Journal of Cultural Studies

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: A Case for Linguistic and Sexual Politics?

2014-02-10T11:41:24+00:00

No Abstract.

'Siddon Look' or 'Go-Getter': Identity and Generation Gap in Contemporary Women's Writing

2014-02-10T11:41:25+00:00

This paper examines the shift in the portrayal of the image of women from traditional to contemporary times. An in-depth study of the female characters in literary texts drawn from Africa and the African Diaspora reveals that women's writings are more challenging in outlook; hence, the creation of a new identity on the literary scene. In addition, the paper gives certain reasons for the shift and shows the degree of success some contemporary writers have attained in a society that is deeply patriarchal.

Female Academic Playwrights and Challenges of the Changing Times

2014-02-10T11:41:26+00:00

No Abstract.

' Church Wa N Memu ' : Satire in the Gospel Music of Niyi Adedokun

2014-02-10T11:41:27+00:00

This paper looks critically into the satirical presentations of gospel messages in Nigerian gospel musical performances. Even though there have been some revolutionary changes in Nigerian gospel music ill contemporary times, satirical presentations by Niyi Adedokun make Nigerian gospel mllsic more attractive to sociologists of music and music theologians. The paper thus aims at a socia-musical analysis and theological evaluation of Niyi Adedokun 's treatment of satire in Nigerian gospel music, using Church Wa N Menu¹ ( 'Our Church Drinks Palm Wine '), one of his elpees, as a case study. A copy of the elpee is used for the transcription , of the text and possible analysis of the music. Apart from a personal interview with the artiste, few persons were also interviewed both from within and outside Christ Apostolic Church, on which the composition is based.

The Discourse of Arbitration in Pre-Colonial Nigeria: Insights from Igbo Literary Texts

2014-02-10T11:41:28+00:00

The British Common Law provides an overriding background to human conduct and the dispensation of justice in many Commonwealth nations, including Nigeria. This is without regard to the age-long processes of conducting human affairs in these societies. Indeed, there is this suspicion that the intellectual content and programmatic essence of traditional Nigerian practices, including arbitration procedures, have not been exploited ill the solution to our problems. Modem Nigerian societies do not seem to anchor on our cultural heritage. Thus, issues, including minor ones, tend to be exaggerated, and their outcomes drastic. It is this suspicion that provides justification to this paper. An attempt will be made to discuss arbitration strategies in pre-colonial Igbo society. Emphasis will be on the discourse structure. TllLts, some of the survival strategies of those early societies will be highlighted. Material for the study will be drmvn from literary texts based on pre-colonial Igbo life. There is, however, the assumption that the findings will be relevant to other Nigerian groups.

Dead Metaphor in Selected Advertisements in Nigerian Dailies : Socio-Linguistic and Pedagogical Dimensions

2014-02-10T11:41:28+00:00

Dead metaphors and images are often enlivened and empowered by advertisers to help their commUlzication and to achieve bewitching effects. It is interesting to see words and phrases that may be presumed to have been drained of their linguistic strength being brought back to currency and made to act fast in aiding comprehension and retention. Illustrating with pieces of 'dead ' language resuscitated, whose effects would otherwise have threatened prospectively exciting communication, this essay discusses advertisement in Nigerian newspapers. The paper demonstrates that the linguistic resourcefulness of advertisers is not inferior to that of poets and that severe communication exigencies put enormous pressure on the linguistic resources of the practitioners of both professions. The conclusion is that ill studying the use of English in Nigeria we cannot afford to ignore the place of English in advertisements in particular and the mass media in general. The paper also draws attentioll to the pedagogical implications of the above findings.

The Town Crier and the Quest for Social Justice in Ola Rotimi' s Plays

2014-02-10T11:41:29+00:00

This paper sets out to review the role ..f the dramatist, particularly the Nigerian dramatist, as a social commentator and an advocate of social justice. Of all the creative artists, the dramatist, I believe, is in a better position to mirror his society. This is because his work has a unique characteristic of presenting events in a vivid, picturesque and realistic manner. This helps to facilitate the assimilation of social contradictions realistically in the minds of the audience. Its message is therefore immediate. It is devoid of the distant intimacy of prose; the often banal, sentimental, condensed and esoteric language of poetry; the cryptic and abstract message offine and applied arts; and the often incomplete and inconclusive society-the rich and the poor; the young and the old; the literate and the illiterate. This is so because through drama, the message is presented through acting or make-believe motions and gestures. How well has the Nigerian dramatist performed the role ? Ola Rotimi in his works seems to focus mainly on social injustice in the nation and the factors that hinder true unity in the country. His plays i1lclude: If (1990); Kurunmi(/988); Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again (1999), and Hopes of the Living Dead (1993). Through these plays he provides a vision that could inspire the formulation of positive government policies, which if implemented properly, would lead to genuine national unity in Nigeria.

Autobiography through the Exile Paradigm: The Olaudah Equiano Story

2014-02-10T11:41:30+00:00

This paper examines the relevance of biographical works in literary studies. Using Oluadah Equiano's story, the essay treats thematic issues with regard to the slave trade and its consequences on Africans. It posits that what led to the success of the story as a historical document is its effectiveness as a tool in the anti-slavery campaign.