stanger
WEEKLY
Integrity, Respect, Accountability, Courage
October-December 2013: 29900
DESIREE ERASMUS
I
AM not an academic, but even with this benefit I have read enough to know that the future of literature is bleak. In fact, when pondering the prospects of the written word, I immediately want to gnaw through my ankle in an effort to bleed-out slowly. Should this ever happen, I can only pray that some Samaritan-type will not throw one of the Hunger Games or Twilight novels my way as a source of comfort in my dying hours. Iwillusethepaperbacktobeatmyself into a coma after assaulting the Samaritan. The Hunger Games and Twilight sagasarejusttwoofmanyrecentbestselling series that are regarded as liter-
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May 16, 2014
OMBUDSMAN
OPINION
According to the editorial policy of Stanger Weekly, readers are invited to comment about the newspaper’s contents, and significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible. Please send information about correction of mistakes in the newspaper to the ombudsman of Media24’s Community Press, George Claassen, at george.claassen@media24.com or call him at 021 8513232 or 083 543 2471. Readers can also complain about the contents to the South African Press Ombudsman. In that case, please phone 011 788 4829 of 788 4837, send a fax to 011 788 4990 or e-mail to press-ombudsman@ombudsman.org.za
Hunger in the literary twilight ary manna when it comes to milking teen and 20-something angst and skyrocketing sales for publishing houses. Let me see if I am able to summarise the intricate, unique plots for readers of this column: Twilight deals with forbidden love between a sparkly, centuries’ old male vampire and a 17year-old human female and all of the emotional quandaries that would entail. The Hunger Games deals with a teenthat has to fightherwaythrough a dystopian post-apocalyptic world and all of the emotional quandaries that would entail. It was tough, but I think that about captures all of the subtle nuances and complexities of
each. Both series have ‘taken the world by storm’ and have seen such success that they have been madeintohitmoviesbythatother beacon of hope when it comes to quality production – Hollywood. For reasons known only to perpetual crack users, Twilight has been compared to the novels of Jane Austen. Perpetual tic usershaveratedtheseriesas‘one of the best reads ever’. The Hunger Games has received even more favourable reviews, even though someone like horror-writer Stephen King has given the series a ‘B’ because it’s predictable and adults would be able to pick up on the writing flaws. Pot, kettle, black? What Fyodor Dostoevsky would have thought of this is open for debate, although I am guessing poison intravenouslyadministeredoveradecade or so would be his wish. As for comparing the writing in Twilight to Austen; Jane Austen was aninimitablewriter.Herskillswereand are admired internationally by academics and plebs like yours truly. And her characters actually had...well,
PHONE: 031 533 7600 PUBLISHER Neil Tapinos: neil.tapinos@media24.com GROUP EDITOR: Desiree Erasmus: desiree.erasmus@media24.com ZULU EDITOR: Guy Vezi guy.vezi@media24.com REPORTERS: Jyothi Laldas: jyothilaldas@gmail.co.za 032 552 3363 Mervyn Krishna: mervynkrishna@gmail.com Nothando Ndlovu: nothie2@gmail.com SALES MANAGER: Justin Watson: 082 762 0175 justin.watson@media24.com REGIONAL SALES MANAGER: Bev de Jaager: bev.dejager@media24.com
character. Let us compare this to Twilight. Consider this inspired quote from heroine Bella Swan, talking about the uber-pale, uber-intense, uber-limplettuce-leaf personality of vampire Edward: “I wasn’t interesting. And hewas.Interesting…andbrilliant…and mysterious…and perfect… and beautiful…and possibly able to lift full-sized vans with one hand.” AsfortheHungerGames,soviolent is it that parents have lobbied because they deem it age inappropriate for the young teen market. It has been compared to a graphic novel made for Hollywood, and no doubt the publisher had this in mind when agonising over how much carnage would increase sales. Why Twilight and The Hunger Games have ‘swept the world’ is not much of a mystery, given their marketability and sales potential. If, however, young bibliophiles are open to being challenged by literature that has more depth than a petri-dish, we should encourage them to read the classics. It may surprise many to find that lust, intrigue, passion, obsessive love, murder, war and tragedy can be written with conviction, beauty and what we generally find lacking in the bestsellers of today - insight.
ADVERTISING: Vanessa Pillay: 072 251 0524 qtpillay@gmail.com Niresh Gayapershad: 073 008 0949 figurefive@ovi.com CLASSIFIEDS ADS: Nalisha Diplal: 032 552 3363 stangerweeklyclassifieds@gmail.com COPYRIGHT: Copyright of all editorial, advertising layout, design and photographs is vested in Ballito Fever and may not be used without the permission of Media24 News in writing. DISTRIBUTION: For all distribution queries, please contact Tom Pearson on 032 552 3363.
Thank you 786 HELPING Hands would like to place on record their sincere thanks and appreciation to Iqbal Mehmood from the Darnall Muslim Society for his generous donation of adult diapers for the underprivileged, disabled and senior citizens of KwaDukuza and surrounding areas. Your donation has changed their lives for the better. Suraya Mitha Founder - 786 Helping Hands
A man of compassion I RECENTLY had a traumatic experience with my dog who had to be put down due to serious injuries.Whenshewasinjured, I immediately took her to Dr Balipursad, our local veterinarian, who advised me to take her to the 24 hour veterinary clinic in Umhlanga. Although my dog was not in his care, Dr Balipursad made several calls to
check on the dog. Even when it was determined that she had to be put down, he advised me to bring her to him and he would do it at no cost to me. His empathy towards my distress shows he is a man of compassion. Dr Balipursad, you are indeed a great humanitarian. Selvan Naidoo
Fever
Fever Attention all rural schools/schools with English as a second language Rural/previously disadvantaged schools are invited to enter their top two (2) English spellers from Grade 10 and Grade 11 (one from each grade) into the KZN Premier Spelling Bee Durban Central regional event, to be held in August 2014 (Date and venue to be confirmed, keep reading your local newspaper to find out the details!) Words to be learnt for the Durban Central Spelling Bee will be published in the 20 June 2014 edition of the Durban North Fever & Hillcrest Fever & Upper Coast Fever.
Prizes: Cash prizes, book hampers, stationery hampers, bursaries and goodie bags for the top spellers, schools and teachers! To enter: Complete the entry form found in this local newspaper and fax it to us at 0865344256, or email it to kznspellingbee@media24.com OR Send us the below information via email, kznspellingbee@media24.com OR fax, 0865344256. * School name, school address, English teacher’s name and contact details, registration number of your school, district of your school * Full names of your two spellers * Both spellers’ ID numbers OR copy of birth certificate * Entries are limited per regional event * Get your entries in early to ensure your spot at the 2014 Durban Central Spelling Bee * Entries close on 13 June 2014
ENTRY FORM Please fill in all the following sections and send it to us via email, kznspellingbee@media24.com, OR fax it to 0865344256.
SCHOOL STAMP
SCHOOL DETAILS: Name: ______________________________ Registration number: _________________ Physical Address: ______________________ Tel: (
) __________________________
__________________________________________ District: ___________________________
SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER’S DETAILS: Name: _______________________________ Cell: (
) ___________________________
ENTRANT DETAILS (PUPILS): Grade 10: Name: _______________________________ ID number: ___________________________ Cell: (
) ___________________________
(or a copy of birth certificate)
Grade 11: Name: _______________________________ ID number: ____________________________ (or a copy of birth certificate)
Cell: (
) ___________________________ * Please note all pupils must be entered via their school and cannot enter as individuals * Age limit for pupils is 18 * Entries are limited per regional event * Get your entries in early to ensure your spot * Entries close on 13 June 2014