Magó-Maghiar Anamagó-Maghiar Budapest, Hungary Budapest, Submitted to Submitted 2007 by CEU Etd Collection Undertaken

CEU eTD Collection REPRESENTATIONS OF SEXUALITY INHUNGARIAN SEXUALITY OF REPRESENTATIONS In partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Arts in Gender Studies. POPULAR CULTURE OF THE 1980s CULTURE OFTHE POPULAR Supervisor: Professor Erzsébet Barát Department of DepartmentGender Studies of Central European University Central European Magó-Maghiar AnaMagó-Maghiar Budapest, Hungary Budapest, Submitted to Submitted 2007 By CEU eTD Collection undertaken. of research on equal footing with exclusively almost the high-culture basedstudies hitherto be source included alegitimate needs as popularto regimes understate-socialist culture contexts cultural state-socialist of picture one-sided the in toovercome order argue that sexuality. I female regulation tothe of related specifically cultural politics of thecomplexity investigates of isHungarian cultural production. second The part in acasestudy which author the cultural studies, as well as the possible (ir)relevance of the concepts for the state-socialist context The author assesses the and influence Fiske. Adorno John of Theodor works from the it onpopular emerged as debate the culture of feminist research of examination is one a theoretical first parts. The two has This thesis context. a state-socialist on the development implications of has the scholarsforthese for theory popular considered genderanalysis or culture of the discipline of on neither sideby other of Fiske.Interestingly,the persuasive arguments werearticulated John themost while School, Frankfurt by the members of isthe viewrepresented theMarxist there The 20 Abstract th century has witnessed the emergence of debates on popular culture. On one debates handthe onpopular culture. of has emergence witnessed the century ii CEU eTD Collection Fig. 22. – Ludas Matyi Sept. 4,1985 Fig. 21. – Ludas Matyi Apr. 6, 1988 Fig.– Ludas 20. Matyi July 24, 1985 Fig.– Ludas 19. Matyi Febr.19, 1981 Fig.– Ludas 18. Matyi July 29, 1987 Fig.– Ludas 17. Matyi June 29, 1985 Fig.– Ludas 16. Matyi June 29, 1985 Fig.– Ludas 15. Matyi July 29, 1987 Fig.– Ludas 14. Matyi July 24, 1985 Fig. 13. – Ludas Matyi Jan. 29, 1981 Fig. 12. – Ludas Matyi Dec. 11, 1980 Fig. 11. – Ludas Matyi Apr. 6, 1988 Fig.– Ludas 10. Matyi Febr.11, 1982 Fig. 9.– Ludas Matyi Jan 29, 1981 Fig. 8.– Ludas Matyi Jan 1, 1981 Fig. 7.– Ludas Matyi Febr. 5, 1986 Fig. 6.– Ludas Matyi Sept. 4, 1985 Fig. 5.– Ludas Matyi July 3, 1985 Lifestyle]. book cover Fig.– Szilágyi, 4. V. (1988).Nyitott házasság, korszer Fig. 3.– Pereszlényi, Z.(1987). Örömszerzés [Giving Pleasure]. Page 50 Fig. 2.– Pereszlényi, Z.(1987). Örömszerzés [Giving Pleasure]. Page 39 Fig. 1.– Pereszlényi, Z.(1987). Örömszerzés [Giving Pleasure]. Page 81 List of Figures iii Ħ bb életstilus. [Open Marriage – the Modern More CEU eTD Collection EEEC IT...... 76 REFERENCE ...... LIST CONCLUSION...... 70 CHAPTER 4. CHAPTER 3. CHAPTER THE 1980S 2. CHAPTER CHAPTER 1. CHAPTER INTRODUCTION...... 1 LIST OF FIGURES...... III ABSTRACT...... II Contents of Table 4.4. 4.2. 4.3. 4.1. 2.3. 3.1. 2.4. 2.1. 2.2. 1.4. 1.3. 1.2. 1.1. C M P H T C C M C P W F T OLITICAL EROTICA OLITICAL OPULAR CULTURE AND STATE AND CULTURE OPULAR ROM MASS CULTURE TO POPULAR CULTURE POPULAR TO CULTURE MASS ROM HE CONSTRUCTION OF HE SEXUALLY SOCIALISTCONSTRUCTIONIDEAL THE CITIZEN OF HINKING CULTURE ABOUT ONCLUSION ONCLUSION ONCLUSION ULTURAL POLITICS IN THE IN POLITICS ULTURAL ISTORICAL BACKGROUND ISTORICAL ETHODOLOGY ETHODOLOGY OMAN IN LUDAS MATYI POP PSYCHOLOGY OF 36 THE 1980S...... OF IN OF POPULARCULTURE HUNGARIAN SEXUALITY REPRESENTATIONS POPULAR CULTURE AND ITS DISCONTENTS...... 3 ...... 22 ...... / AS POPULAR CULTURE ...... 66 ...... 47 ...... 34 ...... 50 ...... 24 ...... 51 ...... , POLITICAL 49 EROTICA...... 49 ...... 4 1980 - SOCIALISM S ...... 26 ...... 14 ...... 18 ...... 6 iv ...... 27 ...... CEU eTD Collection mode of thought that is still prevalent in comparative writing on gender and sexuality.” and gender on writing in comparative prevalent is still that thought of mode “challenge thestructuralist to has juststarted Europe Central-Eastern point. this underscores eloquently famous lack artists The female of interests of privileged. movethe the serving elitist the popular leads us to conclude that the celebrationHungarianness can onlybe explainedthrough “propagandistic”the nature of culture. popular of a selected of aspects certain ‘common-sense’ argue followsthat I In what material. mandatory of canonical few is just an exclusionary inclusion hasof cultural sources popular generated. non- the that state-socialism under sexuality of image limited the complement to meant is thesis lives and the discoursesculture. (Holmberg, First,is 1998:8-11) itconfer said more to a accuratepicture of people’s daily that determine it. The case study presented study in bloc.of culture popular ex-Soviet the in the second the of acceptance promote the part to endeavors and This welcomes thesis Europe. Central-Eastern of this some of the educationalpermeate to started recently only has it theory postmodern to institutionsSimilarly West. the of institutions of other cultural contexts,culture. Since the 1960s the discipline of cultural studies has been established in academic the among which the universitiesfor provided abandonment the themoment high of between distinction the culture andpopular of instead, interreferentiality and ambiguity contradiction, multiplicity, celebrating but hierarchies within Questioningit turn. existence linguistic the the and of meta-narratives any clear Introduction Third, the fact that what is celebrated today as the best of high culture once belongedto once of high culture best the today as what is celebrated factthat the Third, learningSecond,stop atbecause popularbe studiedthe culturenot coverage should does study Carl to “noncanonical” aresix According to popular reasons B. Holmberg there and postmodern of the emergence to the is tied intimately popularculture of The study 1 CEU eTD Collection for me. popular about will culture be receivedasithas been original instructional a quite experience discussion the to my contribution that hope I innovation. encouraging by life one’s of enrichment culture under state socialism can possibly shed light on the daily struggles of ordinary women. particularlyfeminism,for relevant with mediaa long tradition on Researching studies. popular is This argument noticingmaneuvers exploitative situations. be and order capableof to in countries. these regulation cultural bloc’s cinematographic production has resulted ina one-sided view complex the of system of stating that the limitedwith diverse understandings of one’s own culture andfocus other cultures. Dina Iordanova is explicitly on political dissent in the evaluation state-socialism. tosexuality related under one the by the West of the2004:252) This(Sokolová,is whichin tochallenge Isetout tradition the thisthesis, especially Soviet- Finally, openness to the complexitiesin possible as media many ofin as literate being of benefits popular the to refers advantage fifth The culture will eventually lead to the by come to reason introduced is advantagesthat together The fourth the related Holmberg 2 CEU eTD Collection linguistic turn language was looked upon as a means, atoolconveyingfor external reality.Howeverthe 3 Routledge. Pg. 47 2 by linguisticturn facilitated ‘postmodern’ the so-called the of emergence the to connected intimately is consideration serious of worthy institutionalization of cultural studies in certain academic contexts. Its legitimation as an issue 1 The linguistic turn is a concept that designates an important shift in how language is conceptualized. Before the Before conceptualized. is language inhow shift important an designates that concept a is turn linguistic The Fiske, J. Fiske, (2004). “Commodities and Culture.” In Adorno, T.(1975). “Culture Industry Reconsidered.” The study The study of popular has culture become especially widespread increasingly the with provided by a disempowering system while finallysubmit refusing power.” to to that Chapter 1. no longer and is characterized by the creativity of the weak in using the resources “Everyday by “Everyday life is constituted of practices the popular culture, Popular Culture and itsDiscontents and Culture Popular also “Cultural entities typical of the style of the culture industry are commodities, they are commodities through and through.” UnderstandingPopular Culture Part One New German Critique 3 as well as to the context of late-capitalist mass late-capitalist of context the asto well as 3 , 6,13 (original emphasis) , London and New York: Theodor Adorno John Fiske John 1 2 CEU eTD Collection not immediate but isstructured/mediated through language. See forexample Toews, JohnE. (1987), "Intellectual locationwe have that translates the world in a numberof texts. To put it differently, our experiencepoststructuralist of tradition, the world highlighted is by the name of Jean-Francois Lyotard, reconfigured language as the only mainsynonyms.is Her criticize argument to thestance shecalls“the reductionist sociology of as – and culture –civilization concepts two the employs which culture” (idem) emerged view of peoplesother do andthat not individuality.” reflect (Benhabib, Later amore “egalitarian 2002:2) with are shared that andpractices values material to “refers which civilization with contrasted still retains which formation intellectual-spiritual of aprocess with is equated former The some identity. on based of the meanings one more contemporary to the version itsfrom Herderian of culture concept the of development of the Latin original – to tend to and care for – and it is Iuse. that concepts of meanings the the aswell as positions theoretical of clusters popularprinted media Hungarian is inthe This clarify meant1980s. to my chapter of distinct three made is upbytheanalysis of this thesis part second because popularthe culture study of the on literature I engagewith the Hungary. of state-socialist political regime, that of literature for context the a different culture concepts developed inpopular important most and had sexuality of uponthe field.the development Finally,Iwill examine relevance the of the research in decisive the purposeof that area of for the gender showing impact cultural studies in the scholarship feminist of specificities the on elaborate will I Additionally, upon. predicated is cultural analysisproducts the of popular that field show complex the order discursive to thatdismissin chapter arguments Iwill the culture present both andtheonesthatvaluepopular production. and (Adorno Horkheimer,Huyssen 1972, 1986, Storey, 2003)In this introductory 1.1. Seyla Benhabib in her chapter entitled in Seyla theUse “On Benhabib herchapter Culture” and Abuseof Thinking about culture 4 traces the traces CEU eTD Collection Historical Review History afterthe Linguistic Turn: The Autonomy of Meaning and the Irreducibility of Experience", 1998) research.popular (Holmberg, culture in interest his legitimate to meant diversity and multiplicity terms the of overuse Holmberg’s in located firmly its textsorinits The readers.”(Fiske, 2004:45) samefor ideamightaccount it.immediate resistances This to is why is popular culture such an itbeelusivecannot concept: the and be resisted is to which that both encompass must they contradictory; always are readings the conclusion that “[c]ulturalof people. But in the courseforces of the developmentandculture, beit working-class,the sexual minorities women, ethnic or any definableor group other social of this disciplinarycategories field scholars popularborn is study need culture. Popularout of ofhigh culture do research to ‘other’ the the not have alwayscome to match […]. Popular boundaries (Benhabib, between‘we’ ‘other(s).” and the 2002:8) imaginary of the andnegotiations re-creations creations, “constant means the that view of culture understanding Instead, control.”the authorproposes and a more (Benhabib, dynamic 2002:5) for purposes the isdelineable thatgenerates coherenceview outside the from of a wholes problematic for politics or policy. (idem) She argues further that “[a]ny view of culture as clearly not is heterogeneity internal that and described thoroughly be can which a community, to belong that they can cultures be clearly which delineated, that (Benhabib,assumes culture” 2002:4) Seyla Benhabib’sfor articulation has relevancethinkingof culture a particular about 92(4),879–907 5 The American CEU eTD Collection In Adorno’s view this is the reason for the restructuration of foris field, In Adorno’s view reason this therestructuration the inthe resulting of cultural the well. because cultural the as theeconomic hasovertaken cultural the as basefrom superstructure from economic the separate to problematic ismore it that more and Heargues order. capitalist in the developments new to pointing by superstructure and base the between relationship mainfollowingAdorno develops points. (Huyssen, First, Marx’stheory 1986:21-25) on the have engenderedalessjudgmental latter. appreciation the of from a more detailed analysis of modesthe of reception of popular culture, which could probably Adorno prevents modernism of other the as importantly, more and, commodity as culture mass that the model mobilizes the dichotomy of modernism (high culture) over mass culture. Positing tearing of one’s jeans to the guerrilla action of unemployed youth in the mall. he aseriesthis offrom definition describes whichcanbepractices resistant, the considered is culture making theartof by system the dowith what (Fiske, Supported provides.” 