Chris van der Merwe

Chris van der Merwe is an Emeritus Professor of the University of Cape Town,

Also known as Chris N. van der Merwe or C.N. van der Merwe.

Biography

Born Chris Norden van der Merwe in Wellington in the Western Cape, on 12 March, 1944, he completed his in 1961 at the Hugenote Hoërskool, Wellington. He then went to the University of Stellenbosch, where he completed a BA (majoring in Afrikaans and Nederlands and English), followed by a BA Honours (1965) and an MA (1967), both in Afrikaans and Nederlands).

In 1970 he completed a doctorandus in Dutch language and literature at the University of Utrecht (cum laude) and finally, in 1976 completed a D.Litt. et Phil. degree at the Rand Afrikaans University with a thesis on the theatrical work of the Belgian playwright, film-maker and novelist Hugo Claus.

His teaching career began while a student at Stellenbosch, when he became an assistant to the lecturers Meyer de Villiers (1965) and D.J. Opperman (1966-1967), then acting lecturer in the place of Opperman (1968). His next appointment was at the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) as a lecturer in Afrikaans (1971-75), at which point he went to the University of Cape Town (UCT) as a lecturer, seniotr lecturer and Associate Professor, to teach theory of literature and Afrikaans and Dutch literature for almost forty years, till his retirement in 2009.

Living in a deeply divided and troubled country, much of his research focused on literary narratives and trauma, and on literature and spirituality.

Married to Biebie de Villiers and the couple have two children, Amelia, a psychologist and Marelise, a journalist.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Among his writings on theatre and drama have been his doctoral thesis on Hugo Claus, articles on theatre and drama in collections he has edited, as well as numerous reviews and articles, including:

1980: In en om Die Laaste Aand. Tydskrif vir Letterkunde, 18(4):11-17.

1984. Die Christelike en die tragiese in Germanicus en Die Val van ‘n Regvaardige Man, in Malan, Charles (ed.). Spel en Spieël. Besprekings van die Moderne Afrikaanse Drama en Teater. Johannesburg: Perskor. 125-136.

1990. Etniese stereotipes in die Afrikaanse prosa en drama.(Die Laaste van die Takhare; Die Laaste Aand; Vergelegen; Die Hoop van Suid-Afrika; Die Vrou van Suid-Afrika; Die Pluimsaad Waai Ver; Berei in die Woestyn; Putsonderwater; Diepe Grond) Stilet, 2(2):95-116.

1994. Breaking Barriers – Stereotypes and the changing of values in Afrikaans writing, 1875-1990. Amsterdam: Rodopi.

2021. "Inleiding: Die dramas van N P van Wyk Louw" in Deborah Steinmair en Kristél de Weerd. 2021. N.P. van Wyk Louw. Versamelde Dramas, Pretoria: Pretoria Boekhuis: pp. 7-48.

In 2009 he was awarded the SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns's Gustav Preller-prize for his contribution to the study of Afrikaans Literature.