(pl) About politics in Polish

general courses

Using short fragments of poetry, prose, newspaper columns and articles as examples, the course will introduce the main themes and styles of the political language and political satire. The students will learn about the vocabulary of the political Polish, its main topics, types of reasoning, types of verbal fights, political jokes, polemics, the fight against censorship (in the Polish People's Republic) and the main genres of the Polish political language: cabaret, column, satirical poem, political debate.

There are 12 lessons planned instead of 15 given the possibility to develop particular topics.

1. World War II and afterwards. Humour during the occupation and its continuations in the Polish People's Republic.

2. Allergy to socialist realism. The poetry and the prose of socialist realism and their parodies. The language and the style of Dziennik 54 [Diary 1954] by L. Tyrmand. Political essays, e.g. Fryzury Mieczysława Rakowskiego [The Hairstyles of Mieczyslaw Rakowski] by L. Tyrmand or Chamy i Żydy [Oafs and Jews] by W. Jedlicki. Writing by W. Gombrowicz on post-war Poland.

3. Student cabarets after 1956 and their continuations in political songs: A. Osiecka, W. Młynarski, J. Przybora.

4. Zb. Herbert’s classicism and St. Grochowiak’s ‘turpism’ as variations of the political language. The fight against censorship.

5. Strong entry of the New Wave. Poetry and political prose of the ‘Solidarity’ and martial law period. Jednym tchem [Without Stopping for Breath] by St. Barańczak, Sklepy mięsne [Meat Shops] by A. Zagajewski, Zjadacze kartofli [The Potato-Eaters] by J. Kornhauser.

6. Political bards. The songs of J. Kaczmarski.

7. The political language (and humour) of the martial law. The film Miś [Teddy Bear].

8-10. Political debates (and their reflections in the popular culture) after 1989.

The debate on Jedwabne (Nasza klasa [Our Class] by T. Słobodzianek, the film Pokłosie [Aftermath] by W. Pasikowski).

The debate on the Polish People’s Republic (the success of the magazine NIE by J. Urban).

The debate on feminism and LGBT (Polka [Polish Woman] by M. Gretkowska, Lubiewo by M. Witkowski).

The debate on Polish pride and shame (the discussion about the Smolensk air disaster).

11-12. The culture of participation: blogs, memes, the politics of popular culture (M. Wicha Rzeczy, których nie wyrzuciłem [Things I Didn’t Throw Out]).

Provided in the Full description section

After completing the course, the students will have significant knowledge on the topics, vocabulary and forms of expression of the political Polish. They will be able to distinguish the ‘codes’ of the political in different genres of literature, film and popular culture, and they will know the traditions of the political Polish language, political song, allusions to literature after World War II, and the history of fighting against censorship in the Polish People's Republic era.

• Final essay (written at home) – 30%

• Presentation – 20%

• Active participation in the classes – 50%

In order to pass this course, the students should attend the classes, actively participate in the discussions and prepare a presentation.