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Hungarian Studies Review Vol. XXXVII, Nos. 1-2 (2010) Special Issue: Proceedings of the symposium “László Moholy-Nagy: Translating Utopia Into Action,” held in John M. Clayton Hall at the University of Delaware, 20 October 1995. Oliver A. I. Botar and Hattula Moholy-Nagy, guest editors. Hungarian Studies Review, Vol. XXXVII, Nos. 1–2 (2010) Hungarian Studies Review, Vol. XXXVII, Nos. 1–2 (2010) 1 Hungarian Studies Review HUNGARIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION OF CANADA Special Volume: Proceedings of the Symposium: NATIONAL SZÉCHÉNYI LIBRARY HUNGARIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION (USA) EDITORIAL ADVISERS László Moholy-Nagy TRANSLATING UTOPIA INTO ACTION Oliver Botar István Monok University of Manitoba National Széchényi Library, Budapest George Bisztray Thomas Sakmyster University of Toronto University of Cincinnati Zoltán Fejős Agatha Schwartz Museum of Ethnography, Budapest University of Ottawa Géza Jeszenszky S. B. Vardy John M. Clayton Hall, University of Delaware, Corvinus University, Budapest Duquesne University Newark, Delaware, October 20, 1995 All correspondence should be addressed to: Professor Dreisziger, 904-1000 King St. West, Edited by Kingston, Ontario, K7M 8H3 Canada. E-mail: [email protected] Oliver A. I. Botar and Hattula Moholy-Nagy Articles appearing in the HSR are indexed in: HISTORICAL ABSTRACTS and, AMERICA: HISTORY AND LIFE. Papers by: Copyright © (2010) the Hungarian Studies Review. Oliver A. I. Botar ISSN 0713-8083 (print, replacing 0317-204X); ISSN 1705-8422 (online) Lloyd Engelbrecht The Hungarian Studies Review is an interdisciplinary journal devoted to the publication of articles and book reviews relating to Hungary and Hungarians. Since its launching in Alain Findeli 1974, the Review has been a forum for the scholarly discussion of issues in Hungarian art, Éva Forgács history, literature, politics and cultural affairs. Eleanor M. Hight Subscriptions for individuals are $19.00 per annum. Institutional subscriptions are $35.00. Victor Margolin Membership in either of the two Hungarian studies associations includes a subscription: Jeffrey L. Meikle www.hungarianstudies.org, www.hungarianstudies.info and www.oszk.hu/kiadvany/hsr/ hsr.htm (replacing: www.ccsp.sfu.ca/calj.hsr) Krisztina Passuth Statements and opinions expressed in the HSR are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the journal’s editors. Short stories by László Moholy-Nagy, Design by Kirk Warren. Printed in Hungary. Distributed by the National Széchényi translated by Hattula Moholy-Nagy, Library: Budavári Palota, F Épület, 1827 Budapest, Hungary. introduced by Oliver A. I. Botar Hungarian Studies Review, Vol. XXXVII, Nos. 1–2 (2010) Hungarian Studies Review, Vol. XXXVII, Nos. 1–2 (2010) 1 Hungarian Studies Review HUNGARIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION OF CANADA Special Volume: Proceedings of the Symposium: NATIONAL SZÉCHÉNYI LIBRARY HUNGARIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION (USA) EDITORIAL ADVISERS László Moholy-Nagy TRANSLATING UTOPIA INTO ACTION Oliver Botar István Monok University of Manitoba National Széchényi Library, Budapest George Bisztray Thomas Sakmyster University of Toronto University of Cincinnati Zoltán Fejős Agatha Schwartz Museum of Ethnography, Budapest University of Ottawa Géza Jeszenszky S. B. Vardy John M. Clayton Hall, University of Delaware, Corvinus University, Budapest Duquesne University Newark, Delaware, October 20, 1995 All correspondence should be addressed to: Professor Dreisziger, 904-1000 King St. West, Edited by Kingston, Ontario, K7M 8H3 Canada. E-mail: [email protected] Oliver A. I. Botar and Hattula Moholy-Nagy Articles appearing in the HSR are indexed in: HISTORICAL ABSTRACTS and, AMERICA: HISTORY AND LIFE. Papers by: Copyright © (2010) the Hungarian Studies Review. Oliver A. I. Botar ISSN 0713-8083 (print, replacing 0317-204X); ISSN 1705-8422 (online) Lloyd Engelbrecht The Hungarian Studies Review is an interdisciplinary journal devoted to the publication of articles and book reviews relating to Hungary and Hungarians. Since its launching in Alain Findeli 1974, the Review has been a forum for the scholarly discussion of issues in Hungarian art, Éva Forgács history, literature, politics and cultural affairs. Eleanor M. Hight Subscriptions for individuals are $19.00 per annum. Institutional subscriptions are $35.00. Victor Margolin Membership in either of the two Hungarian studies associations includes a subscription: Jeffrey L. Meikle www.hungarianstudies.org, www.hungarianstudies.info and www.oszk.hu/kiadvany/hsr/ hsr.htm (replacing: www.ccsp.sfu.ca/calj.hsr) Krisztina Passuth Statements and opinions expressed in the HSR are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the journal’s editors. Short stories by László Moholy-Nagy, Design by Kirk Warren. Printed in Hungary. Distributed by the National Széchényi translated by Hattula Moholy-Nagy, Library: Budavári Palota, F Épület, 1827 Budapest, Hungary. introduced by Oliver A. I. Botar 2 3 2 3 4 Hungarian Studies Review, Vol. XXXVII, Nos. 