Faculty of Arts and Design

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Here Comes Everybody: humanities computing meets the era of social media
(Centre for the Study of Southern African Literature and Languages, UKZN, 2014) Stewart, Graham Douglas James
This article sets out to re-evaluate some of the themes raised in the Alternation number on humanities computing that I guest edited in 2002, and to trace their subsequent evolution. To what degree can the meeting of literature and technology, however tentative, influence social transformation? We reflect on the themes of cyberspace and ‘collective intelligence’, ICTs and creative writing; virtual classrooms as open forums for discussion and dialogue; digital libraries to support research in the humanities; the Internet as a platform for promoting development, the advent of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and their implications for education in developing countries; making the information society accessible to all. The effects of the mobile Internet are wide-ranging and this article explores the extent to which knowledge production in the humanities may be able to harness the potential of the new digital ecosystem to effect social transformation.
The impact of Impucuko (modernisation) of rural homestead living spaces on the dwellers in a selected area of Umbumbulu, South of Durban
(2016-04-28) Mlambo, Hlengiwe; Pearce, Brian; Harber, Rodney
This study discusses the impact of modernisation of rural homestead living spaces on dwellers in a selected area of Umbumbulu, south of Durban Kwa-Zulu Natal South Africa. The study was conducted after a change was noticed within the rural homesteads built environment. Factors responsible for the changes in building/ dwelling shape, size, style, as well as the choice of materials (SSSM) used were discussed. The study further examined the impact of the listed changes within the social context of Umbumbulu’s rural dwellers, while addressing in-depth questions around the topic of modernisation, especially within the confines of rural homesteads and living spaces. A qualitative research approach was employed where an interpretative research paradigm was chosen as a theoretical framework for the study. Data consisted of seven semi structured interviews. The research design consisted of themes, the analysis, as well as the findings in relation to literature. The conclusion showed what the rural dwellers understand about modernisation in a rural context, as well as how it has impacted the changes in building/ dwelling shape, size, style, as well as in the choice of materials used. Three identifiable themes were discussed namely: 1. modernisation; 2. change in building shape, style, size and materials; and 3. positive living experience. Links were made between the themes which in turn indicate how modernisation has had an impact on rural homestead living spaces and dwellers.
The modus operandi of perpetrators for credit card fraud in the Vaal Region, South Africa
(Informa UK Limited, 2021-01-01) Maluleke, Witness; Motseki, Moses Morero; Mokwena, Rakgetse John; Dlamini, Siyanda
Card payments in South Africa continue to be a predominant part of the National Payments System in an evolving payments ecosystem. Due to the growing volume of electronic payments, the monetary strain of credit card fraud is turning into a substantial challenge for financial institutions and service providers, thus forcing them to continuously improve their fraud detection systems. This article attempts to explain the Modus Operandi (MO) of perpetrators of credit card fraud in the Vaal Region in South Africa. The article begins with an examination of the extent of the challenge and response by the relevant stakeholders, especially the Criminal Justice System (CJS). This study was carried out utilising a qualitative research approach with a convenience, purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Thirtynine (39) interviews were conducted to solicit the views of the participants and police investigators from Vanderbijlpark, Sebokeng, Sharpeville and Vereeniging police stations, members of the community, and victims of credit card fraud were interviewed. These interviews were analysed according to the phenomenological approach, aided with the inductive Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) to identify the participants’ responses and themes. The findings indicated that the extent of credit card fraud in Vaal region is reaching alarming rates. Based on the findings, the authors provided recommendations such as: police investigators being taken for regular workshops and training on how to investigate sophisticated methods used by perpetrators such as technology, awareness in the society about credit card fraud should be prioritised and enhanced.
