The film from the country of contempt. With John Komasa talks Waldemar Kuligowski

Fillm z kraju pogardy. Z Janem Komasą rozmawia Waldemar Kuligowski

Author(s): Jan Komasa,Waldemar Kuligowski / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

Keywords: contempt - Polish film - migrants - risk society – capitalism

An interview with a young director, who is a co-author of Polish film "Ode to Joy", which appears to be an expression on the young generation of Poles migrating en masse into the West. The film perfectly fits in a popular topic: immigrants living in today’s "Risk society". It is also a picture of increasing disparities between the rich holders and the poor, and about forming mutual contempt. Komasa sees this situation as a result of capitalist injustice and free market practice. Rewarded on Polish film festivals, "Ode to Joy" is thus not a story about the escape of Poles, but about their aims to find the essence of the new capitalist Poland.

Critical and literary critical numbers 2005

Numerki krytyczne i krytycznoliterackie 2005

Author(s): Tomasz Charnas / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

Counrty-folk source of contempt. Ethnographic quotations of the Polish people

Chłopskie źródła pogardy. Wyimki etnograficzne o ludzie polskim

Author(s): Waldemar Kuligowski / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

Keywords: contempt - national megalomania - Jews and Gypsies in Poland - Polish proverbs

The text is a collection of quotations from Polish literature, folk, anecdtes, Polish proverbs and stock phrases of the nineteenth and twentieth century, collected by ethnographers throughout the country. Though deprived of the author’s comments, however, is a very eloquent example of contempt and repulsion of Poles, not only towards people of other nations or religions, but also - socially disapproved, like, for example, single mothers or prostitutes. Once again reveals the richness of the Polish language, but not from its best side.

Poetry

Poezja

Author(s): Kamila Janiak / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

pomnik / inkwizycja / lato

The Contempt, the jung and idyll, that is, a few observations on the Polish character

Pogarda, gnój, idylla, czyli parę uwag na teamt polskości

Author(s): Bartosz Kuźniarz / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

Keywords: contempt – Polish character – Emmanuel Levinas’ the Other and the Third – Andrzej Stasiuk – Wojciech Tochman

In Poland, contempt is a still present element of social thinking and behaviour. It is inscribed in the Eastern Slavs’ nature as strong, as the loyalty at any price or the human independence from institutional frames, which are still “on the carpet” in the Western societes. Beginning with the references to Levinas’ categories of the Other and the Third, author settles them in social context. He relates to literary borrowings from Polish artists: from Andrzej Stasiuk’s prose and Wojciech Tochman’s reports, trying to understand nature and origin of Polish contempt. Soon it appears, that it opposes both the Western political corectness imposed by the Third, and the rightful responsibility for the Other. Also cultural relativism, practicaly unfamiliar to Polish society, still remains unrecognized.

Poetry

Poezja

Author(s): Marta Grunwald / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

pokażę ci jak przechodzę przez jezdnię / saffron 2004 / duende / wilgoć

The loss of innocence through a cruel ritual

O utracie niewinności poprzez okrutny rytuał

Author(s): Katarzyna Kolbowska / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

Keywords: contempt - Brazil - Brazilian movie - favelas - "City of God" ( "Cidade de Deus") - hip-hop in Brazil

Favelas, poverty districts in Rio de Janeiro, live at their own rhythm. The film "City of God" ( "Cidade de Deus"), by Brazilian Fernando Meirellesa, shows the image of Brazil as a coutry of samba, carnival and beautiful wild nature, but complemented with violence, chaos and living for a dollar a day. The viewer enters the world deprived of the elements of fiction, in which people live in small, provisionally built houses; watches a series of extremes: love and hate, pride and madness, friendship and contempt. Childhood is at this point only a short memory, which is quickly replaced by the need of dealing with brutal reality. Even those who wish to escape from the favelas - mostly go back there because the other world does not exist for them. It is difficult to leave the area of social exclusion. Katarzyna Kolbowska mentions that the "City of God" did not arouse as huge interest in the home country, as for example in Europe. Perhaps Brazilian viewers do not want to see violence, which is really several streets away. Meanwhile, the movie is not a glorification of lawlessness, just like Brazilian hip-hop songs do not glorify it. For young musicians the brutality of everyday life is "natural" and the sounds of gun shots are not surprising; it is something very common in the streets of favelas. Hence, the stories in the texts of songs are unusual visions of places from which they come from, and still unknown by the rest of the world.

Events

Wydarzenia

Author(s): Monika Szmyt,Izabela Dzioba,Wojtek Kocołowski / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

At our place, behind polar circle [57]

U nas, za kołem polarnym [57]

Author(s): Klemens Stróżyński / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

Stolzman in Belweder?

Stolzman w Belwederze?

