Development of Radio in African Countries

Development of Radio in African Countries Chris Cazalet Essay: The Development of radio in African countries, including South Africa Radio is the most important medium in Africa. Its Flexibility, low costs, and oral character meet Africa’s situation very well. It remains the top medium in terms of the number of people that it reaches (Mytton). Radio is the fundamental mass-medium in Africa as it holds the widest reach and the highest audience numbers compared to television (TV), newspapers and other information and communication technologies (ICTs). Over the last 20 years radio has experiences a regeneration, due to democratisation and more affordable technology, today radio has proved to be far more hands-on and a straightforward type of communication then it possibly was in older times. Adding to the development is the welcoming of new technologies that have become available – this has evolved radio into more of a two-way medium, assisting in the bridge of the digital divide by providing information tools for access to all audiences (Mytton). Radio as a source of news and entertainment is completely unrestricted by the internet. One of the main developmental content encounters on African Radio is the need to produce programmes on a tight budget. The dominant principles of African radio is live broadcast, rather than arranged programmes (Myers, 2008). Future technologic trends seem to be enhancing rather than replacing radio. It is unlikely that TV will challenge radio as it is developing at a lower process then expected. â€Å"At the level of international donor support, radio, which at one time was regarded at the ‘poor cousin’ of the newer ICTs, has been brought back into the ICT family, there is renewed interest at the policy level.† (Myers, 2008). There are four classes that radio stations can be divided into today, state-controlled public radio; privately owned commercial radio; community-controlled radio and international radio. Because a country’s media may be loosened does not mean that there are not huge stresses on press freedom and countless economic challenges met by broadcasters. Technology seems to be enhancing rather than replacing radio. Radio is uniquely matched to the African context, being an aural and portable medium in a continent that is primarily non-literate (Myers, 2008). The history of radio development emerged from three separate stages, beginning in 1924 when they first South African broadcasts took place. There was the colonial period, radio was the main medium which was brought in to serve the settlers and the welfares of the colonial powers. Later on the ruling classes introduced radio services presented by and for the indigenous people. The domestic broadcasting system of all European authorities such as the British independent public service model of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) or the French government radio stations were not government monopolies (Mytton). The earliest broadcasting that appeared on the continent was in in South Africa. In Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, three organizations – an advertising group, a private dub, and a local authority; these organisations were granted licenses to broadcast. They all soon were taken over by an entrepreneur who, through difficulty, moved the stations toward commercial practicality. The government did not see this commercial practicality as a service they sought after – after inviting John Reith, the BBC’s first director-general, to come to South Africa in 1934 to help them develop a national public service form of broadcasting thus the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was created in 1936. SABC drifted from BBC’s working mannerisms soon after its establishment. It was never far from the political influence and control which grew during the years of apartheid. For a large period the SABC programmes were dictated by white audiences until 1943, it only broadcasted in English and Africans, leaving the African audiences ignored. In the 1960’s broadcasting for Africans extended when Radio Bantu was developed during apartheid to emphasise the apartheid ideology of the separation of the races (Mytton). After World War 2 broadcasting expanded in most of the African colonies and became one of the official British policies, radio services would be developed to educate and inform the African listeners. Torn Chalmers, a successful BBC radio producer who was involved in developing of the radio is Nigeria, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania, along with others tried to separate broadcasting from government. In spite of the establishment of public corporation in several British regions, stations were closely managed by their corresponding governments and had little independence (Mytton). The French developed a different policy, nearly all broadcasting in French regions were in the French language. Radio broadcasting to a large extent, originated in France through the Societe de Radio-diffusion de la France d’Outre-Mer (Society for Radio Transmission to French Overseas Territories – SORAFOM). It was not until the 1960’s the decade when African colonies were granted independence and allowed to establish national radio broadcasters (Mytton). In most countries the national and regional radio represent the voice of the government. The main