Mncedisi Mashigoane in the spotlight
Isaac Themba Mnguni interviews Mncedisi Mashigoane about the ins and outs of his research on the soap opera Isidingo and post-apartheid identity formation.
Mncedisi Mashigoane
ITM: What are you currently studying?
MM: I am doing my PhD in Media Studies.
ITM: What is your research topic?
MM: Reading Isidingo (1998) in the context of post-apartheid identity formation.
ITM: What have been the challenges that you have so far faced in your research?
MM: Coming from literary studies into a fairly new area of studying – a complex visual narrative of the soap opera – was a major transition. Unlike a poem or a novel or even a feature film, the soap opera narrative is not closed or structured in a clear three acts, Aristotlean format. It is a whole new ball game altogether. There is a different reading style involved and you consequently are challenged to sift through your acquired toolkit of reading and analytical expertise to find what is relevant to the new narrative you are exploring. You also have to acquire a whole new set of theoretical skills that are appropriate to the form. It is not just challenging but also exciting as you discover and acquire additional skills and knowledge. The main challenge was getting the proposal approved because it is your blueprint for the entire project and the project depends on it to move forward or fall apart. Coming from different learning and research cultures [University of Cape Town, Rhodes University] also necessitated some adaptation to the Wits manner of doing things. Researching the materials for the proposal stage was painstaking as you practically have to read almost everything that seems relevant to your topic as you go about honing and shaping your topic to its essential focus. This is where you appreciate the role of a supervisor most!
ITM: You are lecturing and studying: what is your survival guide?
MM: I try to juggle my responsibilities and even though it is hard to maintain the balance, sometimes I find that if you enjoy reading and writing then it is less torturous. I also think one has to try to be a complete human being and not neglect other aspects like family responsibilities, loving, having fun, etc. I find that this helps to unwind and freshen your mind so that when you return to books and other texts your mind is eager for the intellectual challenges involved in research.
ITM: What advice do you have for emerging researchers?
MM: There are no short cuts to reading and writing. You just have to do it or ship out.
ITM: Do you have any tips about managing your relationship with your supervisor?
MM: I think managing your supervisor ought to be based on the same principles you apply to managing human beings generally. Respect, honesty, sticking to deadlines are values that come to mind in terms of relations with supervisors specifically.
ITM: What are your views on the proposed media bill?
MM: If you mean the mooted Media Appeals Tribunal, I am still watching the space but I would not support anything that tramples on our hard fought rights to freedom of expression as well as disseminating and receiving information. Having said that, I also do not think the print media has discharged its mandate with integrity. This partly stems from its legacy and ownership patterns. You do get a sense that as an institution, the print media has aligned itself with the opposition parties and attacks everything that the ANC does. Maybe that’s a misconception but a lot of black people do share that perception and when the opposition is seen as a party that represents white interests in a country with a history like ours, attitudes harden and the media loses the sympathy of the majority. The poor state of journalism and a weak or “toothless” ombuds system add to the dire mixture. Another finger must also point to the journalism schools because they produce the current crop of journalists who are accused of invading people’s privacies, unethical conduct, unfair and poorly researched stories, defamatory reports and so forth. As for the “state secrecy” bill, I think there is a danger that sensitive information that ought to be made public may be kept out of the public domain by shady politicians. It is as it stands now too general and gives too much power to state officials; it’s a very dangerous document.
ITM: What are your future plans?
MM: Get a PhD, continue lecturing and build up a research and creative corpus.
ITM: What is your favorite quote?
MM: “To Infinity and Beyond”: it is from the animated feature Toy Story and the words are uttered by Buzzlightyear, the protagonist.
ITM: Any final words of advice?
MM: In life you must always expect the unexpected and leave room for disappointments.