1–2 (2010) 5 Contents László Moholy-Nagy: Translating Utopia into Action An Introduction Oliver A. I. Botar and Hattula Moholy-Nagy 9 Opening Statement on the Occasion of Moholy-Nagy’s Centenary Lloyd C. Engelbrecht 15 László Moholy-Nagy and the International Avant-garde Krisztina Passuth 21 Vision in Motion: The Lichtrequisit [Light Prop] of Moholy-Nagy Eleanor M. Hight 29 Lászlo Moholy-Nagy: A Biocentric Artist? Oliver A. I. Botar 47 ‘Everyone is Talented’: László Moholy-Nagy’s Synthesis of Reform Pedagogy and Utopian Modernism Éva Forgács 61 4 Hungarian Studies Review, Vol. XXXVII, Nos. 1–2 (2010) 5 Contents László Moholy-Nagy: Translating Utopia into Action An Introduction Oliver A. I. Botar and Hattula Moholy-Nagy 9 Opening Statement on the Occasion of Moholy-Nagy’s Centenary Lloyd C. Engelbrecht 15 László Moholy-Nagy and the International Avant-garde Krisztina Passuth 21 Vision in Motion: The Lichtrequisit [Light Prop] of Moholy-Nagy Eleanor M. Hight 29 Lászlo Moholy-Nagy: A Biocentric Artist? Oliver A. I. Botar 47 ‘Everyone is Talented’: László Moholy-Nagy’s Synthesis of Reform Pedagogy and Utopian Modernism Éva Forgács 61 6 Hungarian Studies Review, Vol. XXXVII, Nos. 1–2 (2010) 7 Is Moholy-Nagy’s Design Pedagogy Relevant for Today’s General Education? Alain Findeli 71 Negotiating Modernity: Moholy-Nagy and American Commercial Design Jeffrey L. Meikle 81 The Inexhaustible Wonder of Life: László Moholy-Nagy’s Utopian Legacy Victor Margolin 91 Discussion 101 The Erotic Bases of ‘Enhanced Reason’ and ‘Intensified Senses’: Three Short Stories by László Moholy-Nagy Oliver A. I. Botar 125 László Moholy-Nagy: Maris / Maris 131 Találkozás / Meeting 141 A csodálatos angol tánczcsoport / The Wonderful English Dance Troupe Translator: Hattula Moholy-Nagy 151 Our Contributors 167 Illustrations 171 6 Hungarian Studies Review, Vol. XXXVII, Nos. 1–2 (2010) 7 Is Moholy-Nagy’s Design Pedagogy Relevant for Today’s General Education? Alain Findeli 71 Negotiating Modernity: Moholy-Nagy and American Commercial Design Jeffrey L. Meikle 81 The Inexhaustible Wonder of Life: László Moholy-Nagy’s Utopian Legacy Victor Margolin 91 Discussion 101 The Erotic Bases of ‘Enhanced Reason’ and ‘Intensified Senses’: Three Short Stories by László Moholy-Nagy Oliver A. I. Botar 125 László Moholy-Nagy: Maris / Maris 131 Találkozás / Meeting 141 A csodálatos angol tánczcsoport / The Wonderful English Dance Troupe Translator: Hattula Moholy-Nagy 151 Our Contributors 167 Illustrations 171 8 Hungarian Studies Review, Vol. XXXVII, Nos. 1–2 (2010) László Moholy-Nagy: Translating Utopia into Action INTRODUCTION Oliver A. I. Botar and Hattula Moholy-Nagy We are very pleased to publish the proceedings of the memorable sym- posium “László Moholy-Nagy: Translating Utopia Into Action,” held in John M. Clayton Hall at the University of Delaware on 20 October 1995, just a few months after the centenary of László Moholy-Nagy’s birth. (figs. 1-5) The Symposium, co-sponsored by the University Gallery and the Department of Art History of the U. of D., was spear-headed by the principal organizer of the exhibition and the editor of its cata- logue lászló moholy-nagy: from budapest to berlin 1914-1923, Gallery Director Belena Chapp.1 (figs. 6, 7) Chapp also took on the task of edit- ing the papers presented for publication,2 but when she left her posi- tion as Director, she passed it on to Hattula Moholy-Nagy, who in turn recruited Oliver Botar to share in the work. While we, the editors, had transcriptions of the proceedings at our disposal, we decided to give the Symposium’s speakers the choice of how they wished to be represented in these Proceedings. Eleanor Hight chose to use her paper as the basis for what is essentially a new article (though one related to her fine book on Moholy-Nagy’s photography), which she generously pre pared for publication. Alain Findeli had held a talk that was built around slides and an outline rendered only in point form. 9 8 Hungarian Studies Review, Vol. XXXVII, Nos. 1–2 (2010) László Moholy-Nagy: Translating Utopia into Action INTRODUCTION Oliver A. I. Botar and Hattula Moholy-Nagy We are very pleased to publish the proceedings of the memorable sym- posium “László Moholy-Nagy: Translating Utopia Into Action,” held in John M. Clayton Hall at the University of Delaware on 20 October 1995, just a few months after the centenary of László Moholy-Nagy’s birth. (figs. 1-5) The Symposium, co-sponsored by the University Gallery and the Department of Art History of the U. of D., was spear-headed by the principal organizer of the exhibition and the editor of its cata- logue lászló moholy-nagy: from budapest to berlin 1914-1923, Gallery Director Belena Chapp.1 (figs. 6, 7) Chapp also took on the task of edit- ing the papers presented for publication,2 but when she left her posi- tion as Director, she passed it on to Hattula Moholy-Nagy, who in turn recruited Oliver Botar to share in the work. While we, the editors, had transcriptions of the proceedings at our disposal, we decided to give the Symposium’s speakers the choice of how they wished to be represented in these Proceedings.