Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
20 April 2022 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Charl Devenish
Chris Vorster_PhD Graduation
Dr Chris Vorster during the graduation ceremony in the Callie Human Centre on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.


Lees in Afrikaans: Chris Vorster se PhD ’n ode aan impak van Egoli-skepper, Franz Marx

‘Very intimidating’, is how Dr Chris Vorster describes his doctorate in Creative Writing. Vorster received his degree during the morning ceremony of the University of the Free State’s (UFS) April Graduations.  He has been a lecturer in Film and Visual Media in the UFS Faculty of the Humanities since 2015. 


The doctorate is also the first PhD qualification obtained in the Creative Writing course in the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French – not only a feather in the cap of Dr Vorster, but also this department, as well as his supervisor and promoter, Prof Henning Pieterse. 

The title of his thesis is, ’n Praktykbeheerde perspektief op Franz Marx as die sentrale figuur in die ontstaan van die eerste Afrikaanse TV-dagvervolgverhaal (A practice-driven perspective on Franz Marx as the central figure in the creation of the first Afrikaans daily serial). It is an ode to the work and legacy of Franz Marx, who passed away in 2021.

Doctorate immortalises legacy of Franz Marx 
 
The lack of, or very little information available about Franz Marx and other TV writers compelled Dr Vorster to focus his thesis on the influential Franz Marx. “The influence of Franz Marx on South African television is legendary, and it was a privilege to immortalise his legacy,” says Dr Vorster. 

His PhD research consisted primarily of two phases. The first phase focused on the factors that influenced Franz Marx as artist in the creation of the soapie Egoli: Place of Gold. This was practice-based research through interviews with Franz Marx and 30 TV practitioners, after which he contextualised it within the South African TV industry. 

The second phase was the creative writing component, which materialised in the form of an Afrikaans telenovela hybrid, titled Skietstilstand, focusing on a small production team struggling to produce a new sitcom. “I also put this (research) further into perspective with the help of extensive literature study,” he says. 

Dream of quality television as incentive 

There must be some motivation for any doctoral candidate to conduct intensive research on a given topic. For Dr Vorster, this motivation was his perpetual wish that there would one day be sufficient funding to produce quality television in South Africa. “We have the talent and the will, but without sufficient budgeting, our TV industry will always simply produce boring chat and cooking programmes,” says Dr Vorster. 
The influence of Franz Marx on South African television is legendary, and it was a privilege to immortalise his legacy. – Dr Chris Vorster.

For fellow lecturers and those who intend to attempt a doctorate, Dr Vorster has the following advice: “Put a LOT of effort into your research proposal, make sure that your study is mapped out in detail before you register the title; don’t rush it! Also make sure that the topic is something that you wish to deal with day and night for years on end!”

Prof Henning Pieterse and Dr Chris Vorster
Dr Chris Vorster with his PhD Promotor, Prof Henning Pieterse. (Photo: Prof Angelique van Niekerk)

Follow the UFS Graduations here: https://www.ufs.ac.za/2022-april-graduation 

 

News Archive

Two Kovsies crowned at Miss Deaf SA
2014-10-16


Back, from the left are: Gert en Narda Els (founders of Miss Deaf SA), Elrie du Toit (second princess), Martie Collen (organiser of Miss Deaf SA), Hermina Christi Greeff (first princess), Marissa Smith (Miss Deaf Africa 2014).
Front: Elzane van den Bergh.

The new Deaf Miss South Africa was announced – and Elzane van den Bergh, a Kovsie student, was crowned the winner. Elzane, a final-year BEd Foundation Phase student, also won the title for Best Talent at this swanky event.

Another Kovsie student, Elrie du Toit, was selected as second princess. She was also among the top five for the Best Talent title. Elrie is currently studying to become a social worker.

Twelve finalists from all over South Africa, all deaf or hard of hearing, took part.

On the competition at Miss Deaf South Africa, Elzane’s thoughts are that the judges had a very difficult choice to make. “Each talented girl had some special characteristic that stood out,” she relates.

“I really wanted to do something like this as it would help to make a bigger difference in the community and motivate people to accept themselves for who they are, because we are all uniquely created.”

Elzane’s focus is on teaching basic sign language to hearing parents with deaf babies. She also believes that hearing people should be made more aware of the deaf culture and language. This will eventually lead to deafness no longer being perceived as a disability.

Hard work and preparations are now lying ahead for Miss Deaf World, which will be held in Prague during June next year.

“Never allow any disability or obstacle to stand in the way of your dreams,” says Elzane. “Stick it out and don’t doubt in your abilities for one second, because you were born to be a winner. Be proud of yourself, no matter what.”

 

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept