Eastern Europe Flashcards
(109 cards)
1
Q
When is the historical significance of Ashes and Diamonds being related in 1958?
A
Two years after Polish October/Polish thaw/Gomulka’s thaw and Hungarian Uprisings - year of transition in Poland, move away from hardline Stalinist faction
2
Q
What does Davies say the Polish October/Thaw saw the transformation of Poland from/to?
A
Transformation of Poland from a puppet state to a client state
3
Q
What does Pearson say the Polish October saw the transformation of Poland from/to?
A
transformation of Poland from a Soviet colony to a dominion
4
Q
What is the historical significance of The Joke being published in 1967? (3)
A
Published months before beginning of Prague Spring in Jan 1968 with election of Dubecek
Completed in 1965 but complaints from censors meant publication delayed in Czecho until 1967
Period of partial reopening up of regime - couldn’t have written it any earlier or any later
5
Q
What is the significance of the Joke being banned in 1968 following the Warsaw Pact invasion and the crushing of the Prague Spring?
A
It suggests that Kundera’s continued claims that “the Joke is a love story” and not a political novel is more or less irrelevant because it was received as such regardless
6
Q
What does Kundera’s stressing that the function of a novel should be to inquire, not take a moral position make difficult?
A
It makes establishing what treatment of women in the novel means a complicated task
7
Q
Regardless of Kundera’s suggestion that the function of a novel should be to inquire, not take a moral position, what makes it still a useful historical tool into the state of Czechoslovakia and ordinary people at this time?
A
It still gives us an insight into what the treatment of women was like and what living under state socialism in Czechoslovakia was like at the time
8
Q
Even though Kundera tries to refute it, what does his assertion that Ludvik and co are victims of “the joke history has played on them” seem to be getting at?
A
That this joke is communism
9
Q
How does Kundera’s own life mirror that of Ludvik?
A
Joined the Czech CP and began his university education
Expelled from the Party and Uni
Readmitted during the Thaw
10
Q
What is the historical significance of Nobody Leaves being published in 1962?
A
1960s Poland full of contradictions - years since the Thaw and things are very much confused on many different levels - relate to consumerism and gender
11
Q
What is the significance of Ryszard Kapuscinski being a young adult Polish journalist in the early 1960s?
A
Kapuscinski part of the equivalent of the Silent Generation significantly smaller than the generation before and the next generation the Baby Boomers
Child during WWII came of age during 50s and 60s
Was sent around Poland during the early 1960s as well as on foreign assignments
12
Q
What is the significance of Kapuscinski having been sent on foreign assignments?
A
Liked to point out similarities to new states throwing off colonialism/struggling through major social conflicts and Poland
13
Q
Why is Nobody Leaves a historically significant work despite being “magic journalism”?
A
Exploration of post-Stalinist but still socialist Poland and highlighting how country is on edge of modernity and the great promises haven’t necessarily worked out
All about social inequality and generational change in socialist states
14
Q
What is useful context about the nature of journalism in Poland in this time from American Sociologist Jane Leftwich-Curry’s study?
A
She found that Polish journalists were like governmental watchdogs to ensure policy was being implemented properly.
15
Q
How does Nobody Leaves support Leftwich-Curry’s claims that it was common for journalists to have connections to the ruling elite and use their knowledge to change policy?
A
Seen in Dune when he offers to step in and “finangle the money out of the county administration”
16
Q
Because journalist reports in Poland at this time toed the line between criticism and support, why is it hard for us historians to pin down a political viewpoint?
A
Unclear if conorming in a society that still censored and banned direct criticism of if this was his viewpoint
17
Q
What is the historical significance of the lack of clarity over whether Kapusckinski’s reports are conforming in a society that still censored and banned direct criticism or if this was his viewpoint?
A
It gives us really great insight into the everyday totalitarianism and raises the point of Fitzpatrick that it is just important to think about how people lived their lives rather than if they consented or not
18
Q
Kapuscinski is best known for his “literary reportage” what is this?
A
political and historical accounts told with a gripping narrative voice, in a style described by Adam Hochschild as ‘magic journalism’ (a pun on the Southern American literary genre ‘magic realism’).