difference between state radios and independent radios are that state radios reach nation-wide and independent radio stations are confined to urban areas. Independent radios also have almost all been FM stations where as state radio stations are of various stations (Mytton). Community Radio has becoming a growing importance to the accessability of information and a tool of empowerment for local communities across Africa, they face several challenges with regard to sustainability. There is no certainty to the long-term future of this sector – despite it its growth in numerous countries. (MCgregor, 2006) Independent radios stations can be catorgorised into five types. Fully commercial stations that seek to make a profit, religious radio stations – these stations are mostly supported by sponsors, the growth of commercial radio could change the weakness of many states that support the talented artist that have had to stop working because of inadequate payments – these artists find that they do better by marketing their own music at street venders. Community radion stations which could be seen as the fastest growing sector – these stations are often staffed by volunteer helpers, run at low cost and sponsored from the outside. By 2000 there were over 70 radio stations in South Africa and more then 100 in West Africa. Community radio stations contribute to the national edication and development which is of major importance – there are many developmental agencies strongly favour the use of radio campaigns for better health, in the past these campaigns and advert isments were very dull however in recent years there has been a growth in the imaginative and entertaining use of the radio to encourage the development of these areas. The fourth and fifth categories each emerged as the result of ethnic or other struggles. Factional radio stations were used to promote a specific section in a struggle. This category was also referred to as the hate radio station. The fifth category, humanitarian radio stations, was a standing power to factional radio. Radio power in Africa led numerous aid agencies, including the United Nations, in support of the establishment of humanitarian radio stations that encourage peace, harmony and democracy. (Myers, 2008) In the 21st century there have been many technological advances that have boosted broadcasting to new invisions of direct satellite broadcasting. Digital shortwave is the future of radio tansmissions and if Africa can employ this new technology it will revolutionize radio broadcasting over the whole African continent. References MCgregor, S. (2006). Reserach Summary Report Africa Media Development Initiative. Rhodes University. London: BBC World Service Trust. Retrieved from http://africanmediainitiative.org/content/2013/07/22/AMDI-BBC-summary-report.pdf Myers, M. (2008). Radio and Development in Africa Concept Paper. Canada: International Development Research Centre of Canada. Retrieved from http://www.amarc.org/documents/manuals/12481943581Radio_and_Development_in_Africa,_a_concept_paper.pdf Mytton, G. (n.d.). A Brief History of Radio Broadcasting in Africa. Retrieved from http://www.transculturalwriting.com/radiophonics/contents/usr/downloads/radiophonics/A_Brief_History.pdf

Is Frankenstein the Modern Day Prometheus? Essay

Dr. Frankenstein and Prometheus both create a male human being, they both sought glory from their creations, and they were both very intelligent beings. In view of these attributes Mary Shelly used to create character Dr. Victor Frankenstein it is obvious to see why she would subtitle her novel â€Å"The modern Prometheus. † Dr. Frankenstein and Prometheus create man Philo Farnsworth creates the modern television we all watch today. Alexander Bell creates the telephone and now by nearly everyone on the planet. And who could forget Percy Spencer who created the microwave oven that is in just about every household in America. These inventions are all great but pale in comparison to creating a â€Å"Man†. After fighting alongside his fellow Titans in the war against the Olympians, Prometheus is given the task of creating humans. Prometheus creates a man out of mud. Dr. Frankenstein collects body parts for creating his man from mud. Dr. Frankenstein being even more obsessed with his diabolic plan to create man he neglected to notice the fact that he was desecrating a grave yard. Darkness had no effect upon my fancy; and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which, from being the seat of beauty and strength, had become food for the worm. † (Chapter 4) Dr. Frankenstein assumes the task of creating a human being â€Å"When I found so astonishing a power placed within my hands, I hesitated a long time concerning the manner in which I should employ i t†¦I began the creation of a human being. † (Chapter 4) Both of the characters created the male form of humanity and appear to neglect creating a female at the time of their creations. Prometheus and Dr. Frankenstein seek glory from their creations In the quest for acknowledged authority and admiration from their creations, both Dr. Frankenstein and Prometheus’ ambition backfires in ways they never expected. According to Greek Mythology Prometheus loved man so much that he came up with a plan to deceive the god Zeus by showing man how to offer less than favorable sacrifices to the gods. He also gave man the secret of fire after