CULTURAL TRANSITION IN CONTEMPORARY POLAND (1950-2007)

PLT 3930 (6435) -- HIS 3931 (5989) -- EUS 3930 (5972) INSTRUCTOR: DR. EWA WAMPUSZYC MEETING TIMES: T (5TH AND 6TH PERIODS) AND TH (6TH PERIOD) IN MAT 251 FILM SCREENINGS: E1-E3 IN TURLINGTON 2305
OFFICE HOURS: M (4th period: 10:40- 11:30) Th (7th period: 1:55-2:45) By appointment OFFICE: 3326B Turlington Hall E-MAIL: ewamp@ufl.edu OFFICE PHONE: (352) 392-8902 X 203

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Throughout the 20th/21st c., Poland has been confronted by numerous transitional events, such as those from war to peace and a socialist system, from a command economy to a capitalist one, from being eclipsed by the Iron Curtain to peacefully tearing down the Curtain in 1989 and joining the European Union in 2004. Organized around the concept of cultural transition, this course will consider the response of writers to such issues as censorship and the imposition of a Socialist Realist aesthetic in the 1950s; the mechanisms of propaganda; dissent and assent during the 1960s; the art of peaceful resistance and peaceful resistance as art in the 1980s; the McDonaldization of Polish culture and the growth of the mass media; and the rise of pop-culture in a capitalist context. More broadly, this course will also consider (among others) the following questions: What is the relationship between historical events and cultural production? How do transitional moments in the economic or political spheres spark new artistic forms and transformations in the cultural sphere? How do writers and artists contribute to changing definitions of local, national, and European identity? Course taught in English. General Education Credit: H/I

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Through the prism of Polish culture, this course aims to deepen students understanding of the Humanities and its relationship to political and economic change. acquaint students with contemporary Polish culture in a broader European context. to expand students cultural studies tool box, allowing them to better read, analyze, and interpret foreign cultures.

PLT3930 (6435) / HIS 3931 (5989) / EUS 3930 (5972) Cultural Transition in Contemporary Poland (1950-2007)

COURSE MATERIALS: Required and recommended readings are available for purchase at: o Goerings, 1717 NW 1st Ave., (352) 377-3703 o OBT, 309 NW 13th St., (352) 375-2707 Most required and recommended readings/films will also be on reserve at the library. Texts available as e-books through the librarys web site are marked *
REQUIRED TEXTS (AVAILABLE AT GOERINGS): Andrzejewski, Jerzy. Ashes and Diamonds. trans. D.J. Welsh. Chicago: Northwestern University Press. 1997. Baraczak, Stanisaw and Clare Cavanagh, ed. and trans. Spoiling the Cannibals Fun: Polish Poetry of the Last Two Decades of Communist Rule. Evanston, Ill: Northwestern University Press. 1991. Konwicki, Tadeusz. Polish Complex. trans. Richard Lourie. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. 1982. Mroek, Sawomir. The Mroek Reader. trans. Ralph Manheim and Teresa Dzieduszycka. New York: Grove Press. 1968. pg. 157-247. Stasiuk, Andrzej. White Raven. trans. Wiesiek Powaga. London: Serpents Tail. 2001. Tokarczuk, Olga. House of Day, House of Night. trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones. London: Granta, 2002. COURSEPACK CONTENTS (AVAILABLE AT OBT): PART I: Davies, Norman. Chapter 1: The Legacy of Humiliation: Post-war Poland to the Crisis of the Peoples Republic, 1944-1983 in Heart of Europe: The Past in Polands Present. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2001. pp. xxiii-54, 435. Miosz, Czesaw. Alpha, the Moralist in The Captive Mind. New York: Vintage. 1981. pp. 82-110. Jastru, Mieczysw. On Freedom of Speech in For Your Freedom and Ours. Ed. Krystyna M. Olszer. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. 1981. pp. 324-326. Michaek, Bolesaw and Frank Turaj. The Modern Cinema of Poland. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 1988. 156-161. Baraczak, Stanisaw. Behind the Faade (1977) in For Your Freedom and Ours. Ed. Krystyna M. Olszer. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. 1981. pp. 327-330. From For Your Freedom and Ours. Ed. Krystyna M. Olszer. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. 1981. pp.345-367 A Letter of the Polish Episcopate (1968) in For Your Freedom and Ours. Ed. Krystyna M. Olszer. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. 1981. pp. 333-334. Koakowski, Leszek. Christian Poland and Human Rights in For Your Freedom and Ours. Ed. Krystyna M. Olszer. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. 1981. pp.335-341. Remnick, David. Comment: John Paul II in The New Yorker, April 11, 2005. pp. 21-23. Davies, Norman. Chapter 7: Beyond History: Reflections in the mid-1980s in Heart of Europe: The Past in Polands Present. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2001. pp. 392-406, 445. Michnik, Adam. The Moral and Spiritual Origins of Solidarity in Without Force or Lies. San Francisco: Mercury House. 1990. pp.239-250. Davies, Norman. Chapter 8: Liberation: 1983-1999 in Heart of Europe: The Past in Polands Present. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2001. pp. 407-433, 445-446. Kuryluk, Ewa. Polandthe Worlds Guinea Pig in Without Force or Lies. San Francisco: Mercury House. 1990. pp. 211-238. Kapucinski, Ryszard. Encountering the Other: The Challenge for the Twenty-First Century. Krakow: Universitas. 2005. pp. 5-17
PLT3930 (6435) / HIS 3931 (5989) / EUS 3930 (5972) Cultural Transition in Contemporary Poland (1950-2007)

