spirituele dimensie kan geskakel word met kwessies wat die rigting en betekenis
van lewe kan bepaal, sowel as ons verstaan van menslike identiteit en waardigheid. Gevolglik
wil hierdie studie bepaal tot watter mate film ’n fundamentele rol kan speel in die aanspreking
van houdings en oortuigings. Film word dus voorgestel as ’n medium vir spirituele ingryping
om sodoende verandering te bring op die vlak van persepsies. Mense met minder opvoeding is baie kwesbaar en blootgestel, veral in terme van MIV.
Hierdie studie ondersoek of film ’n effektiewe medium kan wees om sulke mense aan te
spreek, op te voed en te beïnvloed. Om dit te bepaal is ’n empiriese studie gedoen wat moes
vasstel watter effek film het op MIV-stigmatisering binne so ’n groep. Die doel van die
empiriese studie was nie om statistiese bewyse te lewer nie, maar om sekere neigings en
tendense aan te toon. ’n Groep mense van Vlaeberg, ’n plattelandse area buite Stellenbosch,
Suid-Afrika, is gebruik vir die studie.
Die film Yesterday is gebruik vir die empiriese ondersoek aangaande die potensiaal wat film
het om MIV-stigmatisering aan te spreek. Yesterday is die eerste Suid-Afrikaanse film wat
vir ’n Oscar benoem is. Die film is gekies om die volgende redes: a) dit speel af in Suid-
Afrika en weerlose mense binne ’n plattelandse omgewing word uitgebeeld; b) dit het ’n
positiewe, dog realistiese benadering tot MIV; c) dit beeld die wreedheid van stigmatisering
uit; d) dit dui aan hoe ’n mens diegene met MIV kan bystaan; en e) dit is maklik verstaanbaar.
Die film was positief ontvang en het die stigmatiserende persepsies, houdings en oortuigings
van die groep beïnvloed. Die empiriese studie het bewys dat film ’n spirituele dimensie het
en as medium vir spirituele vorming gebruik moet word. Dus het film ’n belangrike rol te
speel in antistigma-ingrypings. In hierdie opsig het die navorsing gewys dat film wel ’n
deurslaggewende rol in ’n MIV-voorkomingstrategie en ’n antistigma-ingryping kan speel.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/20446 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Le Roux, Elisabet |
| Contributors | Louw, D. J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xi, 100 leaves |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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