3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Afrofuturist to bantutopian cities: towards an aesthetics of sustainable African cities(2019) Mlati, Michelle NhlamuloIn my thesis I explore the aesthetics of sustainable African cities through the lens of Afrofuturism as an inclusive design approach. It explores this through studio-based research in site specific contexts of Joburg, Dunusa (which means to bend over in Zulu) to cocreate an embodied culture of sustainability using solar power as central technology of interest. Through various interventions such as guerilla gardening and performing as an informal solar ‘trader’ as an active participant of the city, I question sustainable city paradigms of ‘green’ and ‘smart’ cities that are exclusive to black inhabitants in the inner city of Joburg and spatially explore how they can be inclusive amongst the practices of urban African communities through interventions that suggest a new urban language. Though this critical spatial practice, these interventions manifest a relational aesthetics of sustainability namely Bantutopianism. Through Bantutopianism we challenge Afrofuturism’s inability to adequately deal with the praxis of utopianisms engaged with true lived black vernacular realities in urban space to decipher the relation between humans and non-humans alike. This is in the context of informal trading spaces in African cities such as Dunusa. It explores an ethics of relationality which seeks to embed an embodied consciousness to sustainability that advances a post anthropocentric view underpinned by the philosophy of Ubuntu. This leads to the production of art for renewable energy infrastructure wired towards climate change mitigation and adaptation with the endeavor to generate earthly-cosmological ontologies that guard our planetary futures. Where energy poverty persists, the right to the city becomes the right to the sun. This research through a visual essay and literary aesthetics illustrates the necessary artefacts and rituals of the future such as those provided by the solar futurhythmachine as a resourceful sustainable architectural tool for devising alternative energy utopias inspired and centered around black cultural life to understand an aesthetics of sustainable African cities.Item PROMOTING URBAN SOCIAL INTEGRATION THROUGH URBAN DESIGN INTERVENTION IN CYRILDENE(2019) Lu Ke, Ke LuThis research proposal discusses urban structure, ethnic group segregation, space-making, crime prevention and, the use of urban design intervention to solve social and spatial issues and promote sustainable and integrated urban communities in the Cyrildene area of Johannesburg. From the review I hope to understand the characteristics of homogeneous communities and the reasons that homogeneous communities isolate themselves, which, from the preservation of Ethnic Minorities' Culture’s angle, is to encourage the identification of the ethnicity’s unique characteristics. This research proposal also explores the relationship between space and neighbourhoods, and the value of the convivial space, as well as arguing that economic gain should not be used to determine social policies. The urban landscape space has multiple benefits, it can help to reduce particular types of crime, improve public health, as well as reconnect the urban environment with the eco-system. From reviewing the traditional Chinese urban planning and design history, there are some traditional Chinese urban planning and design principles that could be utilised in today’s cities, and these principles could help to build up urban communities and emphasise the unique culture of the Chinese community. This research proposal analyses, through urban design, the current issues in the Cyrildene area. Urban design could be used as an instrumental tool to solve these urban design-related problems, and at the same time promote the urban communities. Properly designed urban open spaces can help to improve local social relations and job opportunities for the surrounding neighbourhoods. This research proposal develops an example for the ethnic group to show their unique identity through urban design in the environment and at the same time increase tolerance between ethnic groups to promote social integration. From reviewing the literature, restructuring the existing urban structure can improve social and spatial issues as well as build up the neighbourhoods. Furthermore, a high level of local community engagement can lead to the progression of social integration. Social integration, while at the same time strengthening an internal sense of community, is the goal for these urban communities. This research proposal attempts to discover the constraints and opportunities based on the urban design analysis result to generate an urban design concept framework and urban development code.Item Sandton: a linguistic ethnography of small stories in a site of luxury(2018) Kelleher, WilliamThis is a linguistic ethnography that focuses on small stories (Bamberg and Georgakopoulou 2008, De Fina 2009, De Fina and Georgakopoulou 2015, Georgakopoulou 2006a and 2006b, 2008, 2014) within Bucholtz and Hall’s (2005) approach to identity and interaction. These two intersecting theoretical scaffoldings are completed by a geosemiotic approach (Scollon and Scollon 2003) to the discursive environment. The research therefore studies narrative interactions within communities of practice (Eckert and McConnell-Ginet 1992, 2007) across the spaces and fields of the research site of Sandton, Johannesburg; investigating both participant behaviour and discursive environment, in particular with respect to the semiotic landscape. It is a ‘new’ ethnography in that its aim is to better understand the new spaces of South Africa’s cities (Duff 2014). Methodologically the narrative interactions of participants