it was taken from them by Zeus. Prometheus thought that humans having this knowledge would improve humanity but it had the reverse effect. Man became deceptive not only to the gods but themselves and used the knowledge of fire for destruction and war. Prometheus sought glory and honor from the man he had created by giving them knowledge only the gods possessed. Dr. Frankenstein in turn sought supreme admiration from his creation when he said â€Å"Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. (Chapter 5) He also thought that he could improve on mankind with the knowledge he possessed â€Å"I thought, that if I could bestow animation upon lifeless matter, I might in process of time (although I now found it impossible) renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption. † (Chapter 5) Prometheus and Dr. Frankenstein thought that their creations would give them the glory and honor they both craved but the best made plans don’t always come to pass. Dr. Frankenstein and Prometheus were highly intelligent Highly intelligent people always seem to stand out from the crowd Prometheus and Victor are no exception. Most boys at the age of 13 are more interested in baseball and girls but the young Victor Frankenstein is more captivated by the works of the German Philosopher and Theologian Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus. â€Å"When I was thirteen years of age, we all went on a party of pleasure to the baths near Thonon: the inclemency of the weather obliged us to remain a day confined to the inn. In this house I chanced to find a volume of the works of Cornelius Agrippa. I opened it with apathy; the theory which he attempts to demonstrate, and the wonderful facts which he relates, soon changed this feeling into enthusiasm. A new light seemed to dawn upon my mind; and, bounding with joy, I communicated my discovery to my father. When I returned home, my first care was to procure the whole works of this author, and afterwards of Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus. I read and studied the wild fancies of these writers with delight; they appeared to me treasures known to few beside myself. (Chapter 2) Victor attends college at an early age and surpasses the knowledge of his classmates and instructor. â€Å"When I had attained the age of seventeen, my parents resolved that I should become a student at the University of Ingolstadt. † (Chapter 3) â€Å"As I applied so closely, it may be easily conceived that my progress was rapid. My ardour was indeed the astonishment of the students, and my proficiency that of the masters. † (Chapter 4) â€Å"I m ade some discoveries in the improvement of some chemical instruments, which procured me great esteem and admiration at the university. I was surprised, that among so many men of genius who had directed their enquiries towards the same science, that I alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret. † (Chapter 5) Prometheus by all accounts was the wisest of all the gods. He had created man to stand upright like the gods. Taught man how to deceive the gods and Prometheus possessed knowledge that even the mighty Zeus didn’t have. Both characters find that being highly intelligent has its cost. Dr. Victor Frankenstein is then modern Prometheus When Mary Shelley created the character of Victor Frankenstein she used an allusion to mythology to describe him. Prometheus and Dr. Frankenstein were both the creators of man, both were highly intelligent compared to their counter parts, and both were punished indirectly from their creations. Prometheus tormented by Zeus for giving man fire and showing man how to outwit the gods with unacceptable sacrifices. And Dr. Frankenstein forever tormented by the death of his brother, best friend and wife. He now must embark on a never ending quest to chase the creature forever. And now my wanderings began, which are to cease but with life. I have traversed a vast portion of the earth, and have endured all the hardships which travelers, in deserts and barbarous countries, are wont to meet. How I have lived I hardly know; many times have I stretched my failing limbs upon the sandy plain, and prayed for death. But revenge kept me alive; I dared not die, and leave my adversary in being. Amidst t he wilds of Tartary and Russia, although he still evaded me, I have ever followed in his track. Never will I give up my search, until he or I perish. (Chapter 24) Mary Shelly’s comparison of Dr. Frankenstein to Prometheus is both accurate and valid. After closely examining the two characters it’s easy to see why Mary Shelly was ahead of her time subtitling her novel â€Å"The Modern Prometheus† which is why it’s a classic novel to this day. References Mary W. Shelley â€Å" Frankenstein or the modern Prometheus† (1818) www. desy. de www. egs. edu www. gutenburg. org www. english-literature-space. blogspot. com www. sparknotes. com www. theeoi. com www. wikipedia. com

How did Lenin add to Marxism up to 1905, and with what consequences? Essay

