A critical-historical genre analysis of reality television

Abstract

The objective of this article is to investigate the criticism that reality television defies precise definition because it shares generic conventions with genres such as game shows, talent shows, talk shows and documentaries. We started this investigation by using the historical genre approach to etermine the historical roots of reality television. The historical approach also enabled us to identify four genre conventions associated with reality television, that is, the focus on ordinary people, voyeurism, audience participation, and the attempt to simulate real life. These characteristics furthermore explain the popularity of this genre with the viewing audience. To make provision for one genre ‘borrowing’ from another, we suggested the use of the hybrid mix (or generic mix) model which enables researchers to identify the content (e.g. the narrative) of reality programmes as well as its unique, formalistic characteristics.     

Leaving area studies behind: the challenge of diasporic connections in the field of African studies

Abstract

In recent years, diaspora has become one of the key terms of social analysis in various fields. Emphasizing the multiple trajectories out of which present identities – inasmuch as political or economic realities – are forged, the concept forces us to reconsider the scope of classical area studies (and associated disciplinary boundaries) in radical terms. The article looks at the colonial foundations of African Studies as area studies and examines some ways by which to overcome enduring colonial epistemologies. The author suggests a theoretical framework in which Africa herself is considered as diasporic. Moreover, she calls for a critical perspective that will facilitate the comparative analysis of different diasporic discourses and practices.     

Support provided by corporate social responsibility programmes for the creation of universal access to ICT: a content analysis of corporate websites

ABSTRACT

This study analyses messages within corporate web pages as physical indicators of the following: the extent to which sampled companies provide information communication technology (ICT) to the South African society in terms of geographical spread; the types of ICTs they provide; the nature of their support; and the members of society targeted. Through latent coding, it seeks to deduce whether the companies realise their role in social development by focusing their corporate social responsibility programmes on societal needs and to establish whether their support is broadly aligned with government priorities.

Although the study is exploratory in nature, it reveals the following noteworthy issues: The geographical spread indicates that seven of the 11 companies analysed focus their support for ICT on the country as a whole; most companies tend to provide a whole range of technological equipment rather than one type; the provision of equipment is coupled with training; and the support for ICT is largely aimed at schools.

It is inferred that the companies realise their societal obligations; support government priorities; and are committed to social development by creating appropriate mechanisms for access to ICT.     

Saving virgins,saving the USA: heteronormative masculinities and the securitisation of trafficking discourse in mainstream narrative film

Sex trafficking has become a high-profile, celebrity endorsed issue, attracting much international attention. Accompanying this has been a proliferation of films, including full-length feature films, which address the topic and have done much to influence public perception of the issue. This paper analyses two of these films which were made for the mainstream US market: Trade and Taken. Both films present a conservative and heteronormative perspective revolving around middle-aged North American law enforcement officers rescuing innocent young girls. Hence, these films participate in the general securitisation of trafficking discourse in which the US has been a leader. In spite of their ostensible concern about the exploitation of women, these films present trafficking mostly as an occasion for the redemption and rehabilitation of the beleaguered white American male, appropriating the problem of trafficking in the service of a US-led neo-imperialism bolstered by masculinism and xenophobia, and implicitly problematising women's independence and justifying the control of their movements and sexuality.     

“David Byrne really does love PowerPoint”: art as research on semiotics and semiotic technology

This article presents a reading of David Byrne's Envisioning Emotional Epistemological Information, an art work created with MicroSoft's presentation software PowerPoint, as an instance of creative research on semiotics and semiotic technology. It reveals commonalities and differences between Byrne's ideas about PowerPoint and related ideas from linguistics and semiotics, and is intended as a contribution to research on PowerPoint, and on semiotic technologies generally, as well as to efforts aimed at developing criteria for evaluating art as research on semiotics.     

