Svečarska kritika i djelovanje u djelu 4/4 Down the Stairs Felixa Labanda

This article presents an analysis of Cape Town-based electronic artist Felix Laband’s album, 4/4 Down the Stairs (African Dope Records: 2002). The discussion comprises three sections. The first theorises, through the contested lens of Mikhail Bakhtin’s formulation of the carnivalesque, Laband’s use of the ‘low-other’ as festive critique. It unravels the aesthetico-ideological discourse in which the cover design and the music participate. The second discussion, which sounds an additional cautionary note in counterpoint to celebrating festive critique, turns to the work of the French economist and philosopher, Jacques Attali, to consider his distinction between ‘mass music’ and what he defines rather idiosyncratically as ‘composition’. Attali’s theory of musical production, which juxtaposes the multivalent tropes of Carnival and Lent, presents a persuasive critique of the popular music industry. We consider, in our description of Attali’s representation of the trap of commercial circulation, the extent to which Laband’s work registers as the ‘background noise’ of ‘consumer integration, interclass levelling, cultural homogenization’ (1985: 111). The third and final section of the argument is rather more optimistic. It seeks to develop, through the ideas of Michel de Certeau, a theory of (muted and conditional) subversive agency that applauds Laband’s creativity as the capture of musical possibility in a mode that de Certeau describes as ‘pedestrian’ combinational and relational practice.Ovaj članak predstavlja, na različitim razinama, dijalošku analizu djela 4/4 Down the Stairs (kao trivijalno, kao banalni pastiš, kao komercijalno, nekoherentno, sekundarno ili kao izblijedjeli minimalizam). Rasprava se sastoji od triju odlomaka. U prvome se teoretizira, kroz osporavanu prizmu formulacije o karnevalesknom Mihaila Bahtina, o Labandovoj uporabi \u27niskog drugog\u27 (\u27lowother\u27) kao svečarske kritike. U njemu se rješava estetičko-ideološki diskurs, uključujući dizajn omota i sâmu glazbu, približavajući se glazbi opisnom analizom \u27Blue Crack Twos\u27, jedne od traka na albumu. Ovaj odlomak valja čitati kao skeptično uprizorenje Bahtinova teorijskog aparata koje privlači pozornost na svoja ograničenja čak i kada ocrtava mogućnosti karnevala kao oružja protiv pretvaranja i hipokrizije moćnih. Druga rasprava komplicira cijelu stvar. Obraća se djelu francuskog ekonomista i filozofa Jacquesa Attalija da bi razmotrila njegovo razlikovanje između ’masovne glazbe’ i onoga što definira prilično idiosinkretički kao \u27kompoziciju\u27. Attalijeva političko-ekonomska teorija glazbene produkcije, koja supostavlja polivalentne trope karnevala i korizme, predstavlja uvjerljivu kritiku industrije popularne glazbe. Potom se u ovom odlomku unosi dodatna opominjujuća nota kao protuteža slavljenoj \u27veseloj\u27 kritici. Njome se sugerira da prividno karnevaleskna subverzija, kada je nerazmrsivo integrirana u produkcijske i reprodukcijske krugove, često ne čini ništa drugo nego fetišizira ponavljanje i potrošnju. Treći i završni odlomak je optimističniji. U njemu se nastoji razviti, putem ideja Michela de Certeaua, teorija nijemog i uvjetovanog djelovanja koja povlađuje Labandovoj kreativnosti kao hvatanje glazbene mogućnosti na način koji de Certeau opisuje kao \u27pješačku\u27 kombinatornu i odnosnu praksu. U ovom se odlomku pokazuje da Attalijeva krajnje modernistička kritika ‘masovne glazbe’ ne odgovara zadatku prepoznavanja puteva kojima se glazbenici pojedinci, s pomoću lukavstava prilagođavanja i manipulacije, uključuju u prevladavajuće akustičke poretke te čineći tako uvode u te poretke i novinu i nepostojanost

South African end times: Conceiving an apocalyptic imaginary

The future of South Africa has most commonly been conceived as a prospective apocalyptic upheaval in which the nation fractures along race lines. This expectation preceded, but informed the rise of apartheid, and has accompanied its demise. This article argues that catastrophic prediction—the trope of a looming racial Armageddon—is like a worn coin: familiar currency so often spent. Nonetheless, we need to conceive how this particular political theology settled into our polity; why it has proved so adaptable (through and despite the “miraculous” transformation of 1994); and, how its tenacity—which is politically anodyne at best and fascist at worst—might be challenged. The article conceives of a study (comprising nine essays) which sets out to analyze aspects of this history of fear, without simply taking its existence and persistence for granted