Karl Marx was a German philosopher who wrote the Communist Manifesto, which encouraged workers to unite and seize power by revolution. His views became known as Marxism and influenced the thinking of socialists throughout Europe in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Marx believed that history was evolving in a series of stages towards a perfect state – Communism. These stages started with Feudalism – with the aristocrats controlling politics. Next would come Capitalism – with the bourgeoisie in control of politics. Finally the â€Å"perfect state† would arrive Communism – with the proletariat in control of politics. Marx believed that a Communist state would come about in countries such as Russia that were still feudal or did not have fully developed capitalist societies. He urged the proletariat to join the capitalists in revolting against the aristocrats and complete a capitalist revolution and then continue until the proletarian revolution occurred leading to a communist state. Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, also known as Lenin, was born in 1870 in Simvrisk, Russia. Lenin had a turbulent start to his life. At the age of 17 Lenin had to deal with the fact that his brother Alexander Ulyanov was hung for plotting to assassinate Tsar Alexander III. He then studied at the University of Kazan, where he converted to Marxism, but was expelled for revolutionary activities. Then in 1895 Lenin was exiled to Siberia for distributing revolutionary pamphlets. During his exile, the Russian Social Democratic Workers Party (RSDWP) was formed in Minsk in 1898. After Lenin’s return from exile in 1900, he founded a newspaper, Iskra, with Julius Tsederbaum, also known as Martov. The idea of the paper was to establish it as the leading underground revolutionary paper that would push forward the revolutionary movement. In 1902 he published a pamphlet called † What is to be done?† This pamphlet contained his radical ideas towards the nature of a revolutionary party. In this pamphlet, there were three main points that Lenin made in relation to the role of a revolutionary party. â€Å"An organisation of revolutionaries must contain primarily and chiefly people whose occupation is revolutionary activity†¦ This organisation must necessarily be not very broad, and as secret as possible.† This idea was stating that he wanted the party to consist of activists. He wanted people to go out and do something for the party rather than sit around and do nothing to help the cause of the party. This idea was later to contribute towards the split of the RSDWP. Lenin also stated; â€Å"The one serious organisational principle for workers in our movement must be the strictest secrecy, strictest choice of members, training of professional revolutionaries.† Lenin wanted the party to be professional and didn’t want the country to know that there was a revolutionary party being constructed that was to revolt against the current government. The third major point that Lenin made in his pamphlet was; â€Å"We must break completely with the tradition of a purely workers or trade union type of social democratic organisation down to factory groups inclusive. The factory groups or committee †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ must consist of a very small number of revolutionaries, receiving direct from the committee, orders and powers to conduct the whole social democratic party work in the factory.† This statement showed that Lenin wanted to create a dictatorial party that was to take orders from the top and no one else. He wanted to control the party and maintain it as a fully organised and prepared revolutionary organisation. In these three statements Lenin has already added to Marxism. Marx did not state what the role of the communist party would be. But here Lenin has said what he wants the party to do and how he wants it to be controlled. Marx also did not comment on how the party would operate and how it would gain power. Here in his pamphlet Lenin has shown that he wants a dictatorial party that will be run from the top and that they will take power with a highly organised and secret movement. Karl Marx never stated how and when revolution would take place. Lenin though did mention this. He made three changes to Marx’s theory. 1. Revolution would be accomplished by a small group of highly professional dedicated revolutionaries. They were needed to develop the revolutionary consciousness of workers and focus their attentions. 2. Lenin believed that the revolution would occur during a period of conflict between capitalist powers. He accepted Trotsky’s idea that a revolution would start in an underdeveloped country just like Russia where the struggle and conflict between proletariat and bourgeoisie was very great. This was known as the â€Å"weakest link† theory. 3. He did not think that the middle classes of Russia were strong enough to carry out a revolution. He believed that the working class could develop a revolutionary government of its own alliance with poor peasants who had a history of mass action in Russia. These changes show how Lenin believed in Marxism but added parts that Marx failed to mention in his theory. And so extended Marxism with his own ideas, Leninism. In 1903 the RSDWP held it’s second congress eventually in London, after the initial location Brussels was changed due to fear of persecution. In this congress four main issues were discussed. The first was the adoption of Iskra, Lenin and Martov’s revolutionary newspaper, as the party organ. The second issue discussed was probably the most important of the congress. The issue was that of membership. Lenin’s proposal was: â€Å"A member of the party is one who accepts its programmes and supports it, both materially and by personal participation in one of its organisations.