South African style and Subcultures

Kingdom of Kwaito

Icons: King and queen

The King of Kwaito is known as Arthur, Arthur Mafokate. He has a reputation of provocative rabble-rouser with controversial lyrics and Jaw dropping dance acts on stage. Arthur began the phenomena of Kwaito music which originated in 1995 after South Africa ended apartheid.  

http://kwaito.com/articles/mshoza-the-queen-of-kwaito.html

The Queen of Kwaito is known as Mshoza, Nomasonto Maswanganyi. She was dicovered in youth show called "Jam alley" and then went on to produce a hit song 'kortes'.

Ambience and Aesthetics

The genre of music known as kwaito started emerging in the 1990's. The word kwaito originated from a Afrikaans word Kwaai, Which translates as 'angry' in English. In the townships negative phrases gave the status of cool. South African townships adopted the Kwaito culture and created their own language known as tsotsitaal. Isicamtho is the modern version of tsotsitaal. Tsotsi is known as a thug or gangster and the fashion has been derived from prison clothing and the fashion trends of 'tsotsis' in the townships which to the world is known as 'slums'. The language was derived from Afrikaans and other vernacular languages. Tsotsi taal has become well-known to South African and is used on the daily bases.

Kwaito is about the Township, knowing and understanding the township. Walk the walk, talk the talk but mostly be proud of these things. Townships are being celebrated by the youth through kwaito music. Townships was created by apartheid government for cheap labour but at present it has become a culture on its own.

Emblem

The emlem is basically the dress code of a hat and all star sneakers "takkies". The Hat is also known as a "spotty". it symbolises their culture and struggle in a poverty stricken township.

The Creed

• Speak the tsotsi taal
• Dress up in all stars with "spotty" and overalls. Smart casual is also one of the dress codes.
• Be proud, walk the walk and talk the talk
• Understand the Township
• Celebrate the township and represent.
• Know how to dance for example "Pansula"
• Be proudly South African

The Anthem

One the first Kwaito song which went against a racial name known as "kaffir". The song is by Arthur and is called "kaffir". It was inspired after Arthur was racially abuse in Polokwane which was known as Pietersburg. It spurred a national hit in South Africa as Arthur expressed his emotions on the song, he called a white man "baas" which it was just poking fun and he goes on saying repeatedly "nee baas, don't call me kaffir". This song sparked the kwaito revolution and culture in Soweto as most minorities were forced to live there in the townships. All songs made in Kwaito expresses Township life and displays their culture and mostly their pride as equal South Africans. Here is a link to the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF460058UkA

Digital Age

The digital age also known as the information age. It is defined as the time period of the 1970's with the introduction of the home personal computer with subsequent technology which introduced the ability to transfer information freely and quickly. The time we live in now with internet and email available not forgetting social medias is a example of the digital age. I have constructed a mood board that will visually describe the evolution in the digital age.

Thematising the ugly side of sublime technological development in Sonzero's pulse.

Lyotard's definition of postmodern: It is understood that it advances the idea that there has occurred a discrediting of grand narratives of modernity which organised knowledge in the interest of the future attainment of either the universal emancipation of humanity or incredulity towards meta narratives that per vales post modernity to the spread of capitalism and concomitant development of technoscience.

Technoscience is the spread of capitalism through technology by dehumanizing humanity by the use of PDa's, computers and phones which distracts humans from "psychic life" mental thoughts. Such in Sonzero's pulse which suggests that ghost posses technology such as phones and when humans interact with them they create depression in their lives and thus creating suicide. Capitalism and technoscience severed traditional values and social bonds. Technoscience has become 'autonomous', which it is in no longer in service of humanity, it now functions as an 'inhuman' organizing framework for society. "Capitalist technoscience" effects the reduction of human beings to a technical product by dehumanizing it in the drive for ultimate efficiency

In conclusion Postmodern cinema, the mainstream and cultural products placate individuals by stating the status-quo by co-opting them. The status-quo is to encourage humans the indulge in the technological development which dehumanizes them. it also protects the consciousness from doubt.