PART II: Nowakowski, Marek. The Canary and Other Tales of Martial Law. New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc. 1984. Huelle, Pawe. Who was David Weiser?. trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones. London: Bloomsbury. 1991. ELECTRONIC RESOURCES: *Michnik, Adam. Letters from Freedom. Post-Cold War Realities and Perspectives. ed. Irena Grudziska Gross. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1998. *--. Letters from Prison and Other Essays. trans. Maya Latynski. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1985. FILMS: Andrzej Wajda: Ashes and Diamonds (1958) Andrzej Wajda: Man of Marble (1976) Andrzej Wajda: Man of Iron (1981) Krzystof Krauze: The Debt (1999)

Ewa Pita, The Girl on the Poster (2001) Piotr Morawski: Secret Tapes (2003) Feliks Falk: Debt Collector (2005)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Class Participation: 20% Responses: 10% 2 short papers (5-6 pages each) OR 1 long paper (10-12 pages) (25%) Midterm 20% Final 25%
CLASS PARTICIPATION (20%): A good class participation grade depends on regular attendance and active participation in discussions. Please come to class prepared! This means that you have read all the assigned materials, written a 1 page response to the reading, emailed it to me and are prepared to answer the relevant study questions posted on the course web site. NB: Film Screenings are an important part of your class participation grade. There will be 5 scheduled film screenings throughout the semester on Monday evenings. In case you cannot make the screenings, these films will be available on reserve at the library. Viewing these films is required. See the syllabus for screening dates. WRITTEN RESPONSE PAPERS (10%): 6 written response papers of 1 page in length are due by the end of the semester. They require you to respond informally to some aspect of the reading or class discussion that you find particularly interesting. These can also be a helpful source of paper topics. While this is more formal than a journal, it functions in the same wayto give you a chance to reflect on what you have read and organize your thoughts about the material discussed in class. Please number and date each response paper.

Due dates for response papers are as follows: Papers 1-3: due by February 8, 2007 Papers 4-6: due by April 12

PLT3930 (6435) / HIS 3931 (5989) / EUS 3930 (5972) Cultural Transition in Contemporary Poland (1950-2007)

SHORT PAPERS (25%):

Paper 1: Due on Thursday, February 15, 2007 Paper 2 or Long Paper: Due on Thursday, April 19, 2007 You are required to write 2 short papers (5-6 pages) or one long paper (10-12) on a topic of your own choice. Topics can be the continuation of a classroom discussion, integrate two or more texts or films, or closely analyze a single text or film. Most importantly, the paper must clearly state a thesis in the first paragraph. This thesis should be clearly articulated and then defended throughout the paper. Use direct quotes and provide proper references from the text(s) you are analyzing. Grammar and spelling will be part of your grade, so please proofread!
MID-TERM (20%) AND FINAL (25%): The take-home midterm (Due Thursday, February 22, 2007.) and final (Thursday, May 3, 2007 @ 10:00) will be based on reading/viewing assignments, lectures and handouts. Since lectures and handouts will complement rather than repeat the reading material, attendance will be an important factor in doing well on these exams. Again, grammar and spelling will be part of your grade, so please proofread! WEB CT: http://vista.courses.ufl.edu/webct/ EMAIL POLICY: University policy requires that you use your UF gatorlink account for university

