169 research outputs found
La reapropiación de la maternidad en la obra de Ama Ata Aidoo
No full textThe image of the African mother offered by the first male African writers, rather than
showing the truth about motherhood, contributes to the promotion of a negative image
for women, whose identity as individuals depend on their role as mothers. Female
African writers, such as Ama Ata Aidoo, have fought since the 1960s against the use of
this role as a political and social tool; they have shown how the image of ‘Mother Africa’
only subdues African women. This paper studies the different concepts of motherhood
that Aidoo establishes and how the Ghanaian author reappropriates motherhood in
her worksLa imagen de la madre africana vertida por los primeros escritores masculinos del con
tinente, lejos de mostrar la realidad de la maternidad, contribuye al fomento de una imagen negativa para la mujer, que ve sometido el desarrollo de su identidad individual a su papel de madre. Escritoras africanas, como Ama Ata Aidoo, han luchado desde la década de 1960 contra el uso de este papel como herramienta política y social, plasmando cómo la imagen de ‘la Madre África’ no hace más que someter a la mujer africana. Este artículo estudia los distintos conceptos de maternidad que Aidoo establece y cómo la autora ghanesa reapropria la maternidad a través de sus obra
Mediacups: Experience with Design and Use of Computer-Augmented Everyday Artefacts
No full textOur view of ubiquitous computing is artefact-centred: in this view, computers are considered as secondary artefacts that enable items of everyday use as networked digital artefacts. This view is expressed in an artefact computing model and investigated in the Mediacup project, an evolving artefact computing environment. The Mediacup project provides insights into the augmentation of artefacts with sensing, processing, and communication capabilities, and into the provision of an open infrastructure for information exchange among artefacts. One of the artefacts studied is the Mediacup itself, an ordinary coffee cup invisibly augmented with computing and context-awareness. The Mediacup and other computeraugmented everyday artefacts are connected through a network infrastructure supporting loosely-coupled spatially-defined communication
Book review: Aidoo, Lamonte, and Daniel F. Silva, editors. Emerging Dialogues on Machado de Assis. Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.
No full textIn the context of Machadian studies, the present volume is a welcome surprise. Aidoo and Silva are both US-based specialists in nineteenth-century Brazilian literature and culture, and they propose to reevaluate this literature from a multidisciplinary perspective. Despite the chosen title, Emerging Dialogues includes not only original works and ideas but also pre-existing material on the Machado de Assis. This is the case of the foreword by Nelson H. Vieira, which, resulting from a lecture delivered in 2008, now offers an insightful panorama of Machado’s life and work and a thorough yet helpfully succinct history of the criticism devoted to the author from its origins to 2015.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Poetry as a performing art in the English-speaking Caribbean.
No full textThis thesis seeks to demonstrate that there is a direct relationship
between the emergence of poetry as a performing art in the English speaking Caribbean and phases of nationalist agitation from the uprisings
against unemployment, low pay and colonial neglect during 1937-8 to the
present. Though the poetry has many variations in scope, ranging from
light-hearted entertainment, its principal momentum has been one of
protest, nationalism and revolutionary sentiment. The thesis seeks to
relate tone, style and content both to specific periods and cultural
contexts, and to the degree of engagement of the individual artist in the
political struggle against oppression.
Frequently theatrical, the poetry has commanded a stage and a
popular audience. Though urban in style, it is rooted in older, rural
traditions. Creole, the vernacular of the masses, is a vital common
denominator. The poetry is aurally stimulating, and often highly
rhythmic. The popular music of the day has played an integral part, and
formative role in terms of composition.
The fundamental historical dynamic of the English-speaking Caribbean
has been one of violent imperialist imposition on the one hand, and
resistance by the black masses on the other. Creole language, with its
strong residuum of African grammatical constructs, concepts and
vocabulary, has been a central vehicle of resistance. It is a low-status
language in relation to the officially-endorsed Standard English. The
thesis argues that artists' assertion of Creole, and total identification
with it through their own voice, is a significant act of defiance and
patriotism.