2004:25) in of ‘consumption’. resistance instance every cultural voice of the alternative who proposes the concept of popular culture and to see the possibility of isit,he thecritical whileFiske calls onmassculture as takes Marxist-inspired most negative, oppositional of poles about isthinking this issue.Adorno credited with developing one of the references to the works of Theodor Adorno and John Fiske who are seen as representatives of the 1.2. In Huyssen’s view the major reasons for this shortcoming can be summarized in the summarized be can shortcoming this for reasons major the view Huyssen’s In According Andreas Adorno’s to Huyssen, theory on industry culturethe is problematic in Fiske’s definition of popular culture is drawing on de Certeau as he says: “Popular In any theoretical discussion of popular culture sooner or later one will encounter From mass culture topopular culture 6 CEU eTD Collection ‘other’ side, consumer‘other’ any oppressed) the (the autonomy responding. of presupposes a power inequality inherentin model this communicationof which denies the model Adorno’s reveals that It model communication. of container of the aspect ideological in process the only. caseof commodified the cultural the one exposes significantproducts This position on functionalitythe languageof is representative of periodthe before linguistic the turn. decode it.linguistic textawaitingboundaries of the This within readerto self-sufficient the the presupposing anon-problematic extension author’smindthe of meaning tothe ‘contained’ drawbacks: linearity univocality, and anunproblematic coding anddecoding processes all its perpetuating model communication, of ‘container’ message-sending-and-reception to the subscribes in fact argument Adorno’s Here control classes. the ruling of the under conceptualized itisis which because justas fixed of interpretation meaning textall of the the readers’ asthat the in model a static quite is it time same the At capitalism. of ideology dominant the reproduce observed entities.” (Benhabib, 2002:5) as oncultures andcoherence imposes […] unity is onewho “the the […][who] social observer concludeConsequently, up needto takes philosopher thatthe position the of we outsiderthe or reductionist sociology of culture” is replicated in Adorno’s view of the culture industry. 1986:21) for of sole and the of serving asaninstrument administered purpose social control.” (Huyssen, technological of mass progress “[a]ll production. Adorno For culture isstandardized, organized bythe influenced functioninggreatly aprocess ascommodities, emergenceproducts of cultural The irony of Adorno’s position is that the model of communication is meant to describe In this dystopian theory mass cultural products are seenAt point this isit important tosee what that Benhabibholds upas thesymptom “theof as instrumental, serving to 7 CEU eTD Collection 2002:3) Adorno argues isconvincingly betrayal.” “entertainment that cited inBenhabib, (Adorno, industry contributions demystifying ‘mereentertainment’. his the culture of the as was theory of substantial most the hand one of On the other regime. andtheauthoritarian modeproduction of both capitalist the of critique a massas simultaneous and typeculture againstthis of as directed 1930s andin 40s heyday the fascistof propaganda. Much of his can beinterpreted denunciation terms and this is the main reason why the “mass culture theorists’” – he callsin them isacontradiction itself mass culture of – concept predictions the that argues Fiske Moreover, criticism. Adorno’s thegreatestdrawback2004:23) With of Fiske highlighted argumentcultural this (Fiske, of commodities.” of in terms buying andselling the neverbedescribed adequately howeverindustrialized, can system: a culture, within circulatingsocial meanings and pleasures and itis active –the process generating of culture consumption,is not culture view “[p]opular Adorno’s theory on popular culture. One of grounds firstthe hisof criticismin is that Fiske’s The comprehended. better be can motivations control. to intention the with accordingly ‘delineating’ high Adorno’s model subscribes themasculineculture to settingway of upstandards and it’sbut symptomatic of as crisis.the massculture Positing modernist dangerous the ‘other’ of Huyssen,However 1986:24) doesnot meanthis modern is thatart thesolution problem, the to Both are whichhalvesfreedom,torn however of notadd up.”(Adorno, to cited in they do change. of elements contain both capitalism, of scars the wear “[b]oth that acknowledges He John Fiske’s book entitled book Fiske’s John Adorno is said to see the emergence of modernist culture as a response to mass culture. to asaresponse modernistculture see theemergenceof is Adorno to said If we consider the historical context of Adorno’s cultural criticism some of his Understanding PopularCulture 8 Dialectic ofEnlightenment Dialectic directly and rejects criticizes directly was written in the in written was CEU eTD Collection their production costs. (Fiske, 2004:31) He claims that all popular culture texts have tofulfill two even recover cannot that movies never sell, that i.e. products items, failed for account critics do Fiske to articulate. He wants to know that if all popular culture is enforced from above running then riskthe theof undermining high-culture/massis culture divide for readily available how linguistic turn. the after intellectual before and of the belongs to another tradition than Adorno. The two seem to be the embodiment of the ideal type people.”inis (Fiske,2004:25emphasis original) herenote to It that important Fiske clearly “[p]opular culture hasbe else, above to all culture “[p]opular declare him that which compel to structures lessin dynamic power moreor caught constantly following heproposes definition: a fixedposition.the Instead, structural audiences ‘the people’ he hopes to avoid a move of delineation which would cast communities in bloc’ people’. and‘the the‘power between negotiation of constant process diversefluid. andhave they because are too aculture cannot into‘the masses’. conflation groups to overcome subordinated they this unfortunate all Thus of come In didview his true. is not the ‘masses’ of do notexist‘the people’ and meant hisconcept As a result of As a couldconsider Adornoresult flexibility,that this of argumentnot the without The dynamism he subscribes to replaces audiences with nomadic subjectivities, nomadic with audiences toreplaces hesubscribes dynamism The cut 2004:24) them. (Fiske, ignore often often or categories, across these can they necessarily: don’t they but categories, social factors other and class with sociological external of terms in than may coincide whathaveyou.allegiances Such race, region, or age, gender, such as class, collectivity felt people’s of in terms better By “the people,” then, I mean this shifting set of social allegiances, which are described labeling By people’. ‘the he calls what is with works Fiske concepts main the of One His model of interaction works both ways and communication is realized through a relevant 9 to the immediate social situation of the CEU eTD Collection Liesbet van Zoonen argues that van argues Zoonen Liesbet is interaction embedded. available within tools of discursivetext/reader field the which haveone doesnot infinite meanings moment possibilities by at any but arelimitedgiven the areas in his cultural analysis. First,if one is supposed to ‘make do’ with what one is offered, then 2004:34) orsemiotic-cultural.” (Fiske, bematerial-functional […] whether resources these be a sign of its limits. After all “[c]onsumption is the only way of obtaining the to resources comes for life, effectiveness its that entails again, over and over repeated be to activity, ending never isa advertising that The fact its effectiveness. but commodification of strategy the not isthen andimplicithomogenization knowledge,and exclusion.WhatFiskequestions categorization and its demands.control is market the inthis This achievedsense produce control of intheform in has forproducts This means to bemarketed producer different order the to that successfully marketcapitalism. economy Infactwhata is“controlled (Fiske,2004:29). desires diversity” side. empowered/disempowered endis its going uponthe trace aresultnegotiation, boundary to of this which and,group as aregoingis practices to available explore discursive analysishowthe to the culture popular of opinion these two conditions ensure the success of any item of popular culture. it InFiske’s group. moreone than interests of tothe itwill cater successful accordingly, bebecause, will more the allow can it more The interpretations. multiple for allows that way a in possibilities that for resistant readings remain that open. These areconstructed presuppose texts conditions. On the one hand they have to articulate the dominant ideology while still making sure Although likeI Fiske’smodel itsfor potential openness, Ifound a couple of problematic The move to flexibility does not mean thatfor then question The identity. one’s of part integral is an Fiske ‘other’ the that argues Benhabib dismisses the need for control in 10 CEU eTD Collection consideration of social inequalities. social of consideration on avoiding the definition of ‘the people’ he have would beenforced toinclude amore thorough keen so wasn’t Fiske if Probably, affluence. of indicator an often quite is in turn which mobility, social is non-prefigured of a sign of alliances freeformation the claim to the Actually, etc.)? street less(like child,the beggaron the youyour on your somebody wife, than powerful power this changing involve taking turnsin the position of powerful?the Orisitlimitedjustexerting to cultural meaningproducts’ as a “shifting setof alliances” which are continuously changing. Does (More about that in the last section below.) context. addressingthe state-socialist when pressing areespecially misfortune? These questions any why wanttocelebratewould ‘agency’ scholarship ifis it joking limited to aboutone’s any revolutionary potential in their subversive reading ifitis momentary Andonly? if isn’t there they tools areoffered? Isthere if discursive the with satisfied What arenot action? people the exists only that as long asthespeech then is act”(Fiske, 2004:37) for thereapotential political in interpretations manner.a non-complicit of amultiplicity accommodate to rearticulated be can limits if and these set are limits discursive I am questioningnot the possibility butwhatof subversion, Iam ininterested is the how Zoonen, 1994:42) ideological location of most media, will tend toreconstruct dominantThus most values. texts do offer (vana ‘preferred reading of meaning’ which, given the economic and the range of being meaningto well model with – opposed only,asinatransmission confronted – as meanings [w]hile of the concept polysemy assumes be meaningthus audiencesa producers to of as text offers is not infinite, despite its essential ambiguity. […] Third, the author definesThird, author the in the people whoparticipate negotiation the of popularthe a space speaking andcreates present in “exists only the readingif resistant the Second, 11 CEU eTD Collection philosopher whosemain is goal toprovide a profound critique of mode capitalistthe ofmass isMarxist a Adorno intellectual traditions. different two of representatives clearly the differences. power isnaturalizing that caught move as anormalizing interpreted be can struggle outside social resistance of rendering unproblematic end,Fiske’s the in norm.least atthe laugh Therefore at in can which one resistantreading the cultural dupe, or on the outside of social interests, is limited to the duality of a dominant readingin which oneis a 2004:47) But this choice, precisely becauseitis simply along the dichotomyposited withinof or of social experience and the pleasure of avoiding the social discipline of the power-bloc.” (Fiske, interestare motivated primarily […] by the of one’spleasure: producing pleasure ownmeanings chosen as if exclusively defined in terms of pleasure: “These antagonisms, these clashes of social in culture. popular commodification logic of the free despite empowered and to come ‘thepeople’ onhow theories inbut morea much sophisticated example, way.For bysupporting the of publishing extensive compulsion, by function doesn’t argument, Fiske’s to contrary which, governmentality of mode reading was enacting this new Foucault’s of the wasaconsequence him/herself.subject upon In every that discipline way of asaninternalized ‘making do’ or ‘adaptation’ saw this Foucault 4 disciplined individualin Foucault’s writing is self-the of the notion to) close very comes here(but heWhat misses powerful. the strategy of with in is being weak which contrast mentionscompulsion the as of the tactic the adaptation Foucault, M. (1975). In conclusion let me sum up the major arguments of this section. Adorno and Fiske are Similarly, labeling this activity of resistance as resistance of activity this labeling Similarly, Finally, Fiske when talks aboutthe Discipline and Punish. The Birth of thePrison. art 4 of ‘making do’ with whatyou have, he repeatedly . The significant aspect of this concept is that concept of this aspect significant . The 12 art London: Penguin. implicates it as something freely something as it implicates CEU eTD Collection possibility of normative as well as subversive reading. Having said that, in the next section next in the that, said Having reading. the and subversive as well as normative of possibility interpretations, multiple meaning, of multiplicity carries: term this that connotations the in the assumption of an ‘ordinary’ existence, one that goes without problematizing. (Barát, 2007) and subversive readings) but also over to that of ‘high culture’ whose privilege comes to consists boundariesmultiple within the differentiationculture (the spaces of betweenpopular normative cultural texts but one that does not give up the author’s Fiske’s isuse privilege a terminvested with a more positive reading ofmass production and function of of freely crossing not only the term used byAdorno refers the disavowal to logicits of While by author. the popularin culture fuzzy differentiation form ‘high culture’ . differentiation within the so-called popular cultural field itself and that of its no matter how ofpower safeguardingdiscussion any thereby critique, and chancesocial of precluding the foreclosing while resistance of possibility the of celebration an unproblematic to him leads lines draw not exclusionary to will the and audience. Unfortunately, the producers the between multiple of a product but industry interactions of is product an notthe because popular culture available to the intellectual global citizen. In his system every consumer is endowed with agency ismoreviewbelievedbe but polysemicone of that dynamic and popular culture (mistakenly) to inis discursivearticulate amuch timeintellectual, the who period meansto a different offered between high culture andmass culture. On otherthe is hand there John Fiske, the postmodern line clear a drawing patriarchal, and elitist intellectual, modern the of embodiment is the Adorno inresistindustry highinherent culture. byway andreturning culture them of the teach to to production of culture. Hismake political engagementis to themasses aware dangers the of In the rest of my thesis I will use the term popular culture because I would like to retain The politics of naming in the works of these theorists is significant. Mass culture, the 13 CEU eTD Collection of newof focuspower”, onissues of gender and sexuality, thinking areconfiguration the of around insights were the feminist notion of ‘the personal is political’,feminist a “radicalimportant most expansionthe Hall, to of the notionAccording field. the of a restructuring to lead eventually 5 Centre the at scholars As aresult, the (Hall, cultural1996:269) studies.” of table the on crapped seized thetime, feminismthat “[a]sarrived athief itnight, in in; themadeinterrupted, broke an noise,unseemly heinstead declares have feministclaim unproblematically, not knowledge He does integrated to cultural studies was feminism. Hall sees both of these interventions as engaging with a problem. simple zeitgeist, capitulation marxists.”to the (Hall, 1996:266) any in be, to not in order thought, European of circumference entire the around right “walk[] justa entail not withdoes Marxist theory him for engagement In otherwords, the culture. mass consuming of consciousness false and especially, those ensuing, economic reductionism hegemonizing between relationship economic base and including superstructure, culture,the by Adorno. isMarxism from qualitatively to hesubscribes that mass culturedifferent Marxistthe reading of He has the However, feminism. and Marxism studies, cultural between alliance a traditional establishes to reject and rethink the central resist. Fiske seemsto that contingency arguments historic its reclaim of and gender from perspective revisitthe concept the haveI will though to of Adorno’s thesis: the The Centre forContemporary Cultural Studies at the University of Birmingham 1.3. The other body of thought that proved to be of great influence upon the development of HallStuart in andits “Cultural studies chapterentitled theoretical legacies”the Woman in/as popular culture 5 were confronted with problems they have not with wereconfronted thought they did which they problems 14 CEU eTD Collection Woman.” He agrees with Hall in finding masculinity. intellectual middle-class a of imaginary the of the effect the as culture’ ‘popular hidden agenda of the mass foroppression thepurpose of achieving a higherlevel complexity of can and onethat expose culture debate incouple oppression.”to class (Walkerdine, with wants analysis gender 1995:330)She of that the recognition of “the end of grand metanarratives of “The Working Class”is not discardto in the classwhich areturn analysis to advocates Walkerdine Valerie example, topic. For the differences amongconcerning the specificities of conducting gender research. Feministsthem came be to confronted with as well as with the limits of already politically “ chic because (Brundson,non-conformist. 1996:280) arguably what is considered itself as always- “constructs inironically constantly that a field research gender articulating to be a feminist Brundson’s subversive reading, metaphor this signals theextreme difficulty establishingof and indicates handitproblems other disappointment and onthe In among its sympathizers. connotations of anxious hostility. On the one hand it signals a feminist movement fraught with is with loaded phrase Brundson this According to feminism. of of emergence accountthe an giving in when broke who thief the of metaphor Hall’s particularly contests She there. PhD working class –theboyzone.” (Brundson, 1996:276)Andnowoman that has ever obtained a male and the state “thepublic, the limited to were topics research respectable the CCCS where the at climate patriarchal the recalls She process. of the account more critical a offers Brundson (Hall, 1996:269) psychoanalysis. and theory social of contamination fertile a and subjectivity and subject the Andreas Huyssen in intriguingpresents an “Mass argument chapter Culturethe as With successfulthe institutionalization of genderthe perspective new arose problems In response to Hall’s position on the entrance of feminism into cultural studies, Charlotte 15 CEU eTD Collection same move casts women as an alternative to the working-class. Although he takes lengthy hetakes Although the working-class. to women as analternative move casts same blind togenderorsexuality.Fiske as‘againstculture setsuppopular the power-bloc’ andin the school of cultural studies, orFiske’s recent conceptualization of cultural studies that is eventually strugglefor the acknowledgement ofmisogyny within analyticalthe practices of Birmingham the of is femininity a thing with anything isBrundson’s devalued there accountof of past, the the patriarchal supportstructures it.” that (Huyssen, 1986:58) accountsclassical its and modernism high of has crisis postmodern “[t]he Thus, feminine. to and masculine be seen as a crisis between boundary of the enforcement into the translates and culture popular high art between both of capitalistmaleremains division (Huyssen, privilegedrealmof thislightthe activities.” the 1986:47)In modernizationculture and the itselfmassesmass genders and obsessively consistently ofthe century turn the around discourse aesthetic as feminine,and of the while deeply dyadhigh ofman/woman:“[i]tis indeed striking to observe howthe political, psychological and culture, whethermapped onthe This view culture binary high complementary builds on culture/popular of the traditional or modern,imagined asbeing addressedtoafemale audience butexhibits initself feminine characteristics. clearly questioned byfeminists. This leadsobservation him concludemassto that culture isnot only was by genderorder its challenged of economic workingthe bourgeoisie class superiority the the becauseto inaddition danger The doubled, thus andtheproletariat. capitalists between the women’s inaboutthesameoriginated activism historical periodof as class-antagonism that the emerging women’swith butnot masses these only proletariat argues Huyssen, are the middle classes.Furthermore, movement they are also consumption bourgeois practices the othering of ‘the masses’incomparison cultural with the women. One reason for this conflation is that Contrary to the excessively optimistic stance of Huyssen, who declares that the equation the that declares who Huyssen, stance of optimistic excessively the to Contrary 16 CEU eTD Collection imagination with women has important implications for feminist research. Limiting data to data Limiting research. feminist for implications important has women with imagination popular culture. The factpopular that culture was isand still upinmainstreamtied social of feminization the of issue the tackled I hand other the on studies; cultural of development influencethe on scholarship a as productive feminist theemergenceof onehandIstressed the conditioningin discoursethis thatis exposed by Valerie Walkerdine: alliances.Fiske’s What motivated gaze ideologically is overlooks precisely double the forming to comes it when change to subject are themselves boundaries the consumption: reconfiguration and domainof the more interms less of formsprestigious of cultural also entail so-called the that popularculture itself is notahomogenous block and entailsthis a isenjoy all,After untenable.popular cultural products flexibility the valorizes should Fiskethat should classes subordinate only that view the that also but men target specifically that items popular cultural are mynot there that only of thesis in Iwill secondpart the show contested. be can Iam issure this women. for culture popular that argument the back to are way we a (Fiske,2004:47)In among the subordinate.” allegiances formedfor bysocial people are the culture, of popular with practices the align themselves caneasily thus and classes disempowered are both because is but feminine, proletariat the because or proletarian are women because aresimilarnot and tastes tastes proletarian stance. “Women’s popular-culture-equals-women precautions to avoid conflating the two groups he still manages to retain some aspects of the I approached the relationship of women and popular culture from perspectives. relationshipI approached On from the of and two women culture popular (Walkerdine, 1995:330) appears classes tango to ittwo takes fact that while the to pathology, explain lives,their to their have escapedtell tell of been askedto to classwhohave just working been the has italways as their secrets, personal, the about speak to injunction an had thehave who women been long has It notice of those who constantly ask us to tell it like it is. 17 CEU eTD Collection avant-garde believing thegaphas that tobebridged in toincludeorder masses. the mass-culture as propaganda. But at the intellectual sameelite. Thisposition brings him close Adorno, tothat which of condemns bourgeois time it is the just also not and art their close through masses the toaddress to thestrive theorists should artists the that advocates He of the Russian is views it bourgeois as an values. (Tordai, of artificial symptomatic distinction 2005:150) that decries secondthe part), and theinsurmountable gapbetween and popular culture high-culture the politics of the three Ts, who was influential for almost half theof century (more about him in called policy cultural of principle basic the behind brain the Aczél, György Hungary, of case In context. setupin Euro-American the culture of popular conceptualizations somealter the European of cultural production particularities of the how Central-Eastern sources will enrich actual scholarshipcontext of onanother politicalstate-socialist and economic ideology. My goal is on the one hand tosee if a shiftin regimes and on the can the cannotbeappliedmass-culture of to developedor in debate the course the concepts other hand to assess underesearched fieldinfeminist scholarship. Iwill on focus Hungary in tosee order how the reader. the with of course a sociallyshapedinteraction the in is established meaning their polysemic and areoften by them offered discourses the because inby itsbe present domain culture, gendered inpopular cannot showing that way particular one are that precisely contradictions the point out to canendeavor The researcher interpretations. popular culture couldlocus be for best the challenging this anddivide finding alternative high-cultureexpressionsmale can as of of biasinitself,work a whileless ‘serious’ products 1.4. In this last section I would like to turn to popular culture under state-socialism, an Popular culture and state-socialism 18 CEU eTD Collection manipulation, but while in the West they promote economic interests, in the East they are meant are they East in the interests, economic promote they West in the while but manipulation, the capitalist and the socialist state. the policies of contexts. cultural the to resistance of them capable make always will that culture’ ‘high of knowledge “In privilegeboth regimes of “freedom”secure their elites to intellectual the in agendaof butalso the hidden dupes of culture, popular topopular enjoy popular culture culture passive in not in factconsists as concerting only ‘other’ asthe their masses designated of the as the iseffect instrumental of masses.consequently,address ishe doesnot What though dangerous arguabledifference thatthe their taken for granted and vulnerable ideologically to of ‘uneducated,’ fear the into translates Kádár regime ‘elite’ underscores only ‘negative’the threatening dimension of ambiguousthis situation. levels social hierarchy. of the it thisis Iarguethat blindnessistwofold telling and that Tordai isall across enjoyed popular culture that fact the he also overlooks culture, popular of consumer fulfill cultural its mission.”designating (Tordai, 2005:151)But the proletariat asthe primary consumers of itshouldpopular culture,thus its ownconstituency havere-educated in to order the constitute generally and traditionally which groups those on relying been “has state significant vulnerabilities of the system and eventually led to its demise. oneof the individual was socialistfor the popular culture correct’ ‘ideologically coherent mentioned is never project this of failures the or success the But level. party in atthe time first for the the documents. Tordai’s main argument is that the incapacity to formulate a According to Tordai, in 1972 the necessity of a socialist popular culture was articulated was culture popular a socialist necessity of inTordai, 1972the According to Tordai draws on Dwight MacDonald’s theory to compare the status compare of in MacDonald’s populartheory Tordai status to Dwight culture draws on the inthe during Hungary high-culture/popular-culture debateon He onlyarguesthatthe Tordai andalso culture addressestheaudience the socialist popular this arguesthat of 19 CEU eTD Collection ritual controlled by the political regime under state-socialism. regime under political bythe controlled ritual buildingof myth reconsidered the community insteadand turningeffect popularculture as to inherent relationship between mode capitalistthe of production and commodification should be in its asocialist Possibly economy? the consumeristbase similarculture exists without popular consumerist strategy question of cultural Thenthe production. is how remains it thata possible and transformed into commodities. cultural the Fiske also madethem agreeswith real products of way wasorganizedandfunctioned.”the culture 2003:16) state-socialist (Iordanova, and in Western “resulted incomplete a relatively picture cultural valorizingproducts ‘apolitical’ judged bythelevel dissentthey political of foreclosing thus displayed, possibility the of be to tended cinema European IordanovaEastern according to Moreover, 2003:27) (Iordanova, regionthe either consisted of cerebral highly or politicized (and works?” usually censored) of output cinematic