"In Making Her Up, the authors try to elucidate the precise ambivalence of the image of the modern woman, which is (un)wittingly created by the producers of women’s magazines in co-operation with capitalistic advertising mechanisms and, not least, their own readers. Through the discourse and conte
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nt analysis of a diverse selection of Slovenian women’s magazines (Cosmopolitan, Jana, Modna Jana, Glamur, Naša žena, and Moj malcek), the writers have uncovered a few representative topics: the contradictory contents of ‘universal women’s culture’; the phenomenon of subtle advertising, with its inexhaustible options among the various types of magazines; fashion as the main theme of each and every one of these magazines; the disciplining of a woman’s mind through the disciplining of her body; cosmetics advertisements; medicine, pregnancy, birth, and the cult of motherhood, which still prevails over the image of the independent, successful, emancipated woman." (City of Women)
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"En définitive, cette étude aura permis de répertorier les moyens traditionnels de communication existants suivants:tam-tam, xylophones et chansons pour le Centre et le Sud; Griots, tam-tams, chansons, balafons et cloches pour l’Est; collaborateurs des chefs traditionnels, messagers du chef à
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cheval ou à pied, griots, chansons, Tam-tams, Muezzins pour l’Extrême-Nord. Certains qui existaient ont aujourd’hui disparu. Parmi ceux-ci il y a: le «cor», le messager du chef, les contes, «L’Etsiga» pour le Centre et Sud. Le clairon en corne de buffle, le théâtre communautaire, les morceaux de bambous pour l’Est; les cornes de boeufs, les proverbes pour l’Extrême-Nord Les raisons de cette disparition sont multiples: inexistence des cérémonies ou occasions d’utilisation (guerres), mort (disparition) des personnes-ressources/promoteurs, absence de formation à la fabrication et à l’utilisation au niveau des jeunes générations, manque d’autorité des chefs traditionnels etc., influence des conditions de la vie moderne ainsi que des nouveaux moyens de communication. D’autres existant sont encore utilisés. La portée de communication de la plupart de ces moyens (xylophones, griots, collaborateurs et messagers du chef), semble limitée à quelques kilomètres; néanmoins la combinaison de plusieurs types (de moyens), et leur utilisation en relais avec ceux des villages voisins les rendent très performants dans la transmission de nouvelles, et le regroupement des villageois autour d’une cause commune et même dans la diffusion probable des messages de la SR. Toutefois, il est à noter qu’à l’état actuel certains de ces moyens (tam-tam, xylophones) peuvent difficilement assurer la diffusion des messages de SR compte tenu de la difficulté de décryptage des messages observée au niveau du grand public. Ils pourront servir surtout à l’étape de la mobilisation communautaire." (Conclusion)
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"In the area around Cerro de Pasco, where these interviews were gathered, people’s herding lifestyle has undergone great change, principally as a result of Peru’s most important industry: mining. While it has brought employment and infrastructure to the region, the industry paid scant regard to
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its environmental impact: waste from the mines seeped into the water supply, and polluted the springs that run through the pastures; lakes once full of fish, and a magnet for birds, are discoloured, empty of life and their surroundings silent. Fumes from the smelter and other processing plants have polluted the air and stripped the nearby slopes of vegetation. The health of people and livestock has been badly affected, animal numbers have dramatically declined and few farmers now make a living from herding alone. And, as many narrators point out, working in the mines has weakened people’s bonds with the environment on which they previously depended [...]
The impact of the mining industry underlies most narrators’ stories, which were gathered in 1995. Some stress social and cultural change; others highlight the economic impact. Almost all bear witness to the effects on the land, livestock and people’s health. The focus on industry, and the positive and negative results of being a mineral-rich highland area, is particular to this collection. But as resource extraction in mountain regions accelerates, these narrators’ experiences will be of interest to many other communities. In Peru alone, the area taken over for mining activities had expanded from 6 million hectares in 1992 to 24 million hectares by 2000. As in other areas in the Central Andes, out-migration is a major issue. Young people’s need for education and employment takes them away from the highlands. Some return, but most—without adequate job opportunities in their home area—end up staying in Lima or other cities. But many would stay if they could, say narrators, and faithfully return to celebrate their community fiestas. These testimonies bear witness to a still vibrant culture, mixing Catholic, Andean and other influences, and distinguished above all by a still powerful bond with the land and the mountain." (Introduction, page 1-2)
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"Writing in local languages has a big role in eliminating illiteracy and creating a reading and writing culture, especially at early ages in one's life. The government of Botswana has an obligation to motivate local language publications by creating a conducive environment for this to happen. The Pu
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blishers and Writers Associations and the government can work together to improve readership and the market for local language publications." (GIZ Library Bonn)
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"This university level module offers a fresh approach for teachers and students of journalism on how to promote social and cultural diversity through the media. It involves individual reflection, helping the student to take a closer look at their own value system and how this can impact on their wor
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k as journalists. It sharpens their analytical skills when gathering information for their stories and broadcasts. And, it gives students practical reporting and interviewing skills resulting in better stories and programmes drawing on the experience of a wider range of groups in society. In short, the course described here aims to make students into better journalists." (Introduction)
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