Preparing the future workforce in African universities of technology : a case of new media art as a mutating discipline in the 4IR
(Design Education Forum of Southern Africa, 2021-12-14) Makwela, Mashaole Jacob; Olalere, Folasayo Enoch; Smal, Desiree; Botes, Herman; Salaam, Safia
The industrial revolution, a steady process of change that started in the eighteenth century, has been characterised as presenting different phases. The fourth phase (4IR), which signals an unprecedented convergence of physical, digital and biological spheres into technological forces, is transforming jobs faster than employees can adapt, and setting the base for a different kind of skill. Hence, everyone, including arts and design educators, are asking similar questions about its potential challenges and opportunities in their fields, particularly in the African universities of technology that place emphasis on career-directed courses. One of the questions revolves around the issue of how 4IR will affect the visual arts ecosystem in general and specific to types of skills required, production processes, theory, epistemological curiosity, intellectual tools, authorship, commodification, representation, distribution, among others. Furthermore, it is thought provoking to realise, through literature search that not much is written about the potential challenges and opportunities in the context of visual arts at universities of technology in Africa. Against this backdrop, this paper explores the changing landscape of the supply and demand of skills and how arts and design education can respond to this inevitable change. Using new media art as a case study, the exploratory case study employed post-phenomenology to interrogate the mediating effects of the technological revolution in shaping the new media art discipline. This was achieved through a content analysis of secondary data. In response to these mediating effects, the study proposed a framework that could help create access to new skills sets that would equip students to face the new markets and opportunities.
Stakeholders’ perceptions of environmental injustices and of community-based environmental education : a case study of the Stortplaats community in KwaZulu Natal
(2021-04) Ndlovu, Emmanuel; Mago, Stephen; Gwirayi, P
The purpose of this study was to investigate stakeholders’ perceptions of environmental injustices and of community-based environmental education at Stortplaats, in order to address the injustices through community-based environmental education. Environmental injustice is a phenomenon that entails the unfair distribution of environmental burdens, disproportionately exposing human life to environmental hazards. Communities in poor socio-economic circumstances are excessively exposed to negative environmental burdens such as sewage oxidation ponds, pollution, unprecedented land degradation due to sand poaching and inadequate infrastructure. Stortplaats faces such an oppressive environment. It was historically created by apartheid, but the current system seems to be paying minimum attention to corrective services. The stakeholder theory, environmental perception framework, place attachment theory and community-based environmental education model were used as frames of reference for this study. This study was informed by the interpretivist paradigm and the case study research design was adopted. A qualitative research approach was used. Convenience and purposive sampling were used to sample 25 participants who included five learners above 18 years, five educators, 10 community members, the chief, the community head, the councillor, a business person and the environmental health officer. Semi-structured individual interview schedules were utilised to gather data. These were complemented by photovoice narrations and indirect observation. A thematic data-analysis approach was used to analyse generated data. The key findings of the study indicate that apartheid contours are still visible at Stortplaats and postapartheid promises have not been kept. The findings also show that some community members lack knowledge about environmental policies and this results in irresponsible environmental behaviour. There is also lack of effective communication between leaders and community members, leading to struggles for power and recognition and causing poor service delivery. Finally, the findings show a need for community-based environmental education to address environmental injustices in Stortplaats.
Visualising the oral and performative heritage of Ghanaian culinary arts
(2024-08) Faniyan, Betty; Olalere, Folasayo Enoch; Gaede, Rolf Joachim
The Fantes, whose territories constitute the Central Region of Ghana, are reputed for their culinary ingenuity. Being the first point of contact with the Europeans in presentday Ghana, the culinary heritage of the Fantes of Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) municipality offers an interesting testament to the resilience of culture amidst acculturation. This study explores the potential of digital technology to visualise the oral heritage of the traditional culinary arts for digital preservation. The study isframed by the indigenous standpoint theory and draws upon the 7Cs model of digital preservation of indigenous knowledge developed by Maasz et al. (2020) to co- create the knowledge of the traditional culinary heritage from the standpoint of one specific generation of the knowledge holders. The fieldwork component of the study employed ethnography for an immersive experience of the culinary heritage being co-created. Using a purposive sampling technique, data was collected from experienced and respected knowledge holders of the traditional culinary heritage to ensure the authenticity and ownership of the outcome of the study. By repositioning the knowledge holder as co-creator and employing photography as a documentary tool, a fuller account of the culinary heritage is generated to offer a culturally respectful and accurate representation of the cherished traditions and practices that are orally transmitted and performed daily at home in the third decade of the 21st century. The study underscores the relevance of photo documentation to visualize both the tangible and intangible aspects of cultural heritage for digital preservation. The elements that constitute the notion of authenticity of culinary heritage are identified and the means of maintaining culinary identity in the face of acculturations are highlighted. As a new contribution to knowledge, a revised model for the digitalization of culinary heritage is proposed to offer holistic documentation of a community’s lived experiences and collective memory.