By Luke Cadden

Initiations and orientations can be a memorable experience for some, while a nightmare for others. Rhodes encourages a friendly, non-discriminatory orientation for first-years in the form of serenades. Last year, serenades reached a new level of participation and evolved into the highly successful “RU Jamming” event which is set to become an annual tradition. However, the recent controversy surrounding an anonymous letter that was sent to the office of the Dr Vivian de Klerk, the Dean of Students, has sparked a debate about the nature of these ‘sexy’ serenades. The first-year writer expressed how “uncomfortable” she was at having to perform in front of male residences, and how the early morning wake-up calls negatively impacted her first week of learning. Students with similar stories have come forward, expressing their concerns about the way in which this early-morning initiation rite is conducted – they raised questions, for example, surrounding the heteronormative nature of the serenades. Regardless of one’s upbringing, it can be agreed that the theme of the serenades has always followed a flirtatious format and often involves sexual innuendos – some more overt than others. Couldn’t it be argued that we see similar if not worse things in television and music? Activate sought the views of students on campus on the first-hand experience of serenades. Continue reading →

By Alexa Sedgwick

While no one likes to say bad things about people who have passed away, it would seem that celebrities get extra (and often overly-exaggerated) positive attention which is fuelled through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. The deaths of celebrities like Apple founder Steve Jobs, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, and more recently Whitney Houston, have spread like wildfire through internet memes that juxtapose the passing of a single celebrity against the deaths of the starving and impoverished masses. Musicians and actors seem to get their belated glory after their passing, when their movies and albums are suddenly hot property once again: Apple even increased the price of Houston’s Ultimate Collection album just days after her death. Is the glorification of celebrities after death just fickle, or is it really okay to look past their flaws and appreciate instead their contribution to the entertainment world when their time comes? Activate sought your views. Continue reading →

By Rubert Fitchet

The annual SEXPO has given South Africans another dose of the quirky adult entertainment people have come to expect with recent shows in Johannesburg and Durban. The focus of this ‘Health, Sexuality and Lifestyle Expo’ is not merely on titillating the masses but primarily provides patrons with an entertaining environment in which to learn about sex. The aims of the exhibition, as stated on the SEXPO, website are “to educate, inform, entertain and celebrate sexuality in a fun and exciting atmosphere”. Attractions like Pricasso (the artist who uses his penis as a paintbrush), the 3D erotic gallery and the giant Gold Member ride are make it clear how SEXPO has gained its notoriety. However, questions are raised as to whether these kinds of materials and performances should be displayed in the public domain, as the sexual nature of the exhibition may be construed as vulgar and inappropriate. In light of the ignorance in South Africa regarding sexual health, SEXPO provides seminars on STDs and other safe sex practices. Not only does SEXPO cater for the health-conscious, but it also holds seminars which help to “unleash one’s sexual powers” which can be attended by those who are a tad more adventurous. So, is the SEXPO really just harmless fun with a free penis keyring, or a case of too much information? Continue reading →

By Palesa Kgasane

For many of us, Disney is associated with the years of childhood. The family favourites, which typically depict stories of good triumphing over evil with a tidy “happily ever after”-ending, are usually remembered fondly and seen as wholesome models to influence and inspire children. Even parents seemed to enjoy some of the humour, which may have been directed at a more mature audience. Upon closer inspection however, the classic Disney movies have been found to contain ideologies that are often unrealistic, overly romanticised, elitist and sexist. Subliminal ‘sexual’ messages have been spotted by some in The Lion King and The Little Mermaid, and it has been alleged that Dumbo, a firm childhood favourite, is full of racial stereotyping. In The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Frollo sings of a sexual fantasy about Esmeralda – his ‘burning desire’ which is ‘turning him to sin’. Other critics, however, insist on Disney Classics as good clean children’s fun, containing fundamental moral lessons. Did it all go down the rabbit-hole for Disney, or is this just a senseless witch hunt? Activate sought views from both sides of the fan spectrum. Continue reading →