https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360 <p>WritingThreeSixty is a bi-annual, interdisciplinary journal for research essays and creative works. First launched in 2014 as an initiative of the English department at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), WritingThreeSixty now forms part of the broader community within the Arts Faculty and Humanities at UWC.</p> University of the Western Cape en-US WritingThreeSixty 2708-6119 <p>Copyright is retained by authors.</p> https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/591 Martina van Heerden Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/592 <p><strong>Letter from the Editor</strong></p> <p>Welcome to the first issue of WritingThreeSixty for 2020. This issue features a little bit of everything. We start with Caroline Maina’s essay on absurdism and logical positivism in the works of Lewis Carroll, and then move onto Aneeqa Abrahams’ relevant examination of the role young people can and do play in politics. Thereafter, we move into the creative side of things through a short story by Justin Williams, poetry by Shakeelah Mowzer, and art by Hannah Davids. We end with an interview with Susan Ntete about her recent novel, Ain’t Over till it’s Ova.</p> <p>I am incredibly proud of the new WritingThreeSixty team for putting this issue together. We hope you enjoy it!</p> <p><br>Best Wishes,<br>Editor-in-chief<br>Martina van Heerden</p> Martina van Heerden Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/602 Martina van Heerden Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/605 <p>The focus of this essay is a careful examination of Absurdism in Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’. There will be additional focus on some of his poetry, his lifelong vocation as a mathematician and its influence in his writing. This essay will also include a discussion on the philosophy of language, logical positivism, mathematical absurdity, and the influx state of the in between.</p> Caroline Maina Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/606 <p>The position of young people in politics is often overlooked and missing from the conversation however, this is of no indication that they are not interested in politics or the shaping of the political climate in their respective countries (Jennings-Edquist, 2019). The theorisation of the space young people occupy in the political sphere has noted that expanding the field of who has political footing and power to make social change has led to viewing the lived experiences of youth in a different light and recognising them as active beings who have voice instead of ‘future becomings’ who will eventually have voice (Pauliina &amp; Jouni, 2013). Research has also indicated that young people are more likely to use alternative modes to obtain and engage with political content and authorities (social media, protests, rallies) while being more critical about the political parties they vote for if they decide to vote (Newham &amp; Roberts, 2019; Jennings-Edquist, 2019).</p> Aneeqa Abrahams Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/607 <p>I can hear his mother in the kitchen. Humming along to Just an Illusion on the radio. All the sounds inside are in harmony with the children singing and running outside in the court. Then she bangs a lid on a pot. It startles me, even though James is unbothered. I hear sizzling and smell the onions and garlic browning. I go to the kitchen to see what she’s making. She is starting a lovely lamb curry. I wish I could have some. I haven’t tasted anything in months.</p> Justin Williams Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/593 Shakeelah Mowzer Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/594 Shakeelah Mowzer Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/595 Hannah Davids Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/596 Hannah Davids Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/597 Hannah Davids Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/598 Hannah Davids Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/599 Hannah Davids Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/600 Hannah Davids Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/601 <p>Strelitzia: Growing up in the Southern Suburbs, my dad always put in an extra effort to make our backyard look pretty. When I was younger, I would look outside and play with the pollen in these flowers and sometimes pretend that they turn into birds. This painting reflects movement to me. Moving on from childish thoughts the same way birds move their wings.</p> <p>Xoliswa Nikelo: I did this painting in my Matric year. Our guide was "I Am Woman" and the strongest woman I could think of was my domestic worker. Xoliswa "Mandy", has watched me grow up and never failed to share in my joyous moments.</p> <p>My Pa: My Pa is one of the strongest men I know. After years of battling the C word, he is still fighting. In this painting, I wanted to honour him by paining him against the backdrop of Kalk Bay - where we find our heritage.</p> <p>Ocean Frames: This series of paintings is inspired by my many visits to Kalk Bay. My family has a deep history and heritage in Kalk Bay and I wanted to capture the various ways that the sea looks to me.</p> <p>Faces: This was my final matric work. I was incredibly angry at this point in the year. We had just done the marches to parliament to show our solidarity against GBV and being in matric had not made anything easier. I wanted to depict this anger through a somewhat uncomfortable painting, and the girls in my art class were more than willing to allow me to use their faces in this work.</p> <p>Bruises: This painting is a part of a series of three. It reflects the harsh reality of many women in South Africa who suffer through domestic violence.</p> Hannah Davids Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/608 <p>Dr Susan Ntete is a lecturer in the English Department at the University of the Western Cape. Recently, she published her first novel called Ain’t Over Till It’s Ova. WritingThreeSixty had an online interview with her to learn more about the novel.</p> Martina van Heerden Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/604 <p><strong>Contributors</strong><br><strong>Caroline Maina (Research essay)</strong><br>Caroline Maina is an MA academic in the English Department. Her areas of interest are Science Fiction, African/African-American Science Fiction and Slave narratives, Other subjectivities in cross-cultural Media (African/ African American Hip Hop music and media, KPop, Chicana), Modernism, Absurdism and Mathematics and Rhetorical devices in literature. When she isn’t busy trying to make a dent in her never-ending TBR pile, she can be found lurking on forums, crying over fandoms, and trying to perfect her handstand.</p> <p><br><strong>Aneeqa Abrahams (Research article)</strong><br>Aneeqa Abrahams is a South African womxn of colour and a developing feminist researcher in the field of men and masculinity studies. She is currently completing her Master’s Degree in research with the Gender Studies department at the University of the Western Cape. Her thesis explores how gendered (masculinities) identities intersect with racial (coloured) identities among young men in and around the Cape Flats area.</p> <p><br><strong>Justin Williams (Short story)</strong><br>Justin Williams is a writer currently reading towards his English Honours at the University of the Western Cape. He is a part of the Honours Creative Writing class. Justin’s work is influenced by a wide range of sources, from life on the Cape Flats to the sound of Mongolian throat singers.</p> <p><br><strong>Shakeelah Mowzer (Poetry)</strong><br>Shakeelah Mowzer was born, raised, and currently resides in Cape Town, South Africa. She has her BA Honours Degree in English from the University of the Western Cape. She aspires to become a well-known published writer. She fully accepts her role as Queen Procrastinator and lover of most unhealthy things. She enjoys spending her days reading, writing, dancing and binge-watching Anime.</p> <p><br><strong>Hannah Davids (Art)</strong><br>Hannah Davids is currently studying at the University of Cape Town. She is in her first year of BSocSci, majoring in history and politics. Art has always been one of her favourite creative outlets for whatever she is feeling or whatever she wants to reflect. Hannah uses her paintings to address current social and political issues in South Africa, and also to express what goes on inside her head.</p> Martina van Heerden Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/609 Martina van Heerden Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/603 <p>WritingThreeSixty is a bi-annual, interdisciplinary journal for research essays and creative works. First launched in 2014 as an initiative of the English department at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), WritingThreeSixty now forms part of the broader community within the Arts Faculty and Humanities at UWC. This journal maintains the standard of peer review and wishes to provide a platform to develop a culture of publishing among postgraduate and emerging students, as well as established creative artists within UWC and South Africa at large.<br>WritingThreeSixty also forms part of co-curricular graduate culture at UWC that affords students the opportunity to develop professional skills through the voluntary leadership and service positions created through the journal. These positions include the management of the journal and its team, editorial outputs, as well as our digital marketing efforts that are presented through social media and our online website.</p> Martina van Heerden Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/w360/article/view/611 Stephanie Williams Copyright (c) 2020 University of the Western Cape http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 2020-07-03 2020-07-03 6 1