are plotted onto the space of Sandton using GIS technology. This allows attention to be brought to the trajectories of participants and thus to change in interactive style, role and behaviour as participants enter, remain within and leave the site. Three principles of identity and interaction are explored and unpacked in depth for this linguistic ethnography: emergence, positionality and relationality. In addition to a focus on the site itself and its socio-historic processes, this thesis examines the trajectories across the space of the site, institutional discourse and practice through four emblematic companies and, finally, the ‘Born Free’ or ‘millenial’ participants. Through the different participants the research seeks to give an account of the subjectivities and understandings that will be relevant to the present, and future, of the site, and of the country. Axes of investigation are emergence of identity work, masculinity, religion, modernity, codeswitching, positionality with respect to macro, meso and micro discourses and interaction, and tactics of intersubjectivity (Bucholtz and Hall 2004b).Item Indian women and public space: women’s landscape of Fordsburg, Johannesburg(2017) Mohamed, SumayyaThe urban spatial restrictions women are subjected to are universally acknowledged. These restrictions, which exist physically and symbolically within space, are used as a tool for gendered ‘othering’ and exclusion. Using a conceptual framework that include structures of power, spatial and gender theories as a tool of analysis this research seeks to analyse and track the process of spatial restrictions on the female body in their everyday lived experiences. The socio-political undercurrents of urban space is entangled within the power structures and ideologies that govern and objectify women’s presence and behaviours within public space. This has a debilitating effect on the way they access and use it. Indian women in Fordsburg are no strangers to these universal problems. They experience many of the same fears that have been documented within the Public sphere. Their resilience and constant presence in public space questions the validity of the Public/Private binary as well as common stereotypical assumptions surrounding their identities which operate at different scales. Their everyday lived experience showcases their strategies in coping and overcoming the challenges the complex nature of urban public space presents to them. Their strategies of reclaiming the space are unique and intricate. Their resilience in challenging the normalization of socio-spatial dynamics leads them towards reclaiming their identities, power and respect as women.Item Representations of the postcolonial city through the eyes of the African artist as Flâneur(2015-02-16) Matheolane, Mpho MosesThis research report considers the question and concept of the flâneur as an artist and a means of representing the city. In doing this, the figure of the flâneur is removed from its European and Western urban context and placed within an African one. This figure is also imagined as an African black artist as opposed to its popularly and historically known white poet and artist, of Baudelaire’s creation. In this way, the flâneur as an African artist, in an African city, may be used to ask and possibly answer the question of what this all entails for the representation of such a city, are there any differences between this flâneur and its Western archetype? Factoring in the significance of postcolonial theory and its application to space, more especially the city, what nuances and perspectives may be drawn from this? For purposes of the above; the city of Johannesburg is used as the spatial subject matter, the early series of work by the artist Kudzanai Chiurai being an example of the aforementioned representation of the city while the artist himself is seen as the flâneur with the rationale behind his work being the practice of the flâneur that is, flânerie. Keywords: Postcolonialism, postcolonial urbanism, flâneur, flânerie, Baudelaire, Walter Benjamin, Johannesburg, post-apartheid, Achille Mbembe, Kudzanai Chiurai.Item Science [non] fiction: science education through the performing arts(2015-05-26) Hirson, Brett SeanEducation in South Africa is experiencing challenges of interest in its learners towards science and mathematics within the primary and secondary phases of learning. The result of this failed interest is represented by the amount of scarce skills present in the technology, ICT and engineering sectors, resulting in a lack of research and development of current and future technologies. The solution to this problem is to create a lateral approach through learners’ interests by using performance media as a medium of instruction. This intervention is established as part of the University of the Witwatersrand where it will serve as a crucible of research, exploration and education of science and technology through cross-faculty co-operation. Using the University’s vast academic and educational resources, this intervention will become a staging ground for new scientific and technological development conveyed through a variety of performance mediums which will be presented to learners, students and the general public. Situated adjacent to the Parktown Education Campus, this facility is the beginning of planned expansion by the University linking its various campuses through Braamfontein civic district. The site has an important historical and heritage association with Johannesburg - through its heritage landmarks - and by its use through the National Children’s Theatre. Whilst this has been a site for performance art over the last two decades, the expansion and integration of this building will continue this legacy into the future through the exploration of new and dynamic performance mediums.