the that impression left with the “were often Western audiences that argue to have cinema Eastern of analysis her in Iordanova Dina does why then countries, socialist (Fiske, andthere“the wasathriving informer 2004:30) popular power-bloc” culture state- So, if popular culture according StuartHall to and Fiskeis identifiable “byits oppositionality to conclusion: interesting an to author Hungarian the leads argumentation support to politicalthe regime.”cited in This (MacDonald Tordai, 2005:144) line of Adorno’s critique of mass-culture is based on the view, that the culture industry industry has is the culture that based view, the ofmass-culture on critique Adorno’s political contextsenforced by effectthe of historical heritage. (Tordai, 2005:153) social,from and particular –thedifferencesresulting the economic countries European especially Western, lessmore or other developed to basically itwas similar say,but likelooked wecannot popular culture this How authority. of wishes the to the contrary isThere nodoubtthatin state-socialist Hungary was a flourishingthere popularculture – 20 CEU eTD Collection issue of insexuality 1980s Hungary. of address the differentoutlinedthree above by popular thatlooking at cultural clusters sources The next part of my thesis will attempt to put into practice the analytical ‘wisdoms’ analytical the practice into put to attempt will mythesis of part next The 21 CEU eTD Collection debates, maternity (e.g. Kligman debates, leaves etc. von Ankum 1998, Afewbooks 1993). tackle exclusively in termsof women’s rights andreproductive the issues it, likesurrounding abortion literaturefeminist up take that issue the female of sexuality during period, this butitis done in afewexceptions are there Admittedly, impossible. be almost to breath seems in same the 7 Postcommunism and thePolitic. Body New 6 Chapter 2. Hereafter all Hungarian-English translations are mine unless otherwise noted. otherwise unless mine are translations Hungarian-English all Hereafter Gessen, Masha (1995). “Sex in the Media and the Birth of the Sex Media in Russia.” In Berry (Ed.) In the light of the available literature to talk about sexuality and the state socialist regime socialist state the and sexuality about to talk literature available of lightthe In the Representations ofSexualityin Hungarian Popular Cultureof the “Monogamy “Monogamy – contrary opinionthe to many notof necessarily– does mean sexual exclusivity. Inscientific andlegal terms itpresupposes York: NYU Press Part Two 1980s 22 being married to just one person at a time.” “Remember –we had no sex.” Dr. Vilmos Szilágyi Vilmos Dr. Igor Kon 8 7 6 CEU eTD Collection Einhorn, B. and Sever,Ch. (2003). “Gender and Civil Society Central andin Eastern Europe.” 9 Budapest:IPV (pg. 157) 8 analysts political or scientists social scholars, feminist certain by region this to referring of cultural Second,politics. theargumentis questioning East/West ubiquitous the divide when field the in especially in general, rules the of relaxation a significant brought latter The regime. of Kádár the ‘gulyás-socialism’ asacan nor so-called the monolith be treated block cannot This argument is relevantfor anumber of issues. First, itis underlining the view that the socialist culture. popular to alone let media mainstream Hungarian inthe sexuality of representation the lastthe decade of Igor Kon’s in socialism Hungary. that statementcannot beextended Iargue to in it socialism appeared way the image an state presentunder sexuality of to alternative endeavor by Konat In whatincan befollows quote the beginningthe summarized Igor I of chapter. this conclusion overall their but fall, the media after sex the rise of the or homosexuality presence or queer of perspective from the Berry 1995) 1999, Essig (e.g. sexuality state-socialism under specificities of in country influencedthis 1980’s also the this of state example, For affairs. to popular cultural sources enriches one’sof viewa specific cultural Surely,context. other turning that establishing thus isarticulated latter clearly in the culture popular argue that 2000) I indirectly in like informalarticulated mostly cultural interviews (Adamik, or contexts, products. mosaic, a of more is finds Adamik ‘sex-discourse’, the while documents, in official articulated define women’s sexuality under Hungarian state socialism. ‘Maternity-leave discourse’ is visibly discourses that Sheidentifies two and the‘sex-discourse.’ discourse’ called ‘maternity-leave the has Adamik Mária which on sexuality, stance double less coherent of or a more articulation parallel the for allows it context Hungarian in the and nuanced more is regime socialist from hypothesis is that culture the image perspectivethe of of popular duringsexuality the Frunza, M. and Vacarescu, T. (Eds.) (2004). Dr.Vilmos Szilágyi (1988). Nyitott házasság, korszer Gender and the (Post)’East’/’West’ Divide. Ħ bb életstilus. 23 [Open Marriage – A More Modern Lifestyle] Modern –AMore Marriage [Open Cluj-Napoca: LIMES; International 9 . My CEU eTD Collection explaining sexual behavior to their readers, comes data, fromof the pop-psychologycluster second The bookssexuality. of about the them day. I ‘educating’ when about brought are citizen female and male ideal the of images the in which ways the upon focus will I citizens. socialist lives allow look are going to me into to the legitimate ways sex of talkingfor proper about Protection of Children) with aim the of boysteaching and girls howtoprepare for family their about Family Life. Maiden School], commissioned by a state institution (The Institute for the communism: Reflections from Eastern Europe and theFormer Soviet Union. Feminist Journal of Politics. Bogárdi, M.(1982). Körmendy, I. ( Twobooks, sources. lookatthree different to socialism I decided decade of Hungarian production, which in turn allowed for amore explicit take on issues of sexuality. cultural of autonomy rules arelative and of meanta relaxation the this cultural politics will show, the culturala afew And, started as I market-oriented one 1989. before economy state-controlled decades to field was one its economicof and cultural fields. Onethe could state then that the transition periodinmost Hungary from a prominentHungary has beenslowly changing appropriating and petit-bourgeois capitalist infeatures both ones in the process. trends.metal inand the punk-rock human Since face’ building so-called ‘socialismwith 1968 a In terms of like thesexual Hippy the movement,revolution, in studentriots the France of1968orheavy time, the of trends cultural transnational the to reacted in and participated country the flourished, tourism Hungarian because and easily relatively abroad travel could Hungarians because 2.1. In identifyto order discoursesthe in sexuality inon popular cultural sources last the Methodology 1981). A családi élet iskolája fiúknak A családiéletiskolája 1981). A családiéletiskolája lányoknak. Nagylányok iskolája (5)2: 163-190; Funk,N. Mueller, and M. (Eds.) (1993). 24 [Teaching Boys about Family Life] and New York and London: Routledge Gender Politics and Post- [Teaching Girls CEU eTD Collection one cannotstop at the analysis of high culture. More importantly, Iargue that by looking at these products were just as much the object of the cultural political regulations of the time shows that weekly editions of 600,000 about copies in its heyday. were meant toenlighten massesthe by striving to use less languagespecific and yearly had –the distributed books commissioned almost editions, the pop-psychology works culturalfor were that time the to being addressingmass products werewidely readership and let butlimit in us itsourselves popular definition literature I am problematic culture? aware of and 1988werehighlighted by namethe of György Aczél. section,politics between indetail next 1958 time.enacted the these of Described the policies connotations. imagesthese Itis important also tounderstandconstruct. the political effect of a joke with sexual themes that the other two types of sources seem to miss but also the models of femininity that will be the interest jokes. Of particular illustrated on Iwill concentrate visual representations advertised itself as Ludas Matyi a forum with a potentialintend magazine tackleFinally,sexual themes inthepopular humorof the presentation to I for the critique ofclarifyingis to categories.) these dedicated nextsection (The category politics. of cultural the system. For an analysisfindwhy for could theso-called ‘tolerated’ latter representative order to the beconsidered out of in bodies data, of two these between anddifferences similarities onthe particularly will center The reason for me to choose popular culture is twofold. The fact that popular cultural that The fact is twofold. popular culture choose me to for The reason My methodological approach poses an inherent question. What isbe considered to What question. aninherent poses approach My methodological cultural the of principle basic the mirroring is sources my of structure threefold The . I needed a media product which specifically spoke to alarge number of people and 25 Ludas Matyi had CEU eTD Collection when the Central Committee of the HSLP reformulated its cultural politics. (Kalmár, 1998) In 1998) (Kalmár, its cultural politics. HSLPreformulated of the Committee when theCentral in and was sameframework Most scholars the reinforced arguethat adopted 1982 1977 and Aczél this developed system of inevaluation the 1950sand itwas publicly in announced 1958. values. violating moral allegedwere deemedcommon the endeavors that politically dangerous, the day.the Lastly, ideals andideological of political the for yet notseen sense in as threatening were this ‘correct’ 7Ħ line because the official cultural of inlinewith party.the judgedideologically political correct andwere largespeak to crowds to seen were that art projects to applied category marks the first letters of the Hungarian words rule of his policy was designated by the name of ‘the principleHungary.(Kalmár &Fónai 1998,Drabancz 2005, Kisantal & Menyhért2005) Thefundamental of the three T-s’ made up of the changed a lotduring the years he is seen as the agent of the main principles of cultural politics in Hungarian inSocialist LabourParty December(HSLP) his 1956andalthough position official of the Committee theCentral of member founding a Aczél was György “Aczél regime.” as the between fall the is 1956uprising the of by often and 1988 to referred Hungarian historiographers period the politics, cultural to itcomes When 1998:12) (Kalmár, it.” sanitize i.e. to changes, major without run long inthe efficiency its maintain to and function itto restore to regime, communistimportance totransform bankrupt the utmost itpolitical 1956deemed of regimeafter view on sexuality in state socialism. is anfor amoreallows nuanced imagealternative of that specific works, emerging sexuality r means 2.2. Melinda Kalmár, in Melinda Kalmár, her tolerate Cultural inthe politics 1980s tilt and refers to those cultural enterprises that were not considered to be means forbid Ennivaló ésHozomány andit beis in appliedto supposed cultural case of those támogat, t Ħ r, tilt. 2 6 The first one, first The - 1998 [Food and -1998[Food Dowry]“the arguesthat támogat means support and it and CEU eTD Collection Family Life] and its ‘sister’ Mihály Bogárdi. for editorship underthe together andthe1982edition of boys by Körmendy girls for put István Girls aboutFamily Life. Maiden School].In thepresent study I am 1981editionreferring tothe called are They times). nine approximately for girls one (the occasions numerous on they were reedited that disseminated widely has toplace any from cultural period.product that transition.” (Drabancz &Fónai,It is 2005:224) inthis context of ongoing negotiation one that for preparation inthe and Kádár-regime late the of inthedismemberment factor active partly induced bywhowere an political.the in artists, the political The changes 1989 were Furthermore, “in in processes 1987-88 the field the cultural with tightly correlated changesthe in independent”totally (Drabancz & immediate of Fónai, party-political 2005:222) interests. This is why most scholars maintaining freedom of 1998:35) topicmethod.” (Bolvári-Takács, of regardless creative or style, agree that “from the middle theimportance to “subscribing and altogether category by ignoring thetolerate cultural politics of the 80’s on culture of totheliberalization attests in 1984 György byAczél put together document anofficial In fact, and arts became upon a broader or narrower definition of tolerate the of definition narrower or abroader upon and aroundartandcultural 2005:119) werecentered “in thedebates politics Menyhért, practice & (Kisantal toleration and enforcement between alternating was general in policy this reality 2.3. The two commissioned books were written by experts (mostly psychologists) and were so The constructionThe ofthe sexually ideal socialist citizen A családiéletiskolája lányoknak. Nagylányokiskolája A családi életiskolájaA családi fiúknak 27 [ WĦ r ] category.”1998:25) (Bolvári-Takács, [Teaching Boys about [Teaching CEU eTD Collection abandoned the ideal of children by rearing community the it todoinset out (as 1950s)and the ideology noticehas here.in to important thetime Already 1980s state-socialist period the to carry is channeled into the ultimate means of population control, that of nuclear families. It is aremeant books these education that the indicate as their But titles spheres. social and economic but be my focus sex-discourse. more the alternative, will on its culture, in mass is present mothers as of women sameconstruction the that out Ipoint present case data as well as to stress theimage to have sanitizedjust the fordiscourse of therest basis sexuality a of comparison of the existence of all three cultural categories in popularmuch longer historical period than my analysis.culture. In the by most encompassinga official often is referring documents, supported to party very carefully unemployed butof that woman 1997, citeda mother”byAdamik,in (Haney,2001:195) Jähnert, women couldMária Adamik’s argument that beginning with introductionthe maternitythe of leave, Hungarian “never enunciate their expectations of identifieddiscourse’ by