19
Q
What is the significance of Loves of a Blonde being released in 1965?
A
Destalinization process in Czechoslovakia progressed more slowly in most other states under Novotny hence why it is a comedy-drama and not explicitly critical of anything BUT 1965 restricting of economy led to increased demand for political reform too - 1963 to 1967 slight liberalisation occurred
20
Q
What is Loves of a Blonde based on?
A
A real-world incident in Forman’s past
21
Q
What is the significance of the Czech New Wave cinema?
A
Took advantage of temporary relaxation of totalitarian control over artists to use cinema as a means to explore new narrative strategies while making pointed critiques of social and political conditions behind the iron curtain
22
Q
What does Loves of a Blonde do?
A
Records and exposes the everyday reality of Czechoslovakia
23
Q
Why was Czechoslovakia the only industrially advanced country in the world at the time whose national income was dropping annually and not rising?
A
Stalinist model of industrialisation applied poorly to Czechoslovakia because it was already quite industrialised before WWII and the Soviet model mainly took into account less developed economies
24
Q
Where was Loves of a Blonde filmed?
A
at the Zruc nad Sazavou shoe factory
25
How was Loves of a Blonde censored?
It was not distributed at all within the Soviet Union
26
What did the Czechoslovak critical response of Loves of a Blonde focus on?
The film’s negativity regarding social and political conditions
27
How does the Joke indicate the existence of support for socialism amongst ordinary people and that people were not necessarily anti-socialist or communist?
Sense of cognitive dissonance between the personal and the political - internalise opporession faced in public sphere and become oppressors in everyday life - beef not with system but with individual actors
28
How does the Joke give the sense that ordinary people were not ideologically committed to the Party itself, but go along with it because of opportunism?
Zemanek changes his spots quickly, used to teach Marxism, now that it isn’t cool he has changed
29
How does the Joke give insight into the national element of socialism in a post-that "individual roads to socialism" world?
Czechoslovak cultural and folk elements
30
How does the Joke suggest the continuance of Czech life and culture throughout socialism/totalitarianism?
The continuity of Festival could be seen as a metaphor for the continuity of life even in the midst of dictatorship and violent change.
31
How does the Joke suggest communism has culturally devastated Czechoslovakia?
Cultural devastation of Czechoslovakia by communism specifically manifested in attack on Christianity, which Kostka finds compatible with true Communism and decline of folk culture is seen in the folk music and Ride of Kings and symbolised by Jaroslav’s hear attack.
Moravian festival Ride of the Kings declining in importance and meaning
32
In Ashes and Diamonds, what does the hotel represent?
The hotel is an illusion to Poland having been occupied. Representation of a Free Poland but it is stuck.
33
How does the hotel in Ashes and Diamonds give insight into life in socialist Poland in the 1950s?
Within the hotel they are in different spaces, the communist elite flat is really bourgeois comparatively - elite better education etc,
34
What does Wajda criticise in Ashes and Diamonds about the impact of Soviet communism?
The way the Soviet incursion has turned country man against country man - he continuously alludes to a Free Poland
35
How does Wajda in Ashes and Diamonds subtly comment on the absurdity of how Poland became part of the Soviet bloc?
Falkowska states Szczuka’s speech at start of film completely different tone from rest of film intentional as in hindsight it is meant to appear out of place and propagandic
36
What is the significance of the portrayal of the relationship between Maciek and Szcuska, the only well-intentioned and good-hearted characters on with side?
It suggests that the bright future of a Free Poland or a socialist Poland dies with them, with only opportunists/killers left
It is an indictment on the nature of Poland at this time and his thoughts on Polish society
37
What is the significance of the white horse in Ashes and Diamonds?
It is symbolic of Poland
It appears out of nowhere and it's only role is to act as a turning point for Maciek - key
It is used as areuccring symbol of innocence in Wanda's films but is also prevalent in 19th century Polish art
38
What is the historical context and significance of the poem recited by Krystyna and Maciek in Ashes and Diamonds?
It also comes from 19th century Polish art - romantic poet Norvid - another allusion to a free Poland
39
What is the historical significance of Maciek and Andrzej listening to the song "The Red Poppies of Monte Cassino" in the bar?