(and class) related email communication. Please see http://www.it.ufl.edu/policies/forwarding. html to read more on this policy.
OFFICE HOURS: Feel free to take advantage of office hours. Its a good time to ask questions

about class work and homework assignments, to practice speaking or reading Polish or to let me know what you think of the class, in general.
AUDITORS: Auditors are requested to complete assignments and prepare for class as if they were registered as regular students. If an auditor does not fulfill these requirements, he/she will be asked to withdraw from the course. ACADEMIC HONESTY: Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Any example of Academic

Dishonesty will be subject to the rules and regulations set forth in the The University Record: Undergraduate Catalogue, 2006-7 under Student Responsibilities. See http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/students.html for more details.

PLT3930 (6435) / HIS 3931 (5989) / EUS 3930 (5972) Cultural Transition in Contemporary Poland (1950-2007)

Introduction Week 1: Tues. 1/9: Lecture: Introduction; History and Geography of Poland; Politics of Post-War Poland Thur. 1/11: Lecture: The Position of Writer and Artist in Poland; Surveillance and Censorship in Communist Poland READING ASSIGNMENT: (CP) Davies, Norman. Chapter 1; Andrzejewski, Jerzy. Ashes and
Diamonds (1948)

Culture of Assent vsCulture of Dissent Week 2: Stalinism and Socialist Realism Tues. 1/16: Discussion: Ashes and Diamonds Thur. 1/18: Discussion: Ashes and Diamonds (cont.) READING ASSIGNMENT: Ashes and diamonds (cont.),; (CP) Miosz, Czesaw. Alpha the
Moralist

Week 3: Stalinism and Socialist Realism (cont.) Mon. 1/22: Screening: Ashes and Diamonds Tues. 1/23: Lecture: Basic Tenets of Stalinism and Socialist Realism Thur. 1/25: Discussion: Jastru and Wayk poems READING ASSIGNMENT: Poems of Mieczysaw Jastru in Spoiling the Cannibals Fun; (CP)
Jastru, Mieczysaw. On Freedom of Speech; (WebCT) Wayk, Adam. A Poem for Adults (1955)

Week 4: Viewing Stalinism through a New Prism Mon. 1/29: Screening: Man of Marble Tues. 1/30: Lecture: Why a new view of Stalinism?; Discussion: Man of Marble Thur. 2/1: Discussion: Man of Marble (cont.) READING ASSIGNMENT: (WebCT) Prendowska, Krystyna. "Artist as Politician: An Interview
with Polish Director Andrzej Wajda."; (CP) Michaek and Turaj. The Modern Cinema of Poland. FILM: Andrzej Wajda, Man of Marble (1976)

Week 5: Re-examination of Power Tues. 2/6: Lecture: Background on Mroek; Discussion: Tango Thur. 2/8: Discussion: Tango (cont.) READING ASSIGNMENT: Mroek, Sawomir Tango (1965) (in The Mroek Reader) Week 6: Ethics and Politics; Attacking the Language of Propaganda Tues. 2/13: Lecture: Herbert and Miosz; Discussion: poetry of Herbert Thur. 2/15: Paper 1 due today! Lecture and Discussion: Generation 68 READING ASSIGNMENT: Selections of poetry from Spoiling the Cannibals Fun PAPER 1: DUE on Thursday, February 15, 2007
PLT3930 (6435) / HIS 3931 (5989) / EUS 3930 (5972) Cultural Transition in Contemporary Poland (1950-2007)

