Revisiting current South African housing policy : towards the development of a holistic housing policy.

Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 1999.What housing means to people, their satisfaction with what they have and their evaluation of housing, seems to be especially relevant at this point in time in South African history. Therefore using meaning as a factor to evaluate current policy in South Africa, seems an interesting proposition. Further it is useful to use this approach to consider what might be missing in current approaches to housing. Is it possible for instance, that in South Africa the approach evolved by policy makers is incomplete? Is it possible that a more comprehensive approach could be a solution to the current crises in housing? These questions led to the formulating of the research question that is the topic of this dissertation. The analysis of the problem and suggested solutions is dealt with in the following order: Firstly, the problem, definitions and research to be carried out is defined in Chapter One, which also defines the background to the formulating of the research question. This is followed by a review of the current South African situation and its relationship to international housing policies, in Chapter Two. Chapter Three, outlines holistic policies: what they embrace and their relevance to this subject. Thereafter in the same chapter, international, as well as South African attempts at envisioning more meaningful policies are examined, with reference to their implications for South African policy. Chapter Four outlines new research undertaken which examines the feasibility and amenability of South Africa to a more meaningful approach and finally in Chapter Five, a conclusion is reached. It is hoped that this approach, will add to the discussion in this field and contribute to new perspectives emerging

Queer reading,queer writing

Master of Arts - ArtsThis MA dissertation uses “queer theory” to read existing literary texts and to inform the riting of new fictional works. In the opening literary-critical essay, which functions as an ntroduction to queer theory, I give an overview of its development and conceptual formation, then go on to demonstrate how it may provide useful and fruitful readings of a writer such as William Burroughs. The central and longest section of this dissertation is a group of short fictions that engage with queer theory, using some of its insights to generate investigations of sexuality, power, social relations, and to inspire formal experiments in keeping with the spirit of queer theory. In conclusion, I look back upon this group of short fictional texts and link them to the issues raised in the essay on Burroughs and queer theory