It is a patriotic song of Polish resistance - one of the best-know military songs of WWII - composed on the eve of Polish Army's capture of the German stronghold - significant ?
40
What is the historical significance of Wanda's continued use of Polish symbols and motifs in Ashes and Diamonds?
He is appealing to a Polish nationalism or romanticism reminding the Poles they can be proud of their history and believe that they will once again be a proud and independent nation
41
What is the historical significance of the nostalgic discussions between Maciek and the porter about Warsaw: "losing Warsaw was like losing an arm"?
significance of Warsaw failure in paving way for Communist rule (Bloodlands Synder).
42
What is the significance of the spectators in the Big Throw missing the championship thrower take his long shot: "it happened and we didn't even notice"?
It could be emblematic of Poland missing it's chance and being left to that anonymous existence - c-ref/link to Wajda Ashes and Diamonds
43
How does the statue in Danka suggest that Poland in this period is full of contradictions and stuck at a cross roads?
statue is made for an exhibition in Warsaw but is rejected for being too sacral and religious, but deemed to “social realist” by a church when tries to sell it to them. Not a space for such an object, perhaps could be extended to Poland. Caught between two worlds: not yet modern, but not traditional.
44
How does the Geezer link to the theme of Polish memory and identity and culture having been distorted under communism but also potentially to anti-modernirty?
people forgetting the past and so youth are growing up in a world where such actions don’t matter. Adverse effect on them in the story as they are “incapable of expressing emotions”, loud, disrespectful. Remembering crucial to humanity - links to running theme of mourning for a lost Poland - Poland moves forward so fast it forgets where it’s come from.
45
What is the historical significance of the Christian imagery such as the use of Bach at the end of the film in Loves of a Blonde?
Indicates the integration of local religious and folk culture within state socialism.
46
How does an advertisement for toothpaste hint at the lack of prospects for girls/young women in the state-socialist regimes (sp. Poland)?
Only 4 boys but 15 girls. Boys choose from the girls, those not chosen doomed to be spinsters. Girls think girls in villages with less extreme gender imbalances are better off because have more choice.
47
How does An Advertisement for Toothpaste indicate that the elderly suffered under state socialism especially in Poland?
When boy’s grandmother falls he elects to send her to a care home in another village instead of keeping her with him so he can have an extra room and get married
48
How does Loves of a Blonde hint at the lack of prospects for girls/young women in the state-socialist regimes (sp. Czechoslovakia)?
Few men of their age around, and women outnumber the men
All male factory management arrange for the women to engage with men
Focused on problems of young girls working in the provinces to meet the needs of the economic plan and the separateness and isolation they are exposed to
49
How does Loves of a Blonde indicate the retention of traditional ideas surrounding sex and women's agency in Eastern regimes sp. Czechoslovakia?
Soldiers all want to get women drunk and take them to a private place
All about male pleasure
Similarly Andula seems reluctant to have sex with Milda and only does so because it what is expected of her
Sex not linked with pelasure for women.
50
Why is Loves of a Blonde radical but also very historically significant?
W-c women portrayed as the particular victims of the socialist state.
51
How does the Joke present the position of women and why is this historically significant?
The women lack agency and are inferior in a supposedly equal society - counters the rhetoric of equality and gives insight into the reality
52
What is the significance of Kundera emphasising that we only know Lucie through the distorted lens of the man perceiving her as he wishes to, not necessarily as she truly is?
Speaking to the broader gender power imbalance still present in Czechoslovakia at this time and suggests men had an all the power still
53
What sort of society is presented in the Joke?
A society where all men oppress/exploit/abuse women
54
What does the Joke overtly portray about the realities of state socialism?
Overtly portrays how tyranny can reproduce itself in everyday life with horrifying consequences for women.
55
How does the Joke overtly portray how tyranny can reproduce itself in everyday life with horrifying consequences for women?
Ludvik assaults Lucie and beats Helena during their sexual encounter, using her only as a means to hurt Zemanek
Jaroslav, presented as kind, calm and gentle, blows up at his wife, scaring her and smashing plates
Kostka admonishes himself for acting as a “seducer in priest’s robes” - his sexual desire coming before everything else
Lucie = victim of incessant violence at the hands of men
56
What does Restuccia suggest women are presented as in the Joke?
