(eng) Cultural Portrait of Warsaw

general courses

Classroom

The aim of the course is to present a cultural portrait of Warsaw – its history, topography, architecture, art, famous residents, typical products, cult venues, traditions, festivals, and folklore, as well as the city's images in Polish culture, especially in literature and film.

The goal of the course is to introduce foreign students to Warsaw – a city in which they are currently living but which they usually don’t know very well.

They will have an opportunity to discover the history of the Polish capital city and the specificity of different Varsovian districts and neighbourhoods, and to learn more about architecture and art in Warsaw and also about its famous monuments and residents.

During the lecture, different cultural depictions of Warsaw will be presented, namely: literary works, films, songs, paintings, and photos. Varsovian traditions and folklore will be discussed as well, especially aspects such as: symbols, legends, festivals, cult spots, cuisine, typical products, dialect, and a cliché image of a Varsovian.

The lectures will be supplemented with presentations of different art works, songs, and fragments of films (with English subtitles). Chosen articles and excerpts from books about Warsaw in English translation will be analyzed in class.

Students are expected to actively participate in classes.

1. Introduction. Districts, Symbols, and Legends of Warsaw.

2. Warsaw in the 17th and 18th century. The Royal Castle, The Wilanów Palace, and the Łazienki Park.

3. Warsaw in the 19th century. The Krakowskie Przedmieście Street. Famous residents of Warsaw – Frederic Chopin and Maria Skłodowska-Curie.

4. The Prewar Warsaw. The Modernist Architecture in Żoliborz. The Jewish Quarter in Warsaw.

5. Warsaw during WWII. Part I. The Occupation of Warsaw. The Jewish Ghetto. The Uprising in the Jewish Ghetto.

6. Warsaw during WWII. Part II. The Warsaw Uprising.

7. The Reconstruction of Warsaw. The Socialist Realism in Varsovian Architecture. The Palace of Culture and Science.

8. Praga District. Varsovian Folklore – Dialect, Street Music Bands, Cuisine, Cliché Image of a Varsovian.

9. Communist Warsaw. The HQ of the Polish Communist Party. Varsovian Blocks of Flats. The Ursynów District.

10. Warsaw during the Transition Period. The Polish Stock Exchange. The 10th Anniversary Stadium.

11. Contemporary Warsaw. Varsovian Manhattan, Mordor, and Lemingrad. Treasures of Contemporary Architecture and Art in Warsaw.

12. Important Festivals, Museums, and Cultural Events in Warsaw.

13. Presentation of Course Projects.

14. Recapitulation and Review.

15. Final Test.

• Baranowska M., Warszawa. Miesiące, lata, wieki (1996),

• Budrewicz O., Słownik warszawski (2004),

• Chutnik S., Warsaw of Women (2011),

• Dylewski A., Warsaw. An Illustrated Guidebook (2006),

• Kowalska A., Kamiński Ł., Do it in Warsaw! (2010),

• Łubieński M., Wójcik M., Błyskawiczny przewodnik historyczny po Warszawie. 50 miejsc i tras (2010),

• Majewski J.S., Spacerowniki po Warszawie.

After attending the course students will:

- know the most important facts about history of Warsaw;

- get familiar with the topography of Warsaw, its main monuments and architectural styles;

- know famous writers and artists related with the Polish capital city;

- understand Varsovian traditions and folklore;

- discover famous literary works and films about Warsaw.

• Attendance and Active Participation – 20%

Attention! Maximum two absences allowed!

• Course Project – 40%

• Final Test – 40%