† Lenin wanted party members that were active and actually went out and personally participated in events that would benefit the party. Whereas Martov believed that members should be: â€Å"A member of the RSDWP is one who accepts its programme and supports it both materially and by regular co-operation under the leadership of one of its organisations† Martov believed that party members should be passive and of large quantities similar to that of governments of nowadays. He wanted members to just accept the party’s programme and support in what they do. He didn’t state that he wanted active members like Lenin. George Plekhanov was the chairman of the congress as was the only main figure to agree with Lenin, all of the others on the Iskra editorial board came down on the side of Martov, as did Trotsky. Lenin’s proposal was rejected 28 to 23 and Martov’s proposal was accepted 28 to 22. The third issue of the Congress that was discussed was that of overseas organisations. It was decided that only the League of Revolutionary Social Democracy should be recognised and therefore the Union of Russian Social Democrats Abroad was disfranchised. This action caused the resignation of seven members of congress, all of them being Martov supporters, and sop now allowing supporters of Lenin to be in the majority. The fourth and final major point of the congress was that of Lenin’s proposal to reduce the members of the Iskra editorial board from six to three, and that the new party central committee have only three members. This was accepted and Lenin, Martov and Plekhanov were elected. But it became clear that Martov was in a minority and so rejected the offer and his supporters had nothing more to do with the elections. At this split Lenin’s supporters were dubbed the Bolshevik’s, majority, and Martov’s the Menshevik’s, minority. This congress shows how Lenin was adding to Marxism as he was trying to give the RSDWP some identity and an insight has to how he wanted it to be run. This was an addition to Marx, as he never mentioned how the party would be run and what the role of it would be. But these actions taken by Lenin have large consequences. His ideas clashed with that of Martov and so caused the split of the RSDWP. Another major consequence of Lenin’s abrasive personality and wish to have the RSDWP run his way was that this split of the party was non reconcilable. Plekhanov tried to create reconciliation between the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks and co-opted Mensheviks onto the now Bolshevik run Iskra board. But Lenin was having none of this. He resigned leaving Iskra to become a Menshevik organ and organised the Bolsheviks as a separate faction. Trotsky who was part of Martov’s Mensheviks wrote â€Å"Our political tasks† in 1904. â€Å"The party is replaced by the organisation of the party, the organisation by the control committee, and finally the control committee by the dictator.† Trotsky is commenting on the consequence of Lenin’s organisation of the party. He believes that Lenin’s concept of a revolutionary party would inevitably lead to dictatorship. In conclusion Lenin’s main addition to Marxism was to give the details about the role of the party, the membership of the party and the ultimate aim of the party, that Marx did not give when he began his theory of Marxism. But Lenin’s additions did not come without significant consequences that would affect the future of Russian politics.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker - 1042 Words

In the novel, the color purple, Alice Walker said â€Å"A girl is nothing to herself; only to her husband can she become something. What can she become? I asked. Why, she said, the mother of his children. But I am not the mother of anybody’s children, I said, and I am something†, clearly supporting the idea that self-actualization is independent from gender roles. It’s this sense of self-actualization and how it leads to empowerment that the minor characters in the color purple consistently conveyed throughout the novel. Minor characters aren’t minor at all; in fact, they play major roles in leading various areas in the thematic development, symbolism and adding dimension to the main characters. Harpo struggles to fit into stereotypical gender roles established by society’s views and enforced by his father. At the beginning of the novel, Harpo tries to emulate his fathers abusive tendencies in an attempt to make his wife obey his rules. When Harpo first introduced Sofia to his father and it was time for Sofia to leave, â€Å"Harpo stands up to leave too but she says Naw, Harpo, you stay here. He sort of hang there between them a while then he sit down again (Walker, 31). It’s this hesitance that speaks volumes about Harpo’s internal conflict. This is the first quote that introduces and indicates his uncertainty and confusion about his role(s) as a stereotypical man during the time of segregation-not only among whites and African Americans but also among males and females.Show MoreRelatedThe Color Purple By Alice Walker1355 Words   |  6 PagesDecember, 2015 Just A Single Purple Wildflower In A Field Of Weeds Alice walker once said, â€Å"No person is your friend (or kin) who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow and be perceived as fully blossomed as you were intended. 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