Adamik. Herdefinition is following: the the ‘maternity-leave ubiquitous state the with well very resonates which books, these of pages the through from the position of the Representative of the supported cultural category, a specific discourse on sexuality comes The authors of the two books claim that socialism has brought female liberation in both in liberation female brought has socialism that claim books two the of authors The this call will I leave maternity of regulation the of effects the considering not am I As confined private tothe sphere. (Adamik, 2000:112) gender this beings identifiedand discourse roles, mothers asasexual women defined – the means of social through policies leave),(maternity andinscience through lensthe Partly offunctional emancipation. women’s of conditions and promise the withdrawn hasmodernization project socialist of which 1967,through around state the consolidated I call maternity-leave discourse that type of discussion that was finalized and 28 CEU eTD Collection education in America. It encompasses the different reasons for advocating sex education since the 19 the since education sex advocating for reasons different the encompasses It America. in education sex education. Whileadvocating for in contexts the U.S. cultural two thethe constant between crises similarities the are that here fed theinteresting most instrumental the find I What approachsociety. were found in sexually in framing up teenage ended sexualityeducation sex to approach as dangerous aninstrumentalist and and a constantadolescent of the threat definition – diacritical moral, the that medicalconcludes or otherwise – to the future of 10 instrumental sex of effect asnosurprise.teachingcomes about avowedly the politics current of trend ideological follow the to (ideally) are required not involve emotions or motives. The implication of this is that sexuality in this contextis limited to healthy sex organs and it does sexuality.your general allquestionsrelated to psychological on practitioner help,butturningto sexuality is alsoa practice. Furthermore, in counseling contextthis doesnotrefer to claim about acquiredthe nature of sexuality. authors the admit Emphasizing counseling, that general the with in contradiction in fact is in medicine trust The environment? the of function iflearn ‘thesexual behaviorishow it iswhatall.But proper’ once and for this works, the the most important messagedoctors for counseling on all issues of health and sexuality. At a closer look itof becomestheir to clear that turn theseshould they that reminded constantly are booksgirls especially but Boys changes. issocial the fact that youth At1981:67). samethe timeshould thereis aheightenedin sense of trust medicine, primary the for tool take this chance(Körmendy, 1981:55)andis that “it greatly influenced by socialthe (Körmendy,environment.” and child. and mother of tandem the with synonym became which family, nuclear the promoted it Instead enactAdamik, according meantto emancipation. gaveupthe women’s also social policies to away with the remnants of modern “[t]he modern, away bourgeois attitude: byadvocating a with remnants the tradition of Jeffrey P. Moran’s book, In a socialist context, where education, economic relations as well as cultural products learnt” is behavior “sexual that agree authors the general in sexuality Concerning Teaching Sex –The Shaping of Adolescence inthe 20 29 10 The project was meant to do th Century is the history of sex th century and CEU eTD Collection was embarked on a conscious effort of reformation of society anyway. of society ofreformation effort conscious on a embarked was socialism because necessary were crises such no Hungary in AIDS, and motherhood teenage diseases, transmitted abortions on the basis of health. morefor details the girls methods contraceptive thanfor and boys arguingagainst recourse to the matters arequiteof In desires. books factual,contraception the and in two abortion describing sexuality behaviorism,is is which more even emphasized inself-policing promoted the of one’s contrary the basicshowsto approach that previously mentionedintellect contradictions to the of development in the obstacle an being sexuality ‘excessive’ of implications The girls. for book in the out left is manliness to referring sentence the that is difference only The boys. do.thing (Körmendy, to teenage1981:69) Theself-policing for idealis both girls and advocated itis isamanly Moreover “self-control” arguedthat activity.”intellectual 1981:68) (Körmendy, higher maintains and sustains energy sexual of preservation the by abstinence “[V]oluntary abstinence. of valorization the to come they end the In exercise. andintellectual like sports sexual activity inmanner anoutright they itto control try by itintochanneling other activities central problem” (Körmendy,of a relationship 1981:68) andalthough condemnnotthey do system. the down brought eventually that ruptures the into plays ideology the with thissuccessful education was not popular that or culturedidnot/couldalign not itself so perfectly fact The for that any product. paradigm cultural instrumental the ‘suggested’ the was approach correlated very well with ideologicalthe requirements of the time. Actually,it be can argued that political leadership admittedtotheir openly agendas –which Ialready reformist stated as from books, illustrating actual Lenin andthe of quotes theirwith authors two these advice baby be avictim of ignorance, irrational superstition and beliefs.” (Bogárdi, 1982:152)The let not her herself for does these child and [of tasks rearing] girl has alreadyprepared educated When talking about sexuality, the Hungarian authors emphasize that sex “is not the not “is sex that emphasize authors Hungarian the sexuality, about talking When 30 CEU eTD Collection discussion of discussion issuesgivesthese of authorsto express the theopportunity to their discontentment and homosexuality are enlisted as problem areas for contemporary sexual regulations. The position has to be taken in their regard. an butofficial be directly, addressed cannot inHungary, which concern of practices are there a bookaddress like implicationssignificantit that this. deemsnecessary Its to aretelling: this revolution mightbe quite farfrom its original andunderstanding (U.S. Western itEurope) is regulation While (idem)interpretation and limitation of sexual behavior.” this of sexual the (Körmendy, itmeans 1981:77)Theauthorexplainsthat actually “the opposite, the effective revolution equals humanizationthe of sexuality,but “itis often confused licentiousness.”with family. Theidea of sexual isrevolution interestingly tofitappropriated ideology.socialist Sexual nuclear of the confines the placeoutside takes activity sexual where areas problematic the libertarian but weare directly isnot attitudes’ to infer refer these addressed, ‘increase of that to up with motherhood, femaleitselfa limited emancipation theoreticalto in equality The rights. libertarian attitudes.” (Körmendy, 1981:58)Assoonasthedesirablefemininity model tied of got isequality into irresponsibility, into turned the decrease ofmotherly feelings and the increase of gender sometimes sadly behavior: sexual women’s changed has emancipation “female directions undesirable into in itwent some cases is that alsowarned reader the but fact, accomplished Hungary less than other (capitalist) countries. (idem) Female emancipation affected isin turn regardedwhich as an 1981:70), (Körmendy, phenomenon” global is a life social of eroticization over- “today the that They attest societies’. of ‘exploitative aspects negative asthe mentioned are they context this In love’. ‘free and pornography emancipation, female revolution, sexual On many occasions the authors react to certain trends that I call transcultural, like the Pornography Pornography ‘freeandlove’ together with sexualthe standard,double prostitution, rape 31 CEU eTD Collection unspecified. where make women sense only as mothers, whilemen’s role as husbands and fathers goes obvious is differentiation underlining of the specificities of discourse the sanitized sexuality, mothers. This and aswives womenroles about theireducate meantto 80pages,are approx. 20 are dedicated to familyit.enough if knowsomething Infact they for about 122 the of boyspages of book the about only issues and taking femalethey audience,implying that responsibleforare theones men it things, these whileforis care of a newborn, while pregnancy to a related infant for more detailed methods, the and care contraceptive of exposition more is thandifference major only The men”? with half equal are ‘women that principle the of ofenactment 157, interestingly the two books are an almostis1982:145) “Themother happily most herbaby.”(Bogárdi,awaiting 1982:152)But word-by-word replica of each other. “Older (Bogárdi, babies already shirts.” somedescribing Couldwear adult-style observable picture. this be an in obvious most is thePrescription women. and men style for features distinctive its with ofcitizen, socialist the writing. Sometimes isdeficiencies to be foundit in heterosexual marriage. sounds likeall these answerto The (idem) wholeworld.” the contaminating “unfortunately which is a cookhomosexuality and movement Hippie by the about book,brought communes sexual the pornography, using toward attitude liberal its of basis the on simpleis dismissed West the while history, bourgeois present remnanthypocritical of of morality the as bourgeois past, the lastcrumblingthe bastions of as if prostitutiondesignate doubleand the genderdifferentiated of standard sexuality, is a which they Thus past. bourgeois country’s their with as well as West the of mores sexual the with Through Through theirbooks construct styles prescriptive thesetwo ideal the image of the 32 CEU eTD Collection him, work, procreate and take care of her children and family. She is supposed to think of herself marry forlife-longfind look andpartner, to her contraceptives, availableabout information the whenbutboys, in menstruation is sets advisedto extrashe hygienetake togather measures, all matures sexually. Up to that point she is promptedespecially if she is expecting or is taking care of a newborn. to participate he in experts books her helpshiswife educational the with choresevery ina once while, in the same activitiesaccomplished as the his duties as longbut andtowards ashe works participates in marries, function reproductive the of family hethe has the women, of experiences socialistsexual the alone let menstruation, even or pregnancy state. contraception, of If he is so kind to follow hassles very the about is he’snot itsknowledgeable primordial procreation. Of course that scope the advice of the and he although knows maritalthat sexuality is occasion foran mutual hepleasure neverforgets marry indulgein pursues not cigarettes, being, he wantsto alcohol woman only the or does that masturbate (orvery islittle), not highly social isactivities, does with ita concerned cleanliness, mental and physical of kinds in all is engaged that one is citizen male socialist ideal the faces demands the of pregnancy,care and childbirth, nursing, education. (Körmendy 1981:55) So she because responsible more instinctively is woman the while act, sexual in the participating behaviorby stating man thatthe accomplishes hisbiological in function procreation through life and reproduction. Moreover it gives a biological explanation for female difference in sexual 1982:152) itis valorizing onlyavery view narrow offemale sexuality,into geared family that Produced under the motto “women’sof most beautiful isdestiny motherhood” (Bogárdi, health. with reproductive women’s addressed specifically unlessthey areconnected are not Although female sexual specificities mentioned atthebeginningare of both books, they On the other hand the ideal woman citizen resembles the man in every way until she until way every in man the resembles citizen woman ideal the hand other the On 33 CEU eTD Collection overcome by rational advice. At the same time they involuntarily hint at certain social practices – certain hintpractices social at involuntarily At sametime they the by advice. rational overcome be could of socialization asif effects the needthe still of counseling advocate authors the socialization, through mainly is acquired sexuality that beginning the at proclaim they Although family life. brunt of private conclusion sexes begsthe two of the treatment differential the men’sbe equals to were considered women society in a socialist fact and be anaccomplished to considered was liberation women’s While men. and women for up held citizenship of ideals distinctive the elaborates mother expense of women, while men’s sex is freed from anxiety. This excessive focus on the woman as information in the girl’s book attests to the unequal differentiation of responsibilities at the manifestationa not is etc.) ‘youth’ of instead of‘boys’ using of women exception small the (with same the literally treated are as equals, but of womeninto different cast made in species are men and terms women actually whenliberation, female ofit comesaccomplished men.have to is claim the to although procreation.The additional The fact that a significant productivity seeing reproductive issuesexclusively through a demographic lens. Second, part of the books on emphasis socialist the with correlated nicely is which sexuality, of view behavioristic a strong and the socialist state. family, community byher berespected shewill principles these to Keeping marriage. of promise as a ‘biologically’monogamous being whodoes not engage insex,unless itholds out the 2.4. In conclusion I will summarize the main points of my analysis. First, the authors advocate that equality was only accomplished at the official level, while women still bore the bore still women while level, official the at accomplished only was equality that Conclusion 11 Finally, it is important to point out the cracks in the argumentation. inthe cracks the out point to is important it Finally, 34 CEU eTD Collection Liberated Female (1977). socialism and the ‘Woman Problem.’“The Greatest Promise – the Greatest Humiliation.” 