Author(s): Piotr Forecki / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

Keywords: contempt - Polish anti-Semitism - presidential campaigns in Poland

Negatively received in Polish society, the word "Jew" in the sphere of power takes on additional significance. The boundary between "us" and "strangers" is hidden but constantly present in this almost homogeneous nation. It takes away from poeple of different origin the opportunity to represent the Poles. Based on the lack of public confidence in the people with Jewish roots, anti-Semitism has become a convenient tool in the hands of Polish politiciansamongst other things, in presidential campaigns. All previous presidential campaigns, which took place after establishing the truly democratic elections after 1989, were marked by anti-Semitism. Freedom of elections brought also freedom of expression, eagerly used by candidates for the president of Poland and revealed by the Polish media. The author examines in details the anti-Semitic speeches of Lech Walesa. It describes two different reactions of other candidates for president: Tadeusz Mazowiecki and Aleksander Kwasniewski, who, in turn, were also “accused” to being Jewish. The fact that Polish politicians use anti-Semitism as a weapon in political fight, is, due to the author, a violation of privacy. On the other hand – it is impossible to tell if it has reflected in decisions on the election of Polish citizens, since no-one of the candidates openly showing anti-Semitism has earned prominent public support.

March of powerlessness, march of force

Marsz bezsilności, marsz siły

Author(s): Marta Jermaczek / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

Keywords: contempt - homophobia - Poznań - March of Equality 19.11.2005 - freedom of speech and assembly

In November 2005, during the Days of Equality and Tolerance, in the center of Poznan was held March of Equality, declaring equal rights for homosexuals, the disabled and ethnic minorities. It took place, despite the fact that the president of Poznan did not give his permission. Suppressed by police, the Matrch triggered a stormy debate in Polish media and society. Text written by co-organizer of the march is a relation of events, which the Polish media and politicians show in completely different version. It also confirms that homophobia and intolerance exist in Polish society, attacking the freedom of expression and assembly.

Freedom of speech and incitement to religious hatred

Wolność wypowiedzi a podżeganie do nienawiści religijnej

Author(s): Joanna Fomina / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

Keywords: contempt - United Kingdom - Racial and Religious Hatred Bill - religious hatred - Muslims - freedom of expression

In the multicultural countries, as the United States, Germany and France, there are legal regulations, protecting minorities against manifestations of religious intolerance and criminal acts. In the United Kingdom in 2005 a similar draft law was rejected, although there is already Law on racial hatred, of which this project was only widening. In comparison to British celebrities, who protested against the project in the name of freedom of expression, and members of the House of Lords, who rejected the proposal - UKsociety is in favor of legalizing the Act. According to Joanna Fominy, freedom of expression would not sustain a loss after the implementation of a revised law, as it would penalize only those statements based on religion, which, by their offensive language, could cause a violent behaviour against believers of religion. Criticism supported by logical arguments, ironic tonnes of expression, or even an attack on religion itself would not called offensive, so the law would not limit the freedom of expression.

Paradoksalni strażnicy pogardy

Paradoxical guardians of contempt

Author(s): Agata Araszkiewicz / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

Will priest Musiał be saved? About paintings in Sandomierz church and kathedra talks Anka Grupińska, Joanna Tokarska-Bakir, Zuzanna Radzik and Agniesz

Czy ksiądz Musiał zostanie zbawiony? O obrazach w sandomierskim kościele i katedrze rozmawiają Anka Grupińska, Joanna Tokarska-Bakir, Zuzanna Radzik i

Author(s): Joanna Tokarska-Bakir,Agnieszka Sabor,Zuzanna Radzik,Anka Grupińska / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 01/2006

Your Columnist Mourning - I

Lamentanija vašeg kolumniste - I

Author(s): Cvijeto Job / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 438-439/2008

Keywords: USA; financial market; NATO;

The Government as an Untuned Orchestra

Vlada kao raštimovani orkestar

Author(s): D. I. / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 438-439/2008

Keywords: government; Rasim Ljajic;

Come to Sense, Subordinate Souls

Seknite se duše podaničke

Author(s): Radmilo Đurđević / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 438-439/2008

Keywords: Serbs; Jovan Cvijic;

A Framework for Tomislav Nikolic's Psychological Profile

Metaforična promena ili okvir za psihološki profil Tomislava Nikolića

Author(s): Dragica Stanojlović / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 438-439/2008

Keywords: Tomislav Nikolic; Serbian Radical Party; leader;

Deputy president of the most numerous opposition party, a professional MP, a man who personified for many years the ideologist and promoter of a retrograde and exclusive policy that brought great damage upon Serbia, halted on his safe road and stepped aside...

The New World Geopolitical Order: End of Act I

Novi svetski geopolitički poredak: kraj prvog čina

Author(s): Immanuel Wallerstein / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 438-439/2008

Keywords: USA; EU; NATO; the new world order;

Halfidiots and Accidental People

Poluidioti i slučajni ljudi

Author(s): Anonymous Anonymous / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 438-439/2008

Keywords: Belgrade 1968; protests