Department of Communication Science

Prof S Sonderling

College of Human Sciences
School of Arts
Department: Communication Science
Professor Emeritus
Tel: 012 429 6565

Qualifications

  • DLitt et Phil Communication Science (UNISA, 2013)
  • MA Communication Science (Cum Laude) (UNISA 1994)
  • BA Hons Communication Science (UNISA 1989)
  • BA Communication Science (UNISA 1987)

Fields of academic interests

Research interests:

  • Communication theory and philosophy
  • War and communication
  • Poststructuralist and postmodern theory
  • Critical discourse theory
  • Media studies
  • Postcolonial and Afrocentric theory

Field of Specialisation

  • Communication theory
  • Development communication
  • Media studies

Books

Book chapters:

  • Sonderling, S. 2013. The contribution of pornography to literature and cinema, in Lagunda, DO (ed.), Sex and sexuality in Africa and African Diaspora: a social and ethical engagement. Harare: African Institute for Culture, Peace, Dialogue & Tolerance Studies.
  • Sonderling, S. 2009. Media, language and discourse, in Fourie, PJ (ed) Media studies: Volume 3: Media contents and media audiences. Cape Town: Juta. (pp 83–115).  ISBN 978-0-70217-766-8
  • Sonderling, S. 2009. Psychoanalysis and television, in Fourie, PJ (ed) Media studies: Volume 3: Media content and media audiences. Cape Town: Juta.(pp 580–599).
  • Sonderling, S. 2007. The ideological power of the media, in Fourie, PJ (ed) Media studies: Volume 1: Media history, media and society. Cape Town: Juta
  • Sonderling, S. 2006. Development Support Communication: A change agent in support of development or a double agent of deception? In A. Gumucion-Dagron & T. Tufte (eds). Communication for social change: Anthology: Historical and contemporary readings. South Orange, NJ.: Communication for Social Change Consortium.
  • Sonderling, S. 2001. Media and ideology, in Fourie, PJ (ed) Media studies Volume 1: Institutions, theories and issues. Cape Town: Juta.
  • Sonderling, S. 2001. Media and language, in Fourie, PJ (ed) Media studies Volume 2: Content, audiences and production. Cape Town: Juta.
  • Sonderling, S. 2001. Psychoanalysis and the media, in Fourie, PJ (ed) Media studies Volume 2: Content, audiences and production. Cape Town: Juta.
  • Sonderling, S. 2001. Television production, in Fourie, PJ (ed) Media studies Volume 2: Content, audiences and production. Cape Town: Juta.
  • Sonderling, S. 1996. Language, in Fourie, P.J. (Ed) Introduction to communication, Course Book 3: Communication and the production of meaning. Cape Town: Juta.
  • Sonderling, S. 1995. Historical research in communication, in Du Plooy, G.M. (Ed) Introduction to communication, Course Book 2: Communication research. Cape Town: Juta.
  • Sonderling, S. 1991. Psychoanalysis and television, in Fourie, P. J. (ed) Critical television analyses: an introduction. Cape Town: Juta

Journal articles

  • Sonderling, S. 2014. Fanon's perspective on intercultural communication in postcolonial South Africa. Communitas: Journal for Community Communication & Information Impact 19(1):42–59.
  • • Sonderling, S. 2014. Communication is war by other means: towards a war-centric communication theory for the 21st century. Communicatio: South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research, 40(2):155 –171. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2014.918900
  • • Sonderling, S. 2013. To speak is to fight: war as structure of thought in Lyotard's postmodern condition. Communicare: Journal for Communication Sciences in Southern Africa, 32(2):1–19.
  • • Sonderling, S. 2012. Eternal peace of the graveyard: the language of peace discourse and the construction of the global humanitarian concentration camp. Communicatio: South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research, 38(1):64-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2011.627566
  • • Sonderling, S. 2008. What if morality should turn out to be the danger of dangers? Global ethics terrorism and the growth of ignorance. Communicatio: South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research, 34(2): 290-327. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02500160802456213
  • • Sonderling, S. 1998. The politics of a cultural controversy: Langenhoven and pornography in 1930. Journal of Literary Studies/ Tydskrif Vir Literatuurwetenskap. 14(3/4): 322-347. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02564719808530206
  • • Sonderling, S. 1998. Language as ideology in South African media texts and discursive practice: A need for critical language awareness. Communicatio: South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research, 24(2): 11-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02500169808537887
  • • Sonderling, S. 1997. Development support communication (DSC): a change-agent in support of popular participation or a double agent of deception? Communicatio:  South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research, 23(2): 34-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02500169708537834
  • • Sonderling, S. 1996. Langenhoven and the beginning of the pornography debate in South Africa. Acta Academica, 28(2): 55-78.
  • • Sonderling, S. 1994. An exploration of poststructuralist discursive critique and its implication for the study of communication. Communicatio: South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research, 20(2):9-24.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02500169408537975
  • • Sonderling, S. 1993. Power of discourse and the discourse of power in making an issue of sexual abuse in South Africa: the rise and fall of social problems. Critical Arts: A Journal for Cultural Studies, 6(2):1-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02560049385310091
  • • Sonderling, S. 1992. Murder of the combi-taxi industry by the mass media: perceptions and realities of road safety. Communicatio: South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research, 18(2):57-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02500169208537712
  • • Sonderling, S. 1990. New and old voices from the ship of fools: the South African pornography debate. Communicatio: South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research, 16(2):40-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02500169008537720
  • • Sonderling, S. 1989. The function of pornography in society: a survey of some alternative intellectual views. Communicatio: Journal of the Department of Communication, Unisa, 15(2):57-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02500168908537667

Paper presentations

Published Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings:

  • 2014  War in postmodern theory. Towards Re-invigorating the Arts: Conference Proceedings of Unisa School of Arts – College Of Human Sciences. University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, 10 – 11 October 2013. (ISDN 978-1-86888-744-6)
  • 2014  The African dream of colonising Europe. Towards Re-invigorating the Arts: Conference Proceedings of Unisa School of Arts – College Of Human Sciences. University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, 10 – 11 October 2013. (ISDN 978-1-86888-744-6)

Conference papers:

  • 2014  Play is battle and battle is play: Huizinga and Schmitt. Games of late Modernity: Homo Ludens 75 years later. Tilburg University and Huizigna Institute, held at the International School of Philosophy, Leusden, Netherlands 15 – 17 January 2014.
  • 2013   African Dream of colonising Europe; War in postmodern theory. Unisa School of Arts and Conference. University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, 10 – 11 October 2013.
  • 2013  To speak is to fight: war as structure of thought in Lyotard’s postmodern condition. International Conference on Arts & Humanities Conference for Academic disciplines, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 26 – 30 May 2013.
  • 2013  Moral flagellation and masturbation: using Fanon to make sense of white guilt and black hubris in post-apartheid South Africa, presented at the 11th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts & Humanities, Hilton Hawaiian Beach Resort & Spa, Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, 11 – 14 January, 2013.
  • 2011  The violence of peace discourse, paper at International conference Art & Social Justice: The Media Connection, University of Nicosia, 20 – 22 October 2011.
  • 2011  Eternal peace of the graveyard: the language of peace discourse and the construction of the global humanitarian concentration camp, presented at the International Conference for Academic Disciplines, at the American University of Rome, 31 October – 3 November 2011.

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

  • SACOMM

Projects

  • Media policy and democracy
  • Survival: African refugees in South Africa
  • Video Committee