11 literature, by necessarily fortypesother example of promoted popular psychology. alternative. or interruption without wasnot of sexuality sanitized discourse the that itsuggests sametime the at while useof transcultural, the legitimates from cultural contexts other others not societies like Hippies, are discussed, revolution, sexual sexual pornography communes or and in Western present specific fact phenomena that of The concern. be matters to considered butstill be addressedcould – thatdirectly, not perversities castas Western/bourgeois most often It is the same conclusion that Mária Adamik and Volgyes and Volgyes have reached in their works, intheir reached have Volgyes and Volgyes and Adamik Mária that conclusion same the is It The sanitized image of sexuality presented in these two books of sex education is not of is in sex education books sexuality two these presented The sanitizedimageof 35 (2000) and The State CEU eTD Collection trends identified earlier. Dr. Szilágyi aligns himself with the official discourse when he when discourse official the with himself aligns Szilágyi Dr. earlier. identified trends sanctioned image ofsexuality andopinions, radically especiallydifferent onthe transnational Lap of the column advice in medical specific havethe sexuality been debated to that related expresses his wish to reform Hungarian sexual culture. In fact the book is summarizing the topics Our SexualCulture], valuesof socialism. basic not the they opposing that are from products middlethe category gained visibility a negotiationthrough aimedthat toprove andisin upontheirimportant follow liberalization. tokeep mind gradual cultural It that the booksofcommissionedtwo sex-education. from by inthey image ofsexuality represented the officialdiscourse sanitized departed the production. The year of their cultural of regulation the around most of debates inthecenter publication were traditionally category of this was usually a good indicationencountered a great diversity of attitudes in these books as a result of factthe that the boundaries of the degree to which group is to represent the second category of cultural politics, that of tolerated of that politics, cultural of category second the represent is to group of sexuality itsand sexualized in alternative articulated popular culture.In words,other this [Family Paper] magazine. Contentwise it is an interesting blend between subscription to the to subscription between blend interesting an is it Contentwise magazine. Paper] [Family In 1983 Dr.Vilmos Szilágyi hisbook publishes called To illustrate this diversity I will go through a four books from different years of the 1980s I consider this second cluster of I consider tobethemiddle of data secondcluster between this official ground discourses in which he takes he in which Chapter 3. Pop psychology ofthe1980s Pop psychology the theoretical stance of expert and educator and 36 Szexuális Kultúránkról[About [ WĦ r ]. I have I ]. Családi CEU eTD Collection the negative ones are mostly present in Western countries because its ideals are appropriated for itsin ideals countries because negative ones aremostly the Western are appropriated present while society, in contemporary sexuality of revalorization tothe areconnected effects positive fraught with contradictionsis it development. future towards still (Szilágyi,pointing 1983:10)Its if even and time the of period historical transitional the of symptom isarepresentative society of sexualization the that asserts He phenomena. dismissed previously somethe of reinterprets discussion ofsexuality andsetting in model upits book, meantime on pages of the he this the psychoanalytical school and its psychotherapy, Advocating theso-called ‘talking-cure.’ open language,butalways carefully explaining every and concept by his obvious subscription the to Heisliterature. his legitimating stances by his status expertunderlining usethe through of expert better,prevented. that be they can cured or inborn andhereditary, in but“appear of course the people’s lives” (Szilágyi, implying 1983:156) not are tendencies homosexual that declares he Moreover, heterosexual. is partnership valid only dismisshomosexuality and bisexuality perversities, the readerisas toinfer supposed the that you’ll be amother and boysthe (Szilágyi, befathers.” will he 1983:46)Although not does advises toexplain parents by physiological differences theirtelling “[i]f you daughters up grow imaginarythe adult-liketesting of an sexual he (Szilágyi,relationship.” 1983:66)Similarly, function of the fantasies a performs sex) a different of partner to (directed heterosexual implicit aimsdiffuse to fear parent’s of their masturbating children by that masturbationsaying “with its in is made The many instances. author The latter explicit stance. heteronormative emphasized in the or 1983:66); (Szilágyi, men in than in women present less usually and differentiated moreimportant things (Szilágyi, when he 1983:54); or claimsthatsexual is desire gender masturbationthat inadvocates is children if a itaway problem takes child’s energy from the Even more significant are thefrom waysEven more significant are inwhichhedeparts discussed previously the 37 CEU eTD Collection childbirth hand (Szilágyi,On areslowly 1983:130). genderroles changing other the ifata even sexualthe act aswives (Szilágyi, 1983:107) and their is sexualdesire aftercurbed pregnancy and into’ be ‘talked to have who ones the are They ‘symptoms’. these display still women adults As 1983:65) than (Szilágyi, of those more males.” by needs arethe determined circumstances the i.e.level female sexual deliver capacity. orgasmic highest Thus the responsiveness, sexual of automatically not does pubescence boys, girls’ to contrary less “because, masturbate as girls on early manifested is tendency This men. than ‘less-sexual’ as cast are women hand one the On of regulator of sexuality. ‘mild is regulation’ befound to insexual whichineducation, hisview is perform to function the practices, exhibitionism,voyeurism, pedophilia,gerontophilia andbestiophilia. way Szilágyi’s of books, the this boundaries authorredraws of sexual limitingsado-masochistitdeviance to commissioned in the encountered position the to Contrary values. of set different a promote ideologically embedded as ones the forward in put even commissionedthe books if they seek to out what these qualifiersalternativevulgar is“brutal, andperverse.” (Szilágyi,1983:163) Unfortunately,we never find specifically refer pornography iconography. “gentleGood andshows images of its sex,while civilized” devalued to, but they reveallong-termfor andcouples differentiates and between bad good pornography on groundsthe ofits that these arguments only pre-marital sexuality, homosexuality bisexualityand but he alsoargues for marriagestrial are just as not He rehabilitates 1983:79) hypocritical.” repressive (Szilágyi, or ‘official’ morals weretoo bestwherethe werealwaysflourishing “secret by that sanitized sexuality orgies warning seems to indirectly(idem)profit-makingby and[Western] advertisement. author asexemplified pornography The criticize the previously described discourse on sexuality which As for women, the samemix of officially sanctioned and divergent opinions is presented. 38 I called CEU eTD Collection men femaleon sexuality. (Bágyoni, 1985:13)Although on women’srelying experience educating as book the designates author the because framework instrumentalist explicit an has Ádám Magazin medium. questionnaire was The published pages the on of the isthat prioritized is initself, interestingan I data but thinkis it more that of of an outcome the is femalesexuality it that fact men. Admittedly, the among research similar questionnaire-based woman whichmysterious Actually, ‘the is justcreature’. book first followed the bya this was elucidatemen forinfer isbecause one study that the meantto could misleading, of enigma the be to tends title its of interpretation The issue. this on take fresh a represents it homosexuality, isapproach novelinquite itself butasit also touches upon subjects asfemale orgasm femaleor This experience-based 68)its questionnaire. to of ages 14to the (between women’s answers entitled Bágyoni, it is1985 byAttilapresents the findingsauthored of sexualbehavior.a survey women’s of It function of convincing women to engage in sexual intercourse more often. education manual. Actually issues the femaleof be pleasurecome marginalized to ashaving the sex- a self-proclaimed for insufficient is advice practical his but breasts, the and clitoris the of stimulation the foreplay,he even stresses importance of sexual and petting the advocates Szilágyi means. official by promoted femininity of image asexual the from dissimilar considerably is capacity acquire itas the best way orgasmic it moreover designates to masturbation, female mentions even author the that fact The 1983:12) (Szilágyi, involvement.” sexual or emotional initiates she – fit sees she if – but relationship, a of development further the await passively not differentpace in publicthe privatethe “the life. than (Szilágyi, modern 1983:12)So woman does I chose the next book because it specifically addresses female sexuality. Published in thenext I chose itbecausebook femalesexuality. Published specifically addresses [Adam Magazine], probably with an overwhelmingly female audience. The study “Üzenet a férfiaknak” a “Üzenet [Message to Men] and it is said to be based on 5488 39 Családi Lap [Family Paper] and [Family Paper] CEU eTD Collection heterosexual one. There are no more than two questions related to homosexual experience one experience homosexual to related questions two than more no are There one. heterosexual is the researcher the interests that partnership only The highlighted. overwhelmingly tolerated inis in compromise positing an inherent thecategory negotiation the research outcome of of resulting the and requirements contradictory these meet to part author’s the on endeavor family” as the and homosexuality (Bágyoni, astatisticalfact.The only treating 1985:13) timesby constructingnamingas educational, it thewomen “the guardians of flame the in love of the of ideology socialist the fitting with concerned also is he But Hite. Shere and Kinsey Alfred framingdeliberately hismode investigation famousthe of upon US basedstudiesby conducted by legitimates his approach and isciting The interpretation foreclosed. thus researcher in difference any for Accounting “satisfaction”. or “orgasm” “sexual experience” example: asfor for granted meanings aretaken but their areneverquestioned concepts Similarly, certain aslegitimate long participationvolunteer based asthestudy is anonymous itin ison as thiscase. is biased Moreover thesuspicion of of toacultural selection respondents generalizable context. be to findings the for in order sample a representative up build to impossible virtually emerge methodology. is Research from its sexuality becauseit especially on is problematic inmost major drawbacks As surveysthe andof 23-24. between happened18 rightages the problems asoriginating sexual with first the experience ishave of women, which supposed to see all tendsto Bágyoni Most often 1985:14-18) alcohol (Bágyoni, consumption. orgasm to up andissues take masturbation ranging from the rest numberthe through partners, of and experience sexual first their to five next the identity participant’s the to refer eight first the which of questions, 51 contains survey The explanations. individualist offering and ‘facts’ statistical using a quantitative methodology hisdata through he stance, approaches author’s the legitimates cultural products, as ‘different, but not dangerous’. Heteronormativity is dangerous’. Heteronormativity butnot as‘different, cultural products, 40 CEU eTD Collection abandoning thelegitimation by of sexuality focusing on love-makingcontext-less emphasizedby presented while performing an impressive of variety sexual modi operandi. book. It hasonly 84 pages majority the of which are detailed colored of photos a couple outrage.” (Pereszlényi,innovation is most 1987:4)The striking visual relatedtothe aspectof this hypocritical or immaturity childlike with book small this receive will some if even – cause is addresses“Itforeword by even for issue: writing agood the factthat his the geneticist the The anxiety with hewhich is keen on positing hiswork as educational and necessary is mirrored is his 1987:37-38) defensive(Pereszlényi, on the book repeatedly claim that pornographic. and illustrations of ways the givingof andreceiving sexual pleasure. The firstthing hedo hasto is go aboutsexualitybook publishes relatively photographic littlelarge, a with textand colored, from greatly at commissionedthe books beginningthe of decade. Zoltán the Pereszlényi in 1987 életstilus Dr. Vilmos Szilágyi from - as book the is1983 andit entitled under the title Ö in liberalization first The this isperiod. one by itZoltán and waspublishedPereszlényi in 1987 perspective. correcttheir measure to refrain from any taking authors butthe incase, inapplicable is her questionnaire by including declaringthatthe drawbacka lesbian thoughtsof woman the critical last at overcoming this makes afeebleattempt The book development. for sexual ‘normal’ consequences no with experimentation, sexual sporadic as featured be only can homosexuality establishing its (non)existence and the other the age when it occurred. Clearly,in this framework, The last two books I would like to discuss together because they represent the peak of [Open Marriage a More Modern Lifestyle]. Both in their style and content they depart they content and style their in Both Lifestyle]. Modern More a Marriage [Open römszerzés [Giving Pleasure] and second the onein 1988 is by samethe author– 41 Nyitott házasságkorszer Giving Pleasure Ħ is bb CEU eTD Collection complementary fellatio. activity, complementary cunnilingus, thedebutof sexual a depiction liberalization includes thisof of representations point the a rare sightAt manner. in a addressed analogous male carefully female turn-taking, ‘sexualinterests’, and even in contemporary media. It is coupled, by necessity, with its background. colored neutral a in on as floatingtotally air, is pictured couple featured the factthat the I havefound book the quite balanced, with about the interest same amount of dedicated to Fig. 1 42 CEU eTD Collection the passivethe excluding attitude, amore interpretation. dynamic