Johan Degenaar

Johan Degenaar (-2015) was an academic, cultural analyst and political philosopher, with a strong interest in film.

Born Johannes J. (“Johan”) Degenaar, he studied at the University of Stellenbosch, obtaining a BA (1946), MA (1948) and a D.Phil. (1951). He was a lecturer and professor of political philosophy at the University till his retirement.

His influence on South African theatre, film, media and performance

Of importance for this publication are his provocative teaching and many popular and talks on theatre, film, media, literature, art - in particular his analyses of contemporary films. This made him a cult figure among cultural organizations and thinkers in the 1990s, and a favourite keynote speaker at conferences and festivals.

Also hugely influential was his famous monthly Gespreksgroep ("discussion group") and other seminar-type discussions, he set up on and off the campus, all of which became a gathering point for the more enlightened academics at the University and the surrounding areas, a series of sounding boards for the ideas of other cultural and political theorists of the time.