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22 August 2018
Prof Coetzee is retelling old stories in a new book
"Failing to Learn Doomed to repeat" was one of the bookworks on display.

The title of Prof Jan K Coetzee’s latest book, Books & Bones & Other Things, says it all. The book looks into the many aspects that have built our society by presenting in a new way the stories contained in old books collected over the years. 

Prof Coetzee is a Senior Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of the Free State (UFS). Books & Bones & Other Things was launched on 14 August 2018 and coincided with an exhibition of various “bookworks”   art installations by Prof Coetzee that feature old books, sculptures, artefacts, and fossils.
 
Book resulting from research programme 
   

“This is a book on books so the library is the perfect venue to launch a book on old texts as documents of life,” said Prof Coetzee.

For the past seven years he has been directing a Master’s and PhD programme in Sociology called The Narrative Study of Lives. His project, Documents of Life, from which this book came, focuses on a collection of old texts the oldest of which dates back to 1605.

“We live in storytelling societies and for as long as we can remember we have been telling stories. Over time the ability to produce books was born. Any collection of books can tell you a lot about your own life and the society you live in."

“I cannot read the stories of many of these old books because their narratives are closed. I have to re-narrate the books, change the narrative convention and present them in a way that makes sense to me. By combining the books with art and artefacts I want the books to tell their ancient stories in new ways.”

Book launches and intellectual discussions

At the book launch, Prof Corli Witthuhn, Vice-Rector: Research said: “What we have achieved with this launch and exhibition is unbelievable. We always try to create an intellectual space in the library.

“A book such as this is the pinnacle of an academic career. It is multidisciplinary and it looks at the world in a different way. That is what scholarship is about.”

A painting by Robert Hodgins was also handed over to the Johannes Stegmann Gallery, home of the corporate collection of the UFS, at the event. 

News Archive

USAID visits the UFS
2006-10-11

Delegates from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) visited the Free State as part of a fact-finding mission.  USAID is funding a programme for the advancement and creation of job opportunities for small, medium and macro entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.  The programme is executed by the UFS in co-operation with EICAfrica, an international consultancy for economic development and capacity building.  During a visit to the UFS Main Campus in Bloemfontein were, from the left, seated:  Ms Deborah Kahatano (ECIAfrica), Ms Dana Mullins (USAID), Ms Juliana Rwelamira (ECIAfrica) and Ms Lynette van Niekerk (USAID); back:  Mr Challa Mohloli (Co-ordinator of the UFS USAID programme), Prof Herman van Schalkwyk (Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS), Dr Léan van der Westhuizen (Head of Lengau Agricultural Development) and Ms Lieketseng Kolisang (Research Assistant at Lengau Agricultural Development).
Photo:  Supplied

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