Periods of heightened agitation in the recent past have each led to
the emergence of a distinctive form of performance poetry. Chapter two
examines the role of Louise Bennett as a mouthpiece of black pride and
nationalist sentiment largely in the period preceding independence. Her
principal aim is the affirmation of the black Jamaican's fundamental
humanity. She uses laughter both as a curative emotional release and as
an expression of mental freedom. She lays the foundations of a comic
tradition which does not fundamentally challenge the contradictions of
the post-independence period.
Chapter three relates the emergence of the Dub Poets of Jamaica to
the development of Rastafarianism into a mass post-independence
nationalist revival, and to the contribution of intellectuals, most
symbolically Walter Rodney, to the process of decolonization. Reggae
music, the principal creative response to the dynamics of the period both
in terms of lyrics and rhythmic tension, infuses the work of Michael
Smith, Cku Onuora, Mutabaruka and Erian Meeks examined in this study.
Chapter four illustrates the development of performed poetry in the
context of periods of insurrection and revolution in the East Caribbean.
It examines the Black Rower movement as a stimulus to cultural
nationalism and revolutionary sentiment, and its transcendence to
internationalism and socialism in the context of the Grenada Revolution.
Abdul Malik straddles and exemplifies the creative dynamic which exists
between urban, industrial Trinidad and its tiny, rural and poor
neighbour, Grenada
Drafting conventions, templates and legislative precedents and their effects on the drafting process and the drafter
No full textThis dissertation examines the use of drafting conventions, templates and legislative precedents in legislative drafting and their effects on the drafter and the drafting style. The author highlights the importance of clarity and communication in drafting and draws examples from the situation in Ghana
Women in African Drama: Representation and role
No full textThe purpose of this study is to examine the representation and role of women in African theatre. The discussion is based on published and unpublished plays by African writers selected from a pan-African perspective.
The thesis is divided into two major parts: Women in Society; The Portrayal of Women by Major Playwrights. Part I follows a thematic approach aimed at examining the position of women in three different areas which form the chapters for the part : Women, Tradition and Social
Change; The Urban Woman and Women in Politics. Part II of the thesis analyses major African playwrights' presentation of women characters. This part discusses not only the characterization of women by major playwrights but also these writers' attitude towards women and women's issues. Examined here in two chapters are The Portrayal of Women by
Major Male Playwrights and The Portrayal of Women by Major Female Playwrights.
Chapter 1, 'Women, Tradition and Social Change' discusses selected playwrights' examination of African women's experiences in the traditional African setting as a major foundation of the present and future socio-political situation of the continent; this chapter is the springboard
of the study.
From the traditional milieu the study then moves on to the
relatively new urban environment. This Chapter examines the predicaments in which the African woman finds herself as she struggles to survive in a world which differs significantly from the traditional one. Survival in the urban environment demands a certain degree of autonomy
from communal ties on the part of the individual. Yet in the case of the African woman, society does not hesitate to censure her movements and even to point an accusing finger at her for failing to satisfy traditional expectations when she is genuinely trying to meet the challenges presented by life in towns.
The myth that a woman's place is exclusively in the kitchen is a widespread one the world over. A more negative myth found in Africa is that participation of women in public affairs leads to social disaster. The third chapter of this study examines the role of African women in politics in the traditional and contemporary periods.
The fourth chapter discusses the portrayal of women by major male playwrights. Of great significance in this analysis is the attitude of these male writers towards women and also towards issues affecting women. It is for this reason that cross-references are made between these male writers and the female playwrights examined in Chapter 5.
Very negligible research has been done on drama by African women. It is in recognition of this unfortunate situation that the fifth and last chapter of this thesis is dedicated to women's self-perception as reflected in their portrayal of fellow-women in theatre. This chapter examines only major female playwrights; the minor female playwrights
are examined alongside the male in the appropriate areas in Chapters 1 to 3
Recommended from our members
Editorial: Making tracks: Wasafiri 1984-2004
No full textCelebratory Issue of the distinguished literary magazine Wasafiri. Edited and introduced by Susheila Nasta, this special volume focuses on creative writing and includes new material by some of the world's most well-known writers.