Restuccia suggests women are presented as seeking to be battered, submitting to, craving and some revelling in the cruelty and violence of men
57
Why must we question Restuccia's suggestion that women are presented as seeking to be battered, submitting to, craving and some revelling in the cruelty and violence of men?
Helena is the only woman in the book who gives her own perspective, all the other women are narrated by men in the situation and we are only seeing what these men perceive as their thoughts
Each mini story’s joke none of them are funny - counters suggestion women are craving this, just tragic and sad
58
How does Far Away indicate the benefits and desire for modernity amongst citizens of Eastern Europe sp. Poland?
Discusses the village getting electricity for the first time. Almost a religious experience for them to be able to have light whenever they want. Spend hours switching it on and off because novel and exciting
Portrays consumerism as having a freeing effect, but also sense of religious worship and adoration for new material goods and benefits that modernity can bring to the country
59
How does An Advertisement for Toothpaste indicate the existence of a consumerist culture amongst the youth and desire for materialistic goods in the Eastern regimes sp. Poland?
All the girls want to go to the city because it is modern and has cinemas and believe they are disadvantaged because girls in other villages can reject boys if they don't want to go to the city
Girls want chiffon blouses, mod cons, radio sets etc. so badly they have resorted to stealing but do not brush their teeth or spend money on this because they have not been told to do so
The boy who's grandmother falls says with one less mouth to feed he "will be able to buy himself a plastic tie on an elastic band" - a symbol of modernity
60
How does The Loser indicate that a consumerist mindset has taken root in the state socialist regimes sp. Poland?
Misiek's rejection of all talk about cars/money/objects i.e. a consumerist mindset, has found him isolated from his friends because he is unable to speak the same language as them and thus has become "the loser" - clear he is in the minority
61
What does Kapuscinski suggest consumerism does to independent thinkers in The Loser?
Suggestion that independent thinkers are left to suffer at hands of consumerism.
62
What is the historical significance of The Loser's escape from consumerism into the world of books making him "inquisitive" and "thoughtful"?
Suggestion that intellectualism, inquiry, politicism denigrated by consumerism - c-ref Marcuse - perhaps suggestion that it stops people from seeing the contradictions with their socialist beliefs
63
How does the collection Nobody Leaves evoke the sense that Poland is being left behind, and that the state socialist regime is failing to meet the needs of its citizens?
Stories all about people tied to a place, usually because of their poverty/lack of education/chances life has given them, and because of this tied to the past - running theme of alienation throughout all these texts
64
How does Far Away highlight the failings of the state socialist system to provide for its citizens?
Villagers don’t have enough money, trying to earn enough for them and their children. Don’t think about food.
In order for the village to get the state-of-the-art train-line they had to physically build the station themselves. Modernity built off the backs of individuals suffering.
65
How does An Advertisement for Toothpaste highlight the issues of a socialist system and how it fails to actually meet the needs of citizens and makes them worse off?
The girls don't brush their teeth and don't spend money on toothpaste because they have not been told to. In a society where everything is more or less dictated via propaganda etc it is clear the regime has failed to prioritise and get home what is important as they are more concerned with material goods like clothes
toothless grins of the children where the state has not informed them of the basic tents of cleanliness. Implicit critique of inability of state to fulfil its official line of providing the best for its citizens.
66
How does Survivor on a Raft indicate the failures of socialist systems and the persistence of social inequality?
Jagielski leads a hard life yet by being isolated from the fast-paced world of a changing Poland he is in a sort of state of bliss that the professors admire and fawn over. But he is suffering.
67
How does No Known Address suggest that state socialism has negatively impacted the youth's intellectual capabilities?
student drop outs are wasting their lives away, living hand to mouth and have no passion for life.
68
How does short story Nobody Leaves suggest the persistence of traditional gender conventions and ideals of the family?
abusive family forced to stay together to conform to ideals of what a perfect nuclear family should look like.
69
How does Loves of a Blonde highlight the poor standards of living in state socialist regimes?
