Abstract
Creative Writing is a relatively new subject at South African universities. The scope and methodologies of teaching this subject locally have not yet been investigated properly. In this article the teaching of Creative Writing as subject, course and/or programme at South African universities is probed with regard to course content, methodological and pedagogical questions and outcomes. A semistructured questionnaire dealing with course content, didactic aspects of teaching Creative Writing and manuscript outcomes was sent to course co-ordinators of Creative Writing at 11 South African universities. The findings of this inquiry are discussed with regard to each participating university. Creative Writing is mainly taught at postgraduate level, with the focus on MA level. Although there are differences in teaching approaches, it is evident that the workshop serves as the core teaching method for most respondents. Creative Writing at South African universities has grown tremendously in terms of student numbers and published outputs – some figures are provided as illustrations. This increase links South African Creative Writing to a world-wide trend which reflects continuous growth in Creative Writing as university subject. Through published (and often award-winning) outcomes Creative Writing programmes contribute to the varied South African literary landscape.
Highlights
Skryfkuns is ’n relatief nuwe vak aan Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite
In this article the teaching of Creative Writing as subject, course and/or programme at South African universities is probed with regard to course content, methodological and pedagogical questions and outcomes
A semistructured questionnaire dealing with course content, didactic aspects of teaching Creative Writing and manuscript outcomes was sent to course co-ordinators of Creative Writing at 11 South African universities
Summary
In dié artikel word die dosering van Skryfkuns as vak, kursus en/of program aan Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite van naderby betrag met betrekking tot kursusinhoud, metodologiese en pedagogiese kwessies en uitkomste. Dié instansie het reeds in die 1890’s klasse in Skryfkuns aangebied, in 1922 al manuskripte van skrywers aanvaar as deel van nagraadse kwalifikasies en bied sedert 1936 die wêreldbekende Iowa Writers’ Workshop aan, waartydens studente deur bekende en bekroonde skrywers begelei word Die doel van hierdie artikel is om ’n oorsig van die dosering van Skryfkuns aan Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite te gee met betrekking tot tipe kursusse, metodologie in die aanbieding daarvan, uitkomste en publikasies. Sommige respondente het die gestelde vrae kortliks beantwoord, ander het hul respons in die vorm van ’n kort essay verskaf, sodat ’n breë narratief as voorlopige sintese oor die dosering van Skryfkuns aan Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite gebied word. Die verhouding en balans tussen teorie en kreatiewe skryfwerk hang van die betrokke navorsingstema en agtergrond van die student af (Greyling 2012a)
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