she isimmobilizedby herin but Fig. posture, 3 if even she has she fixedchance the in remains the woman in the position of passively enjoying what her partner has to offer. In Fig. 1 and Fig.2. indisputable signofmale sexual Atprowess. samethe time,most of these picture photographs visualto this dismissed,butnot disregardedposited women’sasthe material pleasureis or In spite of all its novelty courageous Pereszlényi’s undertaking hasits limits. According Fig. 2 43 CEU eTD Collection harmony or for agood marriage.” (Szilágyi, 1988:30) He is interested in exploring the concept of advocatingfrom his position “family futurologist”as is that “love not indispensable for sexual of sexuality. representation static sterile, a leadfactors together to decency.Allthese some handstill ‘common-sense’ one while retaining the on liberating is message contradictory, overall the atthat time. Thus legally already available by modelshiding-of-the-faceis featured the by induced fear –nude of censorship were calendars manifest the that Idoubt nakedness. ‘personalized’ of embarrassment the overcome itcannot Despite the lack of illustrations, Szilágyi’s 1988 book is 1988book Despite amuch thelack bolder Szilágyi’s illustrations, of endeavor Although is book the promoting anopen(sometimes even discussionproud) sexuality,of Fig. 3 44 CEU eTD Collection products was reduced to those explicitly wanting to overthrow the regime. This lastartifact This regime.the overthrow to wanting explicitly those was reduced to products very coverintentions clear. makestheauthor’s illustrated insociety.The modernizations other isdevelopment inevitable, because theinstitution ofmarriage has to be updated along with all exclusively) sexual relationships with third parties outside the couple. The author claims that this “enlarged monogamy” (Szilágyi, 1988:38)which in this case means openly engaging in (not By the end of the state-socialist regime the domain of cultural threatening potentially of regime domain the By state-socialist the end of the Fig. 4 45 CEU eTD Collection ‘modernization’ and‘openness’ is Inmany waysare especiallyfamiliar. author this not only a in ‘flexibility’ Hungary. discourses around neo-liberal circulated contemporary values the The to similar are strikingly modernization legitimate to seeks which Szilágyi means through the that 1988:102 emphasis mine) butfamilychildren, based structure a onequality modern (Szilágyi,behavior.” parental and ideal of the of ideal “the over-mediatized of this in statement: ironic tone the canbedetected of official discourse condemnation explicitAn almost for hold children. projects these ‘modernization’ address what important function of the family as portrayeddoesn’t by the get official talked socialist about What discourse marriage. official the before period fortrial even the contract marriage literal as a well is child-rearing. and nor does he Szilágyi iswhich said entail to “open“flexibility” an and personality,” “learning” as (Szilágyi, 1988:38) doesn’t seem to be concernedpsychological intelligence” (Szilágyi, 1988:46)Healso endorses discourseofmodernizationthe with the most which“presupposes only not market-value” healthy also personality,a well-developed but some languagemetaphors. the“assessment Thisbusiness He isoverwhelming. talks about of our Szilágyi to frame endeavors consciously sexualand relationships intimate through economic achievingbe it of revealing.One changes mostthe found obvious are is to inhislanguage-use. view will contribute to modernization, an imminent historical development. His means for reformulation of marriage itself. In this book Szilágyi promotes emancipatory changes that in his starting from the reinterpretationbooks from 1981 and of1982. sexualin the asimagined family the imageof the to leastcompared at alternative aradical presents Its noveltyactivity consists before in theand wishoutside to reform of marriage,the structures but ofalso society a The most significant evolution that is particularly present on the pages of this last book is book last this of pages the on present is particularly that evolution significant most The so-called socialist familymodel doesn’t only familyentail planning andtwo-three 46 CEU eTD Collection the negotiated, step-by-step expansion step-by-step negotiated, the middleof or the mirrors development This sexuality. on stances official of rejection explicit almost an reaching and bolder manualsbolder grew sexual education beginning 80s,the atthe of differences little With of sexuality. discourse away from sanitized morestep the one for above stands Every presented in artifact onsexuality the officialchapter. described the previous discourse from departing inof sexuality, gradually its portrayal drastically changedquite cultural policy policingthe of sexuality in its cultural in representations sex educational books. evolution through lensesofthe itsthe in cultural changes through focuspolitics, specificthe on becomelater new to the regime. what was of enthusiast ardent and an unconcerned also but values, of set in this articulating predecessor as the one of as sanitized sexuality. one of the of Instead asexual havefoundmothers in they themselves their social acknowledgement? However, the sex-discourse turned out to be just as limiting for women anyone resistsubscription to newly-foundthe values when meant they individual well as as moreflexibleimportantly, challenging and, oppressive agendas.Howcould state-socialist modern, isone that meant sex-discourse of the requirements the to conform To roles. sexualized new their into pressured were women everybody, for life sex active an encouraging atmosphere morals that tolerates pre-marital and even extra-marital sexual relationships, and the general disconnectit from family and reproduction. With the availability of contraceptives, the change in 3.1. The primary conclusion is that during the relatively short spanitsfollowed I period. avery dynamic was state-socialism Hungarian of The lastdecade of a decade, Hungarian At the same time a new discourse on female sexuality was emerging, that sought to sought that emerging, was sexuality female on discourse new a time same the At Conclusion 47 tolerated category of cultural politics. cultural of category CEU eTD Collection nuanced picture of the cultural forces in system. forces a particular of cultural the picture nuanced more a toobtain in to take order step isanecessary ‘worthy’ sources in of category the culture another discourse on female sexuality, namely the sex-discourse. articulate Thereforecoherently they but including drawbacks, and popular flaws their have they Admittedly, published. newspaperbutinalso and columns, books like popular research of that was fundedBágyoni and inonly the not debated sexuality was widely issueof the In popular culture picture. different Butgoingnonexistent. artifactsthe through of from popular psychology 1980s the gave mea in outcome? question I explore next this chapter. the from such an gainedhas ‘malethe the questionor worker’ important remains: what party ‘liberalization’ has been by permitted then politics party readingthis is questionable. Thusthe of every of process the step that intoif account we take Nevertheless, state. for the arrangement taking thus awayone of mostthe powerful means of population availablecontrol social as of theideological use family ultimate foreclosed the the becauseitsubversive, and as beresistant interpreted can this sexuality of sanitized discourse official of the perspective women based only definedby on their sexual personas usually age and From looks. the provided social for mother, beingrecognition thesex-discourse awife andvalue has come to double bindof whore/madonnathe dichotomy.Moreover, while upheldnorms previously in learnbe trapped became the more, women attractive, to to how experiment initiative, to take notsignify to females Prompted new do that theirsexuality. asoverlysexualized outside roles Mária Adamik claims that research on sexuality in state-socialist Hungary was practically 48 CEU eTD Collection contradictionslimitations or of newpoliciesthe Most could importantly bedebated. scandalsthe aftereconomic changes 1968 started political and by 1960seffectively currentpolitical, the the addressed issues. economic andcultural Duringthe executives andthehigher The weekly copies politicians. rankedparty reaching600,000 editions middlecompanies’ not they but membersthe touch different managementcould the of clerks fun and the the at poke limits. They could certain within of course issues,” more everyday address “were reality afterthe andauthors of thatfree editors 1957the to 2007 Jan.25)states The journalist Ferenc László in an article about the history of history the about article in an László Ferenc journalist The severefew criticism political with periods, likea exceptional directly the preceding one 1956. get revenge. The word The revenge. get and authority ofthe representative local the outmaneuver to succeeds who goose-herd a lad, young clever but poor 12 The name of the publication refers to a famous tale forchildren by Mihály Fazekas, in which the protagonist is a 4.1. “On the other hand it is more and more clear that Hungarian cultural life was perhaps more Ludas Matyi efficiently tied to the novelties of the English and French tradition by the iron curtain and curtain iron the by tradition French and English the of novelties the to tied efficiently Historical background ludas has in Establisheda long humor. Hungarian history in 1945it voice gave to Chapter 4. has doublethe meaning of Ludas Matyi censorship than by long-awaitedfreedom the […]” with geese 49 , political erotica , political Ludas Matyi and prankster Ludas Matyi Ludas became the forum forum the where the became . 12 Klaniczay, 2003:141 ( Magyar Narancs , CEU eTD Collection should exhaust the category of ‘prohibition’,butit is foruma that comes closest tothat category. tolerate two) in chapter (described categories of cultural politics between two the right border on the By examining By humor works the same way.is, That it draws on these shared cultural practices of sexual politics. 1999:143) Thepopularity publication its be Hungarian the ifof only admit explainedcan that we of symbolic maps and codes. These are, for the most part, only semiconscious.” (Kipnis, violation of pollution taboos invokes in us clearly depends on the existence, within every culture, publication the of audience the that satisfaction mightthe Addressing research. my own for insights get relevant some from reading it, Kipnis states: “[t]hat sense of pleasure and danger that economic independence failedissue last so the of independence that economic made toachieve board Unfortunately, by editorial the attempt 1990every (1960s). after censorship. like the publications other birth to itgave 13 ( market.” media of the and liveliness the socialism state decadeof last the In 1980s). (early inflation criticism of punished most severely the or revolution ‘excessive’the (1957), of internationalcriticism officialsparty (1961), (1970) politics which more less or thesurrounded publicationregularly toissueswere connected likethe 1956 Although mostly within the category of 4.2. In relation magazine anitemIn relation inhow to this Iam interested situated of culture popular Laura Kipnis in her analysis of the way sexual humor works in works humor sexual way the of analysis her in Kipnis Laura and Ludas Matyi Ludas forbid Ludas Matyi Methodology 13 takes up the issue of sexuality. I do not want to analyze this data because it because analyze data this wantto not I do sexuality. of uptheissue takes was flourishing was and “takingmoreof advantage relaxed the atmosphere my aim is to explore the relevant cultural map of the period. tolerated Magyar Narancs , every once in awhile Ludas Magazine 50 Ludas Matyi , 2007Jan.25)Thisisthe period when (1970s) or the more the erotic (1970s)or Ludas Matyi was published in 1992. was the target of political Hustler magazine has magazine Tollasbál CEU eTD Collection illustrations regardless of where they were placed in the magazine. inthe of they regardless where were placed illustrations label’sthe Ichose the out futility. Therefore justpointing away of was caption andthatusingit this under gathered images of the trait common is no there that Irealized as Iresearched but half-way in ironically marked edition through the as“Over/Under “Over 18”or some 16” cases issues dominantnot the type.jokes with contain adoublepage connotationssexual wereMost and the specific packaging of and packaging of specific the issuesthe asjokes places penalized. author relativethe cultural 2003:255)But (Klaniczay, relaxation Hungarian of politics its and censored consequently was and body lower naked the show to as far so went which or samizdat literature about sex – I am referring here to the calendar that Klaniczay mentions others. (See the list of illustrations.) than represented better are inevitably some years but cover decade, whole the to of pictures connotations and Ifound most interesting formy topic. I tried to have relatively the same amount political change. Of all issuesIchosethevisualthe examples thathad obvious sexual rapid of analysis befitting aperiod regime, the state-socialist of demise the decadepreceding the boundary to draw between the the forbid category. Besides, through the analysisof this data Ican show the struggle over where into issues of some andof magazine stance actual the more push the resistant could allow fora humor which genreof the to mostly related characteristics, some generic are there that I believe 4.3. Ludas Matyi Part of the reasons why I chose For my present analysis I went through all the issues of Political erotica was a popular weekly magazine of political satire. Althoughmagazine always satire. wasapopularof weekly political present, toleration Ludas Matyi and prohibition 51 was the inaccessibility of more underground Ludas Matyi . Ludas Matyi as the next best alternative. from 1988, 1980 to CEU eTD Collection 1. Prostitution is one of the favorite topics of surely alternative principles framingof arealsopossible. but exhibited, images the that emphasis the of interpretation my on based are distinctions These in Hungary. tourism and liberation sexual critique, social explicit prostitution, of that categories, 14 which the caricatures from which the caricatures one. theother it moreis than conclude interest of that to weare and visibility more much sexualizedwoman the gains of Theprotagonist latter, the and sex-discourse. the femaleon sexuality in namelypresented the chapters, previous sanitizedthe image of sexuality ideals. political itis is inherently dispossessed, rather often transgressive values and complicit with conservative the by launched if even status-quo, the of critique of forms all not because ‘ambivalent’, of social in ButasIwill chaptercriticism. this isshow kindof this transgression quite sorts all of pleasures implied the delivering time same the at while fun’ having are ‘men of alibi as ‘publishable’ for the general public. The joke form offers the authors as well as the readers the Matyi Actually,pleasuresin caseof pornography.” displeasures 1999:144) of and the (Kipnis, tothetransgressiveunrelated notare probably slightly – way ofsayingsomething transgressive jokesadvanced by Kipnis “the –jokes of Laura pleasures areoften anddispleasures that a coded argument the emulates closely of publication, the paradigm the Ferencwas László to according “kimondatlanul kimondás” I would rate the seen i.e. limits, but Iwouldstilltransgression asquite within certain radical, still rate The dialectic of“saying saying” without The following analysis is meant to provide the range of contexts and its specificities in specificities its and contexts of range the provide to meant is analysis following The There are two major ways for the portrayal of women which parallel the two discourses Ludas Matyi picture young sexualized women. I created four separate young Icreated sexualized women. picture Ludas Matyi 52 14 ( Magyar Narancs magazine. , 2007, Jan.which, 2007, 25) Ludas CEU eTD Collection 1985 dich,blonder Prinz duschöner Fig. 5.