Stephen Watson
Encyclopedia
Stephen Watson was a South Africa
n poet.
Most of his poetry is about the city of Cape Town
, where he lived most of his life. He was a professor in English at the University of Cape Town
. He was also the Director of the Writing Centre there, and one of the founders of the Creative Writing Program.
Creatively, he believed that that poetry and literature can stand on their own and need not refer to politics, or the struggle for liberation, in order to be valid. He took a strong stand on poetic relativism, believing it was possible and desirable to differentiate between "good" and "bad" poetry - a stance that has drawn criticism.
As a literary critic, Watson suggested that "South Africa is held together by a nexus of peoples 'dreaming' each other in terms of the myths that the distance between them creates."
Watson was anchored at the University of Cape Town
for most of his career. In his poetry, he was best known as a lyrical chronicler of the Cape’s natural beauty, documenting the response of the soul when surrounded by it. His intertwinedness with the landscape spilled into his prose, too: he memorably wrote about his “love affair” with the city’s mountains last year, in what might be cast as a follow-up essay to his landmark 1990 piece, “In These Mountains”. Although poetry was Watson’s chief metier, he distinguished himself as an essayist, writing on subjects near and far, as diverse as South African “black” poetry and Leonard Cohen
.
In February 2006, the normally reclusive Watson made the mainstream news when, writing in New Contrast, he launched an attack on Antjie Krog
, accusing her of plagiarism. He claimed that she 'lifted the entire conception of her book [the stars say 'tsau' ] from [his] Return of the Moon, and that she also plagiarised from the work of Ted Hughes
. Krog strongly denied the claims.
In January 2011, Watson received the English Academy’s Thomas Pringle
Award for a short story, “Buiten Street”, published in New Contrast. His poetry featured in the most recent edition of Poetry International – South Africa, where further biographical information is available.
Stephen Watson died on 10 April 2011 after suffering from cancer.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n poet.
Most of his poetry is about the city of Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, where he lived most of his life. He was a professor in English at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
. He was also the Director of the Writing Centre there, and one of the founders of the Creative Writing Program.
Creatively, he believed that that poetry and literature can stand on their own and need not refer to politics, or the struggle for liberation, in order to be valid. He took a strong stand on poetic relativism, believing it was possible and desirable to differentiate between "good" and "bad" poetry - a stance that has drawn criticism.
As a literary critic, Watson suggested that "South Africa is held together by a nexus of peoples 'dreaming' each other in terms of the myths that the distance between them creates."
Watson was anchored at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
for most of his career. In his poetry, he was best known as a lyrical chronicler of the Cape’s natural beauty, documenting the response of the soul when surrounded by it. His intertwinedness with the landscape spilled into his prose, too: he memorably wrote about his “love affair” with the city’s mountains last year, in what might be cast as a follow-up essay to his landmark 1990 piece, “In These Mountains”. Although poetry was Watson’s chief metier, he distinguished himself as an essayist, writing on subjects near and far, as diverse as South African “black” poetry and Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
.
In February 2006, the normally reclusive Watson made the mainstream news when, writing in New Contrast, he launched an attack on Antjie Krog
Antjie Krog
Antjie Krog, born October 23, 1952 in Kroonstad, Orange Free State, South Africa, is a prominent South African poet, academic and writer. In 2004 she joined the Arts faculty of the University of the Western Cape.- Early life :...
, accusing her of plagiarism. He claimed that she 'lifted the entire conception of her book [the stars say 'tsau' ] from [his] Return of the Moon, and that she also plagiarised from the work of Ted Hughes
Ted Hughes
Edward James Hughes OM , more commonly known as Ted Hughes, was an English poet and children's writer. Critics routinely rank him as one of the best poets of his generation. Hughes was British Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death.Hughes was married to American poet Sylvia Plath, from 1956 until...
. Krog strongly denied the claims.
In January 2011, Watson received the English Academy’s Thomas Pringle
Thomas Pringle
Thomas Pringle was a Scottish writer, poet and abolitionist, known as the father of South African Poetry, the first successful English language poet and author to describe South Africa's scenery, native peoples, and living conditions.Born at Blaiklaw , four miles south of Kelso in Roxburghshire he...
Award for a short story, “Buiten Street”, published in New Contrast. His poetry featured in the most recent edition of Poetry International – South Africa, where further biographical information is available.
Stephen Watson died on 10 April 2011 after suffering from cancer.
Poetry
- Poems 1977-1982. Bateleur Press (1982)
- In This City. David Phillips Publishers (1986)
- Cape Town Days. (1989)
- Return of the moon: Versions from the /Xam. Carrefour (1991)
- Song of the Broken String: After the /Xam Bushmen: Poems from a Lost Oral. Sheep Meadow Press (1991)
- Remembering the Night. Turret Bookshop (1992)
- Presence of the Earth: New Poems. David Phillips Publishers (1995)
- The Other City: Selected Poems 1977 - 1999. David Phillips Publishers (2000)
- The Light Echo And Other Poems. Penguin Group (SA) (2007)
Other works
- Stephen Watson: Selected essays, 1980-1990. Carrefour (1990)
- Guy ButlerGuy Butler (poet)Guy Butler was a South African poet and writer....
: Essays and Lectures 1949-1991. David Phillips Publishers (1994) - Critical Perspectives on J. M. Coetzee. (ed) David Phillips Publishers (1995)
- A City Imagined: Cape Town and the Meanings of a Place. (ed) Penguin Group (SA) (2006)
- The Music in the Ice Penguin Group (SA) (2010)