Poor living conditions across the board. Young girls live in dormitory conditions where Andula shares a bed with her friend and they all share a room. Midla’s parents apartment in the big city still small with only one bed, Milda sleeps on the couch usually and forced to sleep in his parents bed.
70
How does Loves of a Blonde indicate the persistence of social inequality in state socialist regimes?
new level so unreachable for Andula, cannot escape her town and reach modernity. Exposing how uneven distribution means not everyone gets to partake in this rising modernity.
71
What is the historical significance of Loves of a Blonde being filmed in an actual shoe factory?
Shoe factory where it was filmed and Ministry of Light felt a sense of betrayal and concerned film’s depiction of social conditions in Czech factory towns would make recruiting workers harder.
In reality 100s of boy travelled their hoping to hook up with female factory workers, who responded by sneaking out of their dorms at night.
Film received Order of Kelement Gottwalk - award the recognised works “for building a socialist homeland.”
SUGGESTS IT WAS ACTUALLY A VERY REALISTIC DEPICTION AND ACTUALLY HAD AN IMPACT ON THE COUNTRY AT THE TIME SO GOOD INSIGHT INTO LIVES OF PEOPLE
72
What does the Joke suggest about the role of men in state socialist regimes and their relationships to women through the character of Ludvik?
Ludvik internalised his oppression and becomes an oppressor in his everyday life, particularly wielding his power as a man vs women - suggestion that in this patriarchal authoritarian society, the only way he can restore his power is through oppressing women
73
How does The Joke indicate the merging of public and private spheres in state socialist regimes?
Private letter results in a very public “Trial” and expulsion from the party.
Private family drama, Jaroslav’s desire to see his legacy extended by his son, affects the public display of the Ride of Kings
74
What sort of questions does the Joke's portrayal of the merging of the public and private spheres raise for us as historians when studying the actions and lives of individuals in state socialist regimes?
It raises the question of the issue of personal responsibility and to what extent people are at fault for their actions
75
What does Maciek's distancing himself from what he is doing hint at with regards to the actions of ordinary people in postwar Poland/under state socialism?
Representative of everyone in these totalitarian systems, distancing themselves from what they are doing, and from responsibility despite participating and carrying out things
C-ref the Joke - raises the question of lack of agency/who is to blame
76
What is the significance of this quote from Survivor on a Raft?: “A crisis of values has occurred in the world, they say. Traditional institutions have been compromised, morality no longer makes sense and acknowledged truths are questioned. They do not even trust the facts they teach…people act under the terror of circumstances, like a raft that behaves according to the wind direction. People have been cast adrift."
Explaining how these authoritarian regimes have managed to take hold and how they are repressive and take away peoples agency and how people are acting circumstantially under terror not calculated choice?
77
How does Loves of a Blonde indicate the development of generational mindsets and differences with regard to sex and traditional gender roles?
Clear gulf in attitudes towards sexuality.
Young presented as much more relaxed and liberated and different to their parents generation.
The old men don’t know how to flirt with the young girls.
Older generation presented as finding it difficult to even speak about sex and put it into words. Much more sexually repressed.
Milda’s parents say never did anything like this at their age and concerned about “what people would say” about Anjula staying in their house
78
How does Loves of a Blonde portray the state socialist state?
Satirises the actions of the government and the attempts to regulate people without really understanding them, especially in relation to the young
79
How does Loves of a Blonde expose the hypocrisy, acquiescence, and fake democracy of the socialist state?
Young working women pledge sexual chastity but then factory management arranging for them to have sex with men - also men and boys do not have to pledge sexual chastity - double standard
80
What does the factory management's inability to address the issue of sexuality outside the framework of production in Loves of a Blonde speak to more generally?
No experience or language to address these issues.
| Problems of the socialist state - not compatible with more emotional things or things outside of the productive realm
81
How does Loves of a Blonde suggest that there is a lack of a youth culture in Czechoslovakia?
The youth are alienated and isolated by the older generation
82
How does Loves of a Blonde also however, indicate the possibility of youth rebellion, in Czechoslovakia?
Andula has the courage to break off her engagement, leave town and go to Milda and rebel against where she has been assigned.
