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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

Odeion: Brahms song cycle
2006-10-10

 

Brad Liebl (baritone) with Hanna van Niekerk (narrator) and Albie van Schalkwyk (piano)

Sunday, 22 October
Odeion
20:00

Dr. Brad Liebl was awarded a Doctorate in Musical Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and has for more than 10 years been Associate Professor of Classical Voice and the co-coordinator of that division at UCT.   He has become well-known throughout South Africa as an interpreter of operatic leading roles, art songs and oratorios.  In Germany he has sung operettas and Lieder and in the USA he continues to feature as a principal performer in oratorios and operas.  During the previous two years Liebl sang the male leads in the world premières of two new operas: The Lost Dauphin and Amarantha.   His new CD’s include the recording of the latter and songs by Rajna, Hely-Hutchinson and Chisholm.  In 2003 Liebl received one of only four Distinguished Teacher Awards from the University of Cape Town. 

Liebl will be accompanied by the pianist Albie van Schalkwyk, while the story of the beautiful Magelone will be narrated by Hanna van Niekerk.

Programme
Die schöne Magelone (Brahms)

Admission
R60 (adults)
R40 (pensioners)
R40 (students and learners)

Bookings
Ninette Pretorius at the Department of Music, tel. 051 401 2504.  
Tickets are also available at Izami Florist in Baysvillage and Fascination Books in Mimosa Mall.

 

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