Sustainable Design and Social Entrepreneurship A Common Path Toward Social Innovation？

The purpose of this article is to introduce the connection of social entrepreneurship （SE） and sustainable design （SD） as a successful strategy for social innovation. Design is increasingly recognized by different stakeholders as an important contribution to social innovation. However, research linking SD and SE as a tool to sustain these social ventures is limited. This article takes an international approach to viewing SE. It presents concepts and main characteristics of both SE and SD, and discusses its similarities and differences of these concepts, based on a literature review and the analysis of two case studies addressing SE. The case studies presented in Norway and the United States are evaluated based on the role that SD strategies played in their establishment and implementation phase. Finally, this article seeks to contribute to the discussion of SE challenges and benefits, in addition to furthering research on the connection of SE and SD. Analyzing this connection means exploring uncharted paths toward sustainability and socially responsible growth.     

休闲学:走进生命的学问

随着生活水平的提高和价值观的变迁,休闲日益成为中国人生活中不可或缺的重要组成部分,休闲文化更成为一项衡量社会经济和文明发展的指标,一种崭新的生活方式和生活态度.本文在广泛借鉴和吸收国内外休闲学研究最新成果的基础上,指出休闲学是走进生命的学问.回归生命的诗意,追求快乐和谐的生活,是休闲与休闲学研究的终极目标.同时,文章辨析了休闲及其相关概念,围绕“人”这一中心,从历史、社会、体验、经济和发展五个维度构建全新的休闲学框架体系,以期对深化后续休闲研究有所裨益.     

我国技术侦查研究的回顾与展望——以文献计量分析为基本方法

以1993年至2012年国内技术侦查研究领域公开发表的学术论文为样本,运用文献计量法,从文献增长规律、期刊分布、高产作者、研究热点及研究机构等方面对我国技术侦查研究的发展状况进行回顾,总结出我国技术侦查研究的现状,即关注度不断增强、技术侦查概念的界定与法律规制问题是目前研究的重要内容,新刑诉法背景下技术侦查的适用将成为研究的主要趋势。     

Trace evidence dynamics of cocaine on banknotes: A comparison study of paper and polymer banknotes

It is well established that a large proportion of paper banknotes in circulation contain traces of cocaine. Being able to discriminate between the innocent transfer of illicit drug particles acquired through everyday interactions with surfaces such as banknotes, as opposed to transfer resulting from criminal activities can provide valuable intelligence that can inform an investigation. With many countries adopting polymer banknotes as legal tender, it is important to consider the transfer of cocaine from these surfaces as well as the retention of these particulates on polymer banknotes for evaluative interpretation in crime reconstruction. This comparison study assessed three contact variables (force, time, and rotation) on the transfer of cocaine particulates from paper and polymer banknotes onto a human skin proxy. The persistence of cocaine particulates was assessed through a realistic scenario which mimicked a cash transaction. Quantifiable amounts of cocaine were transferred onto the human skin proxy across all of the contacts assessed, with a greater transfer observed with contacts involving polymer banknotes and those contacts which involved rotation. Following extensive handling, cocaine persisted on both banknote types, with paper banknotes retaining larger amounts of cocaine than polymer banknotes. These findings show that cocaine can persist on both paper and polymer banknotes for extended periods of time following handling and is therefore available for transfer. This transfer then readily occurs, even when contact is brief and involves relatively small forces. A key distinction between the banknote types was that cocaine particulates are more likely to transfer from polymer banknotes due to the lower retention rate of particulates on this surface. Such insights can aid in evaluating the relevance of illicit drug particles identified on items or persons of interest in crime reconstruction approaches.     

国史研究中的若干理论与方法问题

中华人民共和国史是一门新兴的重要学科。科学研究中华人民共和国史，并引导干部群众认真学习国史，就可以做到以史为鉴、资政育人。科学研究中华人民共和国史要树立和坚持正确的指导思想，要切实体现中华人民共和国史的特点，要确立一根研究的主线，要正确认识和对待错误，实事求是地总结经验教训，要公正客观地对待历史人物。