Andula also one of the earliest characters oc Czechoslovak cinema to be seen almost naked in good lighting and in a frontal shot.
Andula representative of the individualism of the youth - taking individual actions under communist rule.
83
How does Far Away indicate the existence of generational differences in culture and values appearing in this period under state socialism sp. in Poland?
Narrator describes how the old man of the village would wash in a local marshy pond. The children playing around the local pond but one doesn’t want to go in because doesn’t want to get his new watch wet.
New material culture widening relationships between gens, but also causing an erasure of traditions.
84
How does The Geezer indicate the existence of generational differences in culture and values appearing in this period under state socialism sp. in Poland?
The history teacher used to be a great activist, powerful and committed, and now at age of 27, he is seen as worthless to his students and called the geezer despite being young.
They do not understand his past, his skill, or his logic and cannot understand his work as an activist when it brought him no material gain.
85
What does Kapuscinski in the Geezer is the cause of the youth not understanding the Geezer and relegating him to old age despite still being young at 27 (similar age to Kapuscinski - his generation?)
They have been indoctrinated in this new system so “all his reckoning boils down to the issue of payoff.
With the provision that the payoff should be expressed in material terms, in a quantifiable nomenclature.”
86
How does the collection Nobody Leaves suggest that the young are trying to distinguish themselves from their parents generations culturally etc.?
The youth in the stories believe they are progressing away from their old constrained roots and that their parent’s generation represent the past and they are the future.
87
How does the short-story titled Nobody Leaves suggest the persistence of mindsets and values across generations, despite the belief of many youth, and the attempts of many youth to distinguish themselves from their parents generation in this period?
Toxic relationship of husband-wife and family.
Saying that in a country stuck in stagnation and inertia nobody can move forward.
Policeman says these sorts of relationships happen mostly among the elderly and also mostly among the young. Lack of progression or change amongst generations.
88
How does the short-story Danka indicate a gulf in cultural attitudes between the older and younger generations particularly with regards to traditional/conventional gender roles and norms?
The older women of the village rise up against Danka because she is sunbathing outside of the rectory in a bikini.
Call her a “prostitute” and a “whore” and brutally beat her.
89
What is the significance of The Taking of Elzbieta villainizing Elzbieta's conversion to God despite being destined to be a school teacher?
Supports idea that religion was viewed as dangerous to the state - nuns are portrayed as kidnapping and brainwashing her - propaganda?
But also could be the idea that she is not being productive, and this is the issue - all about productivity
But could also be discussing how family have had to give up lots of things for her to be able to have this path with the expectation of remuneration and now they won't get this - need the extra person working so they can afford to live
Could also be a thing of how religion seen as incompatible with intellectualism to Kapuscinski
Could also be a thing of the youth's individualism - seen as dangerous to the state and to traditional conventional ideas
90
What do Advertisement for Toothpaste and Fifth Column on the March have in common?
Elderly people being forced into old people’s homes against their will/desire because no logner seen as useful or productive - isolated from their families.
91
What is the significance of Cybulski (Maciek's) individualistic performance and anachronistic 1950s costume in Ashes and Diamonds?
Further removes the film from any realistic portrayal of events of 1945 - clearly a statement about the contemporary world - makes it more useful to as historians of the postwar period
92
Who is Cybulski's character Maciek supposed to represent in Ashes and Diamonds and why is this historically significant?
Cybulski speaks for a new, younger, disaffected generation, reassessing its past and uncertain outfits future - generational difference/development of youth culture in the East key for us as historians
93
What is the significance of both Krystyna and Maciek being without family and plans for the future and the preoccupation of Maciek with love and romance with Krystyna instead of carrying out his assigned task?
Krystyna's dad died at Dachau and her mother in the uprising.
They represent the next generation of Pole's.
Younger generation's idea of needing to embrace love and not repress things c-ref 1960s West to avoid repeat of pain and suffering of past
Also idea of individualism of the youth and preoccupation with love and happiness and personal fulfilment rather than political collective identities and orders
94
In the Joke, how does Kundera suggest Christianity and folk culture are being replaced by a barren youth culture?
Rather than be a king, Jaroslav’s son prefers to go to the motorcycle races.
