Aesthetic Treatment and Symbolism of the Street in Amma Darko’s Faceless (Published)
The problem of street children, as depicted by Amma Darko, is a growing phenomenon in African cities. As evidence, many nongovernmental organizations are concerned with abandoned children’s living conditions, convinced that today’s young girls and boys are the adults of tomorrow. Following in these charitable institutions’ footsteps, Amma Darko in Faceless, looks into the phenomenon in all its aspects. In its form as well as in its content, the novel addresses the issue with a special focus on the word ‘street’ which receives the abandoned children. Basing on new criticism theory, the analyses reveal that, aesthetically, the street is given a special place in the novel. It appears approximately 85 times, that is a little less than half the entire number of pages of the novel (199 pages). It is used directly as parts of speech, sometimes personified, with different grammatical functions. Indirectly, it is presented in alternation with a conventional family the Kabrias, MUTE, an NGO caring for abandoned children and a radio station, Harvest FM. Seen from the point of view of symbolism and put in relation with the stakeholders of the phenomenon of street children, the street turns out to symbolize a space of escape, of survival, of a jungle, of destruction, of violence and crime and of a barracks.
Keywords: Aesthetics, Street, Street Children, Street Girls, Symbolism
Translatability of the Aesthetic Aspect of Rhythm in Qur’anic Verses (Published)
This study attempts to understand how the aesthetic aspects of the Qur’an are translated into or accommodated in English. It clarifies slightly challenges in translating the Qur’an, a text believed by Moslems to be the word of God and as such beautiful beyond imagination. To get a feel of its poetic essence, particularly in its rhythmic verses, and the task that lies ahead for translators, three short “surahs” (verses) and seven well-known translations of each were analysed. The theory of equivalence was used to measure. It was found that all surahs showed rhythmic patterns (sound) that are distinctive, even to the untrained eye/ear. Readers who might not understand its meaning can still appreciate its poetry. None of the translations, however, could reproduce these rhythmic patterns that help memorization of the surahs. In summary, the pervasiveness of rhythmic elements is clear and a real challenge awaits the translator of this text.
Keywords: Aesthetics, Equivalence, Poetry, Qur’an, Rhythmic Patterns
AESTHETIC ANALYSIS OF UNFAIR TRIAL AS EMOTIONAL PROPAGANDA APPEAL IN NIGERIA’S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN (Published)
Disinformation in image projection seeks to achieve irrational protest consideration in message consumers of political commercials. It explains why a candidate’s image is subjected to emotional evaluation by the electorate, in an election situation. The Unfair Trial advertisement, used to separate Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP from Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, in 2015 presidential election in Nigeria, was the basis of this aesthetic analysis. Four aesthetic appreicational factors of environment, language, costume and action were used to determine how presented pictures, text and sound were expected to affect the television commercial consumers’ psyche. It is believed that emotion, introduced in political arguments, was likely to influence voter behaviour against incivility, capable of translating into loss of voter support for the disparaged candidate. It means that image projection of candidates at election should be done with dexterity, as to achieve the desired communication objective in political commercials. It is when arguments are elevated to rational discourse that emotional considerations become inconsequential in adverse contemplation for any particular candidate at elections.
Keywords: Aesthetics, Emotion, Propaganda, appeal.