Contributors include: Derek Walcott, Anita Desai, Maggie Gee, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Michael Ondaatje, Caryl Phillips, Kamau Brathwaite, Ama Ata Aidoo, Romesh Gunesekera, David Dabydeen, Aamer Hussein, Lorna Goodison. Major interview on 20 years of history with Susheila Nasta and Jonathan Barker (British Council)
Morphologic and biochemical effects of dimethylsulfoxide in vitro, 1956
No full textDimethyl sulfoxide is an efficient solvent for most drugs, but is reported to have cytotoxic effects. The mechanism by which it induces these effects is currently not clear. These studies were conducted to gain more information on the cellular effects of DMSO in culture. Exposure of cells to 1-5% DMSO caused altered morphology such as plasma membrane damage, cytoplasmic vacuolization, multinucleation and marked reduction in mitotic index. Also cells incubated in DMSO showed extra�cellular pH shift in non-physiological range (pH >8). There was con�comitant reduction in DNA, RNA and protein content as well as decreased cell number in medium where the pH shift was in the alkaline range. Furthermore, DMSO decreased formaldehyde dehydrogenase activity and increased intracellular glutathione content. Additionally, chromosome aberrations such as dicentrics and rings were induced in DMSO-treated cells, but these effects were inhibited by antioxidants. Scanning electron microscope analysis of cells exposed to DMSO, showed surface changes similar to that of cytochalasin B, a microfila�ment dissociating agent. These changes were not observed in colchicine- treated and DMSO-free cultures. The results suggest that free radicals are involved in DMSO effects on cells and that the primary site of action of DMSO may be at the plasma membrane which may have initiated secondary events that caused the observed cellular effects. In addition, the ability of DMSO to induce chromosome aberrations, inhibit cell growth and alter cellular macromolecular content j_n vitro suggests that more extensive studies should be conducted to determine whether the compound may induce similar effects in vivo
Malar J
No full textBackgroundRapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are central to fulfilling the WHO\ue2\u20ac\u2122s recommendation for parasitologic confirmation of all suspected cases of malaria. RDT performance may be compromised when exposed to the high temperature conditions typical of most malaria endemic regions. However, a systematic method to monitor RDT quality and performance in endemic countries is lacking at the present time. Current methods to monitor RDT performance in the field include comparing results from RDTs to diagnoses made by light microscopy and observing health workers perform tests. These methods are not substitutes for direct quality control. In this study, the suitability of dried Plasmodium falciparum-infected blood as quality control samples for malaria RDTs was evaluated.MethodsThree cultured strains of P. falciparum at 200 and 2,000 parasites/\uce\ubcl were tested on 10 brands of RDT. After baseline testing to determine initial reactivity, aliquots of parasite-infected blood were air dried, stored at 35\uc2\ub0C, room temperature (~25\uc2\ub0C) or 4\uc2\ub0C for one, four and 12 weeks and were then tested on the 10 RDTs after rehydration. Extended stability testing of dried blood stored at 4\uc2\ub0C was done using P. falciparum strain 3D7 at 1,000 and 2,000 parasites/\uce\ubcl.ResultsAll dried blood samples at 2,000 parasites/\uce\ubcl retained reactivity (100% sensitivity) at all three temperatures and time points for all nine RDT brands that detect histidine-rich protein-2 (HRP2). The dried blood samples with 200 parasites/\uce\ubcl were detected by six of the nine HRP2-based RDTs at all storage temperatures and time points. The sensitivity for two of the three remaining HRP2-based RDTs was 100% up to four weeks of storage at all temperatures but dropped to 87.5% at week 12. Of the four RDTs that detect plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) in a pan-specific manner, alone or in combination with HRP2, the detection of pLDH in samples with 2,000 parasites/\uce\ubcL was 100% for two RDTs and 80% for the other two RDTs. The mean level for detection of pLDH at 200 parasites/\uce\ubcl was low (29%), with a range of 0% to100%, which was partly attributable to weak initial baseline reactivity. Reactivity of dried 3D7 at 1,000 and 2,000 parasites/\uce\ubcl stored at 4\uc2\ub0C was retained at 100% for up to 52 weeks for both HRP2 and pLDH.ConclusionsIn the absence of native or recombinant positive control antigens, well-standardized P. falciparum-infected dried blood samples can be used as positive control samples for monitoring RDT performance, particularly with HRP2-detecting tests
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