From Opposition to Solidarity Week 7: Society at a Crossroads Tues. 2/20: Lecture: The 70s and 80s Thur. 2/22: Midterm due today! NO CLASS MIDTERM (TAKE-HOME): DUE Thursday, February 22, 2007. Week 8: Society at a Crossroads (cont.) Tues. 2/27: Discussion: Polish Complex Thur. 3/1: Discussion: Polish Complex (cont.) READING ASSIGNMENT: Konwicki, Tadeusz. Polish Complex (1979) Week 9: From Opposition to Solidarity I Tues. 3/6: Lecture: The Rise of Solidarity; The Role of the Church in Poland Lecture: Solidarity; Discussion of Reading Assignment Thur. 3/8: Discussion of Reading Assignment READING ASSIGNMENT 1: (CP) Baraczak, Stanisaw. Behind the Faade (1977) ; (CP)
Selections from For Your Freedom and Ours.; (CP) A Letter of the Polish Episcopate (1968) ; (CP) Koakowski, Leszek. Christian Poland and Human Rights ; (CP) Remnick, David. Comment: John Paul II; KOR documents and other short political statements from the period; READING ASSIGNMENT 2: (CP) Davies, Norman, Chapter 7; (CP) Michnik, Adam. The Moral and Spiritual Origins of Solidarity; (CP) Michnik, Adam. A Time of Hope: 1980 (CP) Michnik, Adam. Hope and Danger: 1980; (CP) Michnik, Adam. Darkness on the Horizon in Letters from Prison and Other Essays.

Week 10: 3/10-3/17: SPRING BREAK Week 11: From Opposition to Solidarity II Mon. 3/19: Screening: Man of Iron Tues. 3/20: Discussion: Man of Iron Thur. 3/22: Discussion: Man of Iron ; Lecture: Changes on the literary Scene READING ASSIGNMENT: (CP) Komendant, Tadeusz. Local Patriotism; Pawe Huelle: Who
was David Weiser? (1987)

FILM: Andrzej Wajdas Man of Iron (1981) Week 12: New Trends in Literature (I)History as a Backdrop Tues. 3/27: Discussion: Who was David Weiser? (cont.) Thur. 3/29: Discussion: Who was David Weiser? The Gray Zone: New Social Problematics Week 13: The Price of Reform Mon. 4/2: Screening: The Debt

PLT3930 (6435) / HIS 3931 (5989) / EUS 3930 (5972) Cultural Transition in Contemporary Poland (1950-2007)

Tues. 4/3: Lecture: Economic Shock Therapy; Discussion: Balcerowicz and Kuryluk essays; The Debt Thur. 4/5: Discussion: The Debt (cont.) READING ASSIGNMENT: (CP) Davies, Norman, Chapter 8; (CP) Leszek Balcerowicz: The
Price of Polish Economic Reform; (CP) Kuryluk, Ewa. Polandthe Worlds Guinea Pig

FILM: Krzystof Krauze, The Debt (1999) New Trends in Literature (II)Transitions on the Periphery Tues. 4/10: Discussion: White Raven Thur. 4/12: Discussion: White Raven (cont.); Lecture and discussion: Popular music during and after Communism READING ASSIGNMENT: Stasiuk, Andrzej. White Raven. Week 14: New Trends in CultureBorders Real and Imagined Mon. 4/16: Girl on the Poster and Secret Tapes Tues. 4/17: Discussion: House of Day, House of Night OR Popular music during and after Communism Thur. 4/19: Discussion: House of Day, House of Night (cont.) OR Popular music during and after Communism READING ASSIGNMENT: Olga Tokarczuk: House of Day, House of Night (1998) FILM: Ewa Pita, Girl on the Poster (2001) and Piotr Morawski, Secret Tapes (2003) PAPER 2: DUE on Thursday, April 19, 2007 Week 15: Poland vis--vis Poland Mon. 4/23: Screening: The Debt Collector Tues. 4/24: Conclusion READING ASSIGNMENT: (CP) Davies, Norman, Chapter 8; (CP) Kapuciski, Ryszard Encountering the Other FILM: Feliks Falk The Debt Collector (2005)

FINAL EXAM (TAKE-HOME) DUE THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2007 @ 10:00 AM.

PLT3930 (6435) / HIS 3931 (5989) / EUS 3930 (5972) Cultural Transition in Contemporary Poland (1950-2007)