Patients' perspectives on involvement in general practice:A thematic analysis of free-text comments

Background: General practice (GP) plays a core role in managing the clinical pathways of patients with chronic diseases. Despite well-established knowledge of the benefits of involvement and personalized care, involvement in GP appears to be challenged. This study aimed to explore patient involvement in GP from the patients' perspectives. Method: The study involved a questionnaire survey investigating patient involvement in GP from the patients' perspectives. The validated questionnaire includes an open-ended question encouraging responders to provide additional comments regarding their involvement in GP. The results from these comments are presented in this paper. A thematic analysis was applied. Results: Of the 468 responses, 139 included additional comments to the free-text question. Through our analysis, six analytic themes were generated—To be seen, met or heard, To feel safe or not, To be involved or dictated to, Accessibility, COVID-19, and For the resourceful—across 116 codings and 25 descriptive themes. The themes' interwovenness underscores the complexity of both involvement and how it is to live with a chronic disease. Our analysis indicates that involvement in GP is for the resourceful. Conclusion: The six themes describing involvement in GP from the perspectives of patients with T2DM and/or COPD were deeply intertwined. Involvement is dependent on being seen, met and heard, all of which contribute to the patients' sense of feeling safe (or not). These aspects are dependent on accessibility to a general practitioner; thus, COVID-19 was a barrier during the data-collection period. Furthermore, it appeared that being resourceful not only contributed to a sense of being involved in GP but was perhaps even a prerequisite for being involved.</p

Prevalence of androgenicanabolic steroid use in adolescents in two regions of South Africa

Objective. To determine the prevalence of androgenicanabolic steroid (AAS) use  among schoolchildren in two geographically separate regions of South Africa.Design. Self-reported questionnaire.Population. Standard 10 schoolchildren (16 - 18 years) were selected, 1 136 from region A and 1 411 from region B.Results. The prevalence of AAS use in the overall populationwas 14.4/1 000. There were significant diHerences in prevalence of AAS use between the two regions (5.9/1 000 v. '22.7/1 000; P &lt; 0.0005). There was significantly higher use in males (28.2/1 000) compared with females (0.7/1 000) (p &lt; 0.005). Gymnasia were the most common source of AAS. Although there were regional diHerences in general knowledge about AAS, general knowledge scores were low across all the groups. Male sports participants who used AAS experienced significantly higher  pressure to perform than their non-user counterparts in both regions.Conclusions. Regional differences in AAS use and general knowledge about AAS need to be considered before a meaningful programme can be implemented to reduce the use of AAS by South African schoolchildren

The perspectives of patients with Parkinson's Disease:A qualitative systematic review

Background and objective: Parkinson’s disease has considerable impact on the quality of life of both patients and their caregivers. Patients’ perspectives are a source of vital knowledge that informs health professionals’ ability to provide individualised and patient-centered care. Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to identify the perspectives of patients with Parkinson’s disease on treatment, care and rehabilitation.Methods: The authors conducted a systematic review and searched the following bibliographic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Scopus for original studies, in June 2020 (renewed December 21, 2021). Grey literature was searched at www.parkinson.org, http://www.epda.eu.com, www.apdaparkinson.org and in the OpenSIGLE and HMIC databases. We included studies focusing on patients with Parkinson’s disease aged 18 or older that reported patients’ perspectives on treatment, care and rehabilitation. Results were analysed using thematic synthesis. Results: Thirteen studies were included, each of them applying qualitative methods and including between 1 and 95 patients. The authors identified 17 descriptive themes which resulted in three analytic themes: Significance of self, Significance of informal caregivers and peers, and Significance of professionals.Conclusions: Our findings could be important in helping healthcare professionals plan and deliver treatment, care and rehabilitation based on patients’ priorities in the context of suffering from a chronic disease

