Difference between revisions of "J.F.W. Grosskopf"
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| − | '''Johannes Friedrich Wilhelm (J.F.W.) Grosskopf''' (1885–1948) was a South African academic, journalist, critic, novelist, stage director and playwright. | + | '''Johannes Friedrich Wilhelm (J.F.W.) Grosskopf''' (1885–1948) was a South African academic, journalist, critic, novelist, stage director and playwright. |
| + | == Biography == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Born Johannes Friedrich Wilhelm Grosskopf in Bloemfontein on 25 November 1885, as a member of a German missonary familywhere he matriculated at [[Grey College]] in 1900. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Started his tertiary education in 1902 at the [[Stellenbosch University|Victoria-College]] in Stellenbosch, completing a BA in Modern Languages and an MA in 1906. His interest in drama arose from his study of German literature as part of his course, as well as a study he undertook of the English companies that toured Europe since the 1600. After teaching for one year at the Diocesan-College in Rondebosch, he obtained a Queen Victoria bursary to read Literature, Law and Economics at universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and obtained a Dr. jur. Degree at the University of Leiden. | ||
| + | |||
| + | While in Vienna (during 1909 and 1910) is interest in drama was further stimulated by his exposure to performances at the Keiserliche Burghteater in Vienna and classes on drama offered by professor Alexander von Wellen Weil, who discussed the works of Henrik Ibsen as performance pieces, rather than as literary texts. | ||
| − | + | After completing his studies in Europe he returned to South Africa in April 1914, soon after to become involved in the Rebellion and was arrested and jailed from December 1914 to August 1915, but eventually fined and released. | |
| − | + | On his release (with a fine) he became a journalist for the [[Afrikaans]] newspaper ''[[Ons Vaderland]]'' in Pretoria (and a correspondent for ''[[Die Burger]]'') and in 1917 editor of ''[[Die Volksblad]]'' in Bloemfontein. In these years he also wrote book reviews and articles for ''[[Die Huisgenoot]]'', ''[[Die Volksblad]]'' and ''[[Die Volkstem]]''. | |
| − | |||
| − | + | In 1920 he was appointed Professor of Political Studies at the [[University of Stellenbosch]], a period when he a member of the influential [[Unie-debatsvereniging]] (a debating society, that also put on plays, some of which he directed). In 1935 he became Head of Economics in the Department of Agriculture. He contiued writing plays and occasional short stories, inter alia publishiung the collection of short stories called ''Ou Leeumelker en ander vertellings'' ("Old lion milker and other tales") in 1938) | |
| − | |||
| − | + | In 1916 he married Franki Neethling of Pretoria, but she passed away during the great flu epidemic of 1918. In 1925 he met and married '''[[Cornelia Johanna Wagner]]''', an actress who was a member of the cast of Grosskopf's production of [[D.F. Malherbe]]'s play ''[[Koringboere]]''. | |
| − | |||
| − | + | He passed away in Pretoria on 3 July 1948. | |
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
| − | |||
| − | + | Grosskopf is considered by many to be the key founder of the realist drama in [[Afrikaans]] because of his interest in the complexities of relationships and conflict between people. | |
| − | + | Apart from writing some plays in [[Afrikaans]], Grosskopf did a number of translations into [[Afrikaans]] from the German, French and Swedish. He also published short stories in [[Afrikaans]] and English in various publications, including ''[[The South African News]]'', ''[[Ons Moedertaal]]'' and ''[[Die Huisgenoot]]''. He was very interested in graphic art and in 1947 he published a book about the South African landscape artist (and occasional illustrator and set painter) [[J.H. Pierneef]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobus_Hendrik_Pierneef]. | |
| + | Translated the play ''[[Die Journalisten]]'' by German novelist and playwright Gustav Freytag [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Freytag] as ''[[Die Koerantskrywers]]'' ("The Journalists"), for the [[GUK Toneelvereniging]] in 1920. | ||
| + | He also directed plays for amateur groups, for example in the 1920s, while a professor at the [[University of Stellenbosch]], he was a member of the [[Unie-debatsvereniging]] (debating society), for which he directed several [[Afrikaans]] productions, including ''[[Koringboere]]'' ("Wheat Farmers") by [[D.F. Malherbe]]. | ||
| − | + | In Pretoria he wrote newspaper reviews of the first productions by [[Ons Teatertjie Toneelgroep]] / [[Volksteater]] | |
| − | [[ | + | |
| + | === Plays === | ||
| − | + | His plays include: | |
| + | ''[['n Esau]]: 'n Bosveld-drama in vier tonele'' (1920) - a play in four acts. | ||
| + | ''[[Die Peswolk]]'' (1924) - his first one-act play. | ||
| + | ''[[In die Wagkamer]]'', | ||
| + | ''[[Die Spookhuis]]'' | ||
| − | + | ''[[Die Peswolk]]'' | |
| − | |||
| + | ''[[As die tuig skawe]]'' (1926) - a play in four acts. | ||
| − | + | ''[[Mara]]'', also known as ''[[Oorlog is Oorlog]]'' (1927) - a one-act play. | |
| − | + | ''[[Die Klipdolk]]''. | |
| − | + | ''[[Die Poskoets in die Rivier]]'' (a radio drama, 1941) | |
| − | [[ | ||
| + | ''[[Legende]], drama uit ons volksverlede'' (1942) | ||
| + | ''[[Die Nag by die Blokhuis]]'' (1946) | ||
| + | ''[[Die Daad van Koedri]] en twee ander kort toneelstukke'' (1946) | ||
| + | ''[[Die Vloek]]'' (1946) | ||
| + | ''[[Padbrekers]]: 'n mensetragedie'' (1947) | ||
| + | ===Collections:=== | ||
| + | ''[[Drie Een-bedrywe vir een Aand]]'' ("three one-act plays for one evening "; 1926) | ||
| + | ''[[Die Klipdolk en ander kort-spele]]'' ("The stone dagger and other short plays"; 1941) | ||
| + | == Awards, etc == | ||
| + | The [[Hertzogprys|Hertzog Prize]] for Drama in 1926 for his play ''[[As die tuig skawe]]'' and the collection ''[[Drie eenbedrywe]]'' (which includes ''[[In die Wagkamer]]'', ''[[Die Spookhuis]]'' and ''[[Die Peswolk]]''). | ||
| + | An Honorary Award of the [[SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns]] for film making in 1931. | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
| + | https://www.litnet.co.za/jfw-grosskopf-18851945/ | ||
| + | |||
| + | https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.F.W._Grosskopf | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''Stellenbosch Writers'' [http://www.stellenboschwriters.com/grosskopf.html] | ||
| + | |||
| + | https://akda.co.za/maint/ | ||
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
Latest revision as of 05:46, 9 August 2024
Johannes Friedrich Wilhelm (J.F.W.) Grosskopf (1885–1948) was a South African academic, journalist, critic, novelist, stage director and playwright.