95
What does the Joke suggest communism has done to Czechoslovakia?
Preserved Czechoslovakia in body but not in soul
96
What could we as historians take from the replacement of Christianity and folk culture by youth culture in the Joke?
Could read it as an indictment of communism, removing the soul of Czechoslovakia, but could also read it as modernity and indicative of generational change and the inability of the older generation to move on
97
What does Wajda's navigation of censorship through implicit critique of the Party tell us about this period?
Highlights the ways people could resist/critique/not conform under authoritarian regimes
98
How did Wajda get past the censors and publish Ashes and Diamonds?
Able to publish film, following Polish October and Gomulka’s negotiations, censorship laws focused on the danger of words in films.
Able to convey criticisms because not outright condemning anything.
99
How does Wajda ridicule the culture of opportunism within the Party implicitly so as to not provoke the censors?
Strong contrast with Szczuka’s speech and comedic dialogue between Drewnowki and the journalist - clear ridiculing the culture of opportunism within the Party.
Drewnowski works for the Home Army but dreaming of becoming a prominent Party member. Scheming not rewarded, becomes an outcast instead.
Not explicitly accusing Party of such behaviour as rest of the Party members portrayed as dignified and well-behaved but even this little acknowledgment says a lot.
100
What is the historical significance of characters in the film being offered American or Hungarian cigarettes?
Products from other countries especially the west produced and making their way into the East
101
What is the historical significance of Maciek and Andrzej choosing Hungarian cigarettes and Szczuka choosing American cigarettes?
Szczuka is and old-Polish communist not like the new Soviet breed - suggests not the Anti-American or anti-Capitalist or perhaps suggesting not much difference between socialist officials and Americans who are supposedly the capitalist bourgeoisie - also Cold War context the Thaw and Khrushchev's relaxation?
Hungarian Revolution 2 years prior in 1956 - fight for a free Hungary crushed - but linking this to Home Army soldiers and fight for a free Poland - revolutionary zeal?
102
How does Wajda continuously use religious imagery to invoke a Polish Nationalist anti-Soviet sentiment and why?
Upside-down crucifix shot influenced by Western films like Citizen Kane - HOLLYWOOD INFLUENCE
Draws attention to ruined church and perhaps also by extension a ruined religion.
Maciek shoots man who dies inside chapel.
Link between death/ruin/religion
White horse also a symbol in Christianity of carrying a saviour.
Religion seen as a competing threatening ideology AT THE TIME
103
Despite Ashes and Diamonds being published, Wajda was still not permitted a passport to watch the film's premiere in Paris due to the film's political nature: what is the historical significance of this?
Reflective of the contradictions of Polish socialism at this time and the reality of the inconsistencies of everyday life in authoritarian regimes
104
How does Kundera focus on the Private aspect of Ludvik's story with little concern for the larger historical context?
Ludvik’s revenge directed at one man, Zemenek, whom he holds responsible for his expulsion. Personal betrayal by classmates/teachers in Ludvik’s eyes not the system itself.
105
What is the historical significance of Kundera's focus on the private aspects of Ludvik's story, with little concern given to the larger historical context of the period?
It enabled the novel to be read by the censors as a critique of overzealous individual actors rather than an indictment of the system itself - gives more insight into how people navigated the oppressive censorship in this time and the sorts of things that were concerning
106
What is the historical significance of Nobody Leaves?
Shows the human side of an all-pervading state.
| Communism cannot extinguish life and we see that personality/humanity can still flourish under the state’s watchful eye.
107
What is the historical significance of Nobody Leaves portrayal of the sheer diversity of life under communism?
Undermines simplistic reading of totalitarianism. Life and vigour not exitnguished and uniformity may be enforced but lives continue and personality exists - different form of rebellion.
108
What does Nobody Leaves show people still do under authoritarian regimes?
People still make friends/go to church/stroll in the parks/get drunk/faill in love/read books/watch movies/dance/pray/work/live.
109
Define individualism
A social theory favouring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control.
OR
the habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant.
OR
The moral stance, political philosophy, ideology and social outlook that emphasizes the intrinsic worth of the individual