Patient involvement in the encounter between general practice and patients with a chronic disease. Results of a scoping review focusing on type 2 diabetes and obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction: Research has shown improved health outcomes when patients are involved in managing their health conditions and when their individual needs are considered. Objectives: This scoping review aimed to map the existing research regarding chronic disease patients’ involvement in their encounters with general practice, with a specific focus on patients with Type 2 diabetes (TD2) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and from the perspectives of both general practitioners and patients. Methods: Studies of any design, date, and language were included. A systematic search was conducted using the following databases: Medline, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Scopus, and EMBASE from August until October 2020 and renewed September 2021. Data were systematically charted by the following study characteristics: bibliographic aims; study aims; setting; area of interest; results; conclusion. Results: Eighteen studies were included; they conducted qualitative methods, surveys or mixed methods. From the patients’ perspectives, the importance of being more involved in treatment discussions during consultations as well as a friendly environment, was underscored. A good relationship and relational continuity make it easier for patients to be more involved in treatment decisions. From the general practitioner (GP) perspectives, they mentioned their high workload, long-standing relationships, knowledge about the patients and prepared patients as factors influencing their ability to involve patients in treatment discussions. Conclusion: A good GP–patient relationship was considered an important aspect to providing and facilitating for involvement of patients with COPD or TD2. Scoping review registration: https://osf.io/ynqt2Introduction: Research has shown improved health outcomes when patients are involved inmanaging their health conditions and when their individual needs are considered.Objectives: This scoping review aimed to map the existing research regarding chronic diseasepatients’ involvement in their encounters with general practice, with a specific focus on patientswith Type 2 diabetes (TD2) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and from the perspectives of both general practitioners and patients.Methods: Studies of any design, date, and language were included. A systematic search wasconducted using the following databases: Medline, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Scopus, and EMBASE fromAugust until October 2020 and renewed September 2021. Data were systematically charted bythe following study characteristics: bibliographic aims; study aims; setting; area of interest;results; conclusion.Results: Eighteen studies were included; they conducted qualitative methods, surveys or mixedmethods. From the patients’ perspectives, the importance of being more involved in treatmentdiscussions during consultations as well as a friendly environment, was underscored. A goodrelationship and relational continuity make it easier for patients to be more involved in treatment decisions. From the general practitioner (GP) perspectives, they mentioned their highworkload, long-standing relationships, knowledge about the patients and prepared patients asfactors influencing their ability to involve patients in treatment discussions.Conclusion: A good GP–patient relationship was considered an important aspect to providingand facilitating for involvement of patients with COPD or TD2

Patient perspectives on the management of COPD and Type 2 Diabetes in general practice:an interview study

Background: The Danish healthcare system has undergone fundamental organisational changes. In recent years, treatment of most patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Denmark has been transferred from specialised hospitals to general practices, and only the most complicated cases are treated at hospital outpatients clinics or are admitted. This transfer aimed to reduce costs without compromising quality of care and ensure that the treatment was managed by general practitioners (GPs) who had personal knowledge of the patient. In this paper, we explore patients’ perceptions of the quality of care provided by their GPs. Methods: A qualitative research study was conducted with semi-structured interviews of 24 informants; nine were diagnosed with COPD and 15 were diagnosed with T2D. Snowball sampling was used for recruitment. Data were analysed using systematic text condensation. Results: The interviews revealed four main themes: 1) The informants perceived the quality of their treatment in general practice to be high due to their personal relationship with their GPs. 2) The informants valued their GP’s knowledge about them, their lives, and their illnesses. 3) The informants expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the quality of care received in general practice. 4) The informants expressed that geographical distance to the general practice was of minor importance to them. Conclusion: The patients perceived that the quality of the care and treatment they received were high following the transfer of COPD and T2D treatment to general practice. A strong, trusting relationship between the GP and the patient and the increased availability of the GP both contributed to their satisfaction with the GPs’ services.</p

The dynamic emergence of cooperative norms in a social dilemma

This paper addresses the formation of social norms of cooperation through interaction in repeated Public Goods Games, using novel multilevel techniques. Cooperation has traditionally been understood as the interplay of static factors such as shared social identity and pre-existing norms. This study investigates the dynamic emergence of cooperative norms in the presence or absence of social categorization. A small effect of categorization was found: Categorization helps initiate and maintain higher levels of cooperation. However, the differences in emergent cooperation between small groups were much stronger than the differences between the Categorization and Non-Categorization conditions. Using explorative analyses, three distinct classes of groups were found. Within groups, group members follow nearly identical rules for their choice of cooperative behavior. We argue that individual behavior converged because of the social interactions within these groups. Overall, the development of cooperation is best predicted by the process of norm formation that occurs when social identities emerge.</p