Contents
Biography
Born Johannes Friedrich Wilhelm Grosskopf in Bloemfontein on 25 November 1885, as a member of a German missonary familywhere he matriculated at Grey College in 1900.
Started his tertiary education in 1902 at the Victoria-College in Stellenbosch, completing a BA in Modern Languages and an MA in 1906. His interest in drama arose from his study of German literature as part of his course, as well as a study he undertook of the English companies that toured Europe since the 1600. After teaching for one year at the Diocesan-College in Rondebosch, he obtained a Queen Victoria bursary to read Literature, Law and Economics at universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and obtained a Dr. jur. Degree at the University of Leiden.
While in Vienna (during 1909 and 1910) is interest in drama was further stimulated by his exposure to performances at the Keiserliche Burghteater in Vienna and classes on drama offered by professor Alexander von Wellen Weil, who discussed the works of Henrik Ibsen as performance pieces, rather than as literary texts.
After completing his studies in Europe he returned to South Africa in April 1914, soon after to become involved in the Rebellion and was arrested and jailed from December 1914 to August 1915, but eventually fined and released.
On his release (with a fine) he became a journalist for the Afrikaans newspaper Ons Vaderland in Pretoria (and a correspondent for Die Burger) and in 1917 editor of Die Volksblad in Bloemfontein. In these years he also wrote book reviews and articles for Die Huisgenoot, Die Volksblad and Die Volkstem.
In 1920 he was appointed Professor of Political Studies at the University of Stellenbosch, a period when he a member of the influential Unie-debatsvereniging (a debating society, that also put on plays, some of which he directed). In 1935 he became Head of Economics in the Department of Agriculture. He contiued writing plays and occasional short stories, inter alia publishiung the collection of short stories called Ou Leeumelker en ander vertellings ("Old lion milker and other tales") in 1938)
In 1916 he married Franki Neethling of Pretoria, but she passed away during the great flu epidemic of 1918. In 1925 he met and married Cornelia Johanna Wagner, an actress who was a member of the cast of Grosskopf's production of D.F. Malherbe's play Koringboere.
He passed away in Pretoria on 3 July 1948.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Grosskopf is considered by many to be the key founder of the realist drama in Afrikaans because of his interest in the complexities of relationships and conflict between people.
Apart from writing some plays in Afrikaans, Grosskopf did a number of translations into Afrikaans from the German, French and Swedish. He also published short stories in Afrikaans and English in various publications, including The South African News, Ons Moedertaal and Die Huisgenoot. He was very interested in graphic art and in 1947 he published a book about the South African landscape artist (and occasional illustrator and set painter) J.H. Pierneef [1].
Translated the play Die Journalisten by German novelist and playwright Gustav Freytag [2] as Die Koerantskrywers ("The Journalists"), for the GUK Toneelvereniging in 1920.
He also directed plays for amateur groups, for example in the 1920s, while a professor at the University of Stellenbosch, he was a member of the Unie-debatsvereniging (debating society), for which he directed several Afrikaans productions, including Koringboere ("Wheat Farmers") by D.F. Malherbe.
In Pretoria he wrote newspaper reviews of the first productions by Ons Teatertjie Toneelgroep / Volksteater
Plays
His plays include:
'n Esau: 'n Bosveld-drama in vier tonele (1920) - a play in four acts.
Die Peswolk (1924) - his first one-act play.
As die tuig skawe (1926) - a play in four acts.
Mara, also known as Oorlog is Oorlog (1927) - a one-act play.
Die Poskoets in die Rivier (a radio drama, 1941)
Legende, drama uit ons volksverlede (1942)
Die Nag by die Blokhuis (1946)
Die Daad van Koedri en twee ander kort toneelstukke (1946)
Die Vloek (1946)
Padbrekers: 'n mensetragedie (1947)
Collections:
Drie Een-bedrywe vir een Aand ("three one-act plays for one evening "; 1926)
Die Klipdolk en ander kort-spele ("The stone dagger and other short plays"; 1941)
Awards, etc
The Hertzog Prize for Drama in 1926 for his play As die tuig skawe and the collection Drie eenbedrywe (which includes In die Wagkamer, Die Spookhuis and Die Peswolk).
An Honorary Award of the SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns for film making in 1931.
Sources
https://www.litnet.co.za/jfw-grosskopf-18851945/
https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.F.W._Grosskopf
Stellenbosch Writers [3]
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities G
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