– and you must Ichliebe practice: – July 3, 53 you herefor? – Sept. 4, 1985 jobkind IIIC!What grade are of summer Fig. 6. – My God, it’s Kovács Ibolya from CEU eTD Collection presented as a social problem psychology pop manualssexual education 1985, Szilágyi (Bágyoni 1988),where1983 and is it of deviance. These (Körmendy, or ‘girls’in 1981:77) books the commissioned encountered from ‘sanitized’ references the don’t seem to be concernedrights.export-import TheHungarian imageof inprostitution is these pictures radically different about the teacher and theirhigh critique to something else, such as the excess of German clientele,school the point embarrassment authors the of which through means the as it treating by naturalized, becomes phenomenon student in the rather goal, ultimate the isnot prostitution this of representation the illustrations three In these situation – Iam ifwonderingor we are alsoget going to rightthe export. to–Feb.1986 5, the caricatures Facilities Fig.7. of new deregulations of 54 CEU eTD Collection 2. Similarly, explicit social criticism is articulated by referring to (mostly) female sexuality. female (mostly) to referring by isarticulated criticism social explicit Similarly, 2. sanctions, although theirleave attire revealing nodoubt about their business. girls’ are portrayed in public places like the street, the bar or the hotel notconcerned about social 15 1981 Fig. 8. – I’m still waiting for aphone in Budapest and my daughter is a call-girl in Paris. – Jan. 1, manuals thesexeducation of Contrary theposition for ‘visiting’to prostitutes. intelligentsia teacher) (the for be teenager ‘depraved’ the ridiculingfocusingopportunity can an on precocious the of excuse the how of example interesting is an 6 Fig. playmates. sexual shallow of image fit their not in does engaged women are these that calculation ‘serious’ because of the especially young look rather healthy inferringand asense of themselves. jokesagency The about work natureillicit of nor their position undignified the activities and dangerous but they in,that are “Prostitution is not inevitable.” (Szilágyi 1983:159) 15 , there is no sense of this business withering away. Quite the opposite. The ‘working The opposite. the Quite away. withering business this of sense no is , there 55 CEU eTD Collection depicted situation is an foropportunity author the pointto atHungarian economic hardships – The on. work jokes these that layers multiple the of example excellent an is 8 Figure criticism. is see howinterestingbodies women’sIt means for naked arethe to all social of universal kinds Fig. 10–Feb.1982 11, enough for ababy food ad? – Jan 29, 1981 Fig. 9.-Tell isme mate, this set upsexy 56 1988 learn- Let’s inorientation Apr. darkness. – 6, Fig. 11. Save electricity CEU eTD Collection 3. There are instances in which the periodical more explicitly addresses issues of sexuality. the dominant as well as the subordinate groups is whatmakes inherentcontradictions of discoursearoundsexual the liberation fun(pop-psychology). Poking at and the books) commissioned (the regime socialist of conservative the values hypocritical allowitits outrightoffend, itself but readerspresented to with the opportunity deridethe to both whites, itwhites, hectors blacks andotherminorities.” (Kipnis, 1999:157)Surely, taunt to merely content not liberals; offend to sure doubly makes it Right, the only offend to inpossibilityKipnis’ relation relevanceof examinethe with argument to magazine upthe and opens valuetothe confers additional (consumerism, eroticization) trends capitalist/liberal more of as well as slogans socialist of critical simultaneously as up itself for Thepossibility (Fig.11). economic recession of period slogans a during popular butalso society (Fig. 9.), itssexualization of reverse, overwhelming the (Fig. or 10.) image correct ideologically andthe between ‘reality’ contradiction the by at of artists pointing humor itas Packaging of dissidence. a example particular issueof controversial the sametime the long waiting list for phones – as an effect of state controlled ‘planned’ economy and toaddress at Ludas Matyi manages to mock different aspects of Hungarian socialism,for e.g. the status 57 Ludas Matyi transgressive. Hustler Ludas Matyi Ludas Matyi . “Not content did not to set to CEU eTD Collection 1981 you –Jan.29, firstone. werethe gang that Fig. 13. - I’ll be yours if you never tell the Fig. 12. – Irén, it’s not normal that we don’t have any sexual problems. –Dec. 11, 1980 58 CEU eTD Collection psychology discussedbooks psychology in chapter, i.e. the previous and 1988. Bágyoni 1985, Szilágyi 1983 This is theflip side discoursethe of of ‘openly talking aboutsex’ for e.g.by advocated pop- the byfashiondictated Fig.and well as (Fig.Fig. 15). 12 their contradictions(Fig. 13)as 14and and books as disseminated unveils bypoppsychology from deviates nature their discourses the itsmagazine criticism the Through (Fig. 15). theambivalence generation older the of Fig. 13)or (Fig.12andteenage sexualactivity 6), andFig. contradictions of the (Fig.14. sex-discourse the 24, 1985 she only wants to go to a boys’ camp. – July me.year helpFig. 14.–Please This doctor, When Ludas Matyi addresses issues of directly addressesissues it of sexuality like usually takes up topics 59 29, 1987 have proof! (She’s holding condoms.) –July NowI me,asshole! on cheating – You’re Fig. 15.Discovered ‘87 CEU eTD Collection 29, 1985 my village” and the three dots indicate “all dogs are barking at me” which is the nextline. – June Fig. 16Changing Village (sheis folksinging apopular songcalled badboy “Iam theworst of well. as tourism. Most importantly itis of interest how women’s sexuality plays a central role in this field I paternalist state. will idea, this extend whenlater discussing model the femininity.of for amale-ownedmale cartoonists –if publication itis possible attribute a genderto toa Matyi sanitized images young, nakedinbeautiful and of sexuality. Instead exaggeratedly women criticizingBut mean side one doesn’tareturn i.e. to the other, to theofficially sanctioned, areironically astheagents lives. is Infactof portrayed a maletheir this by fantasy,drawn 4. A distinct part of the periodical’s jokes deals with different aspects of aspects of Hungarian jokes periodical’sdealswith the different part of 4. Adistinct 60 Ludas CEU eTD Collection catering to the foreign clientele at Lake Balaton. Similarly, rural tourism appears to take to appears tourism Similarly, rural Lake Balaton. at foreign the clientele catering to is a daring remark on Fig. tosexual services. is the 18 aspects mocked related it tourism,most of When the one comes to sex tourism industry that flourished inFig. 18.– Marketing strategy postersays:(the your disposal) At –July 29, 1987 Hungary at the time, mostly - Fig. 17.Keyhouse Don’t move Dezs Ę , Iam getgoing key to the myself. –June29,1985 61 CEU eTD Collection the followingimage: the with of sex-discourse the star’ ‘leading the of me characteristics the let summarize In conclusion female version beauty. of thenational isappreciate to assumed tourist Hungarian the clothing, of revealing Western-type an adopt exaggeratedly they areseen to foreigners targeting While for as well. beauty sexualized woman takingmiddle-aged the features that one only is the this chargeTellingly, tourism. rural internal illustrates 17, of her partner’s tourism in of bythepatterned(referenced countryside the men). shirts the The lastFig.sexual picture, activity. foreign of costs the to criticism implicit an and sense this in example is an 16. Fig. Therecountry. is a shift in of the parts other to foreigners attract wasto intention thegovernment potential thefull reach their portrayal of the to have started Lake Balaton on inas theresorts But foreigner. 1980s the the towards oriented Lake Balaton referenced by the image of the hotel and the sailing boats. This is a site specifically is in of distinct representation inarguably abovetourism Hungary. Fig.18 to the types of refer 16), a transformation more mocked than mourned by the authors at by a mourned mocked more authors 16), the than transformation image the oflocal advantage in beauties alter village of (Fig. 17)which turn (Fig. Hungarian the 62 Ludas . The three pictures three . The CEU eTD Collection always know what they want and have clear plans on how to getit. In these portrayals there is whoyoung even secretaries,prostitutes models students, or women areteenagehighschool pleasuresin involvedthe onthem her rather draws pictured The to trigger spectacle, amusement. a formulates itto. Although notcritique of itgo asfar ‘modern does the woman’ asquestioning constructs the caricature of this woman emphasizing the extremes that the sex-discourse can lead but calculatedliberated andsexually emancipated, beautiful,the of category the general byherself represents young woman, theand control selfish take desiring to finances/householdof andfamily, unattractive. thus She protagonist rational excessively materialistic, unaffectionate, her as showing herself, woman pun ison the of the sex-discourse. tousinpresented Fig.19.wheresheis advantage determined of to take all The her prerogatives. Admittedly,power (most often the sexual power) to get what she wants. The ultimate cold-headed beauty is - - Fig. 19Planning 19, 1981 From youryou want name,from Ionly a child, Jocó and from my house.–Feb.the parents This model is definitely the winner on of This model is on pages the winner the definitely 63 Ludas Matyi Ludas , because she has the has she because , Ludas Matyi Ludas CEU eTD Collection as the ultimate loser, old, fat and ugly but above all almost absurdly asexual. for the woman imagined by the sanitized discourse on sexuality. In the magazine she is portrayed in ways as pornography. similar contemporary quite women of thesexualization completes but ideal eighties beauty the of small-breasted the against overemphasis largeof breasts combinedand buttocks long with legs lips,and full notonly goes older women are always clothed as well as the men. The spectacle. entire the provide they gaze of male the object the naked. Being represented get often most that ones the are bodies their that note to important also is It men. on depend women becauseitmaterial endswhichisinfor help but they cannot factadevelopednotion use of amoral, naturally is sexuality women’s that here assumption implicit is an There money. and Sexuality is justa means through which moreimportant women these get to things likestatus teenagers. the or models, the for theprostitutes, not moral edge, have a doesn’t sexuality only’ as successful expectations to work in the jokes. the general tendency to use, to naturalize women’s sexuality as ‘manipulative/oriented to money The second category of women that gets represented in gets represented of that The secondwomen category If attheiconography look we of femalebody the itis note interesting thethat to The category of the young and beautiful is also very interested in sex. But this kind of 64 Ludas Matyi in this context stands context inthis CEU eTD Collection Fig. 21–You know honey, Ineed something keep to me from smoking …–Apr.1988 6, husbands’ sexual activity. Fig. 17, Fig. 15, and Fig. 21. are examples where the obnoxious wife is attempting to control her male torefertheirlanguage added by ‘other’. female to fact thatthe they appropriated the advantage of freedom the from householdand duties in engage alittle socializing. Extra pun is they that take sexualconquests, partners’ ladies their unconcernedThe two about areso inportrayed aspolicing lives.ironic theirhusbands’ But sexual casethereisan this edge. double - July 24, 1985 Fig. 20 – Finally we can talk inpeace. Myhusband has picked up homeand brought chick. some The absurdity of this image is stressed by the fact that more women of this group are 65 CEU eTD Collection partners ‘only’ the replacement of watching it. of watching ‘only’ thereplacement partners the between sex no is there that connotation by indicating ‘control-freak’ the immediately more is woman The movies. missing the over characters) three all of contours body similar the visual representation of both figures is that of the asexual parents, equally upset (as referenced by Fig. 22–My LittleGod! Steve has taken porncassettesthe kids’to the –Sept.4,1985 party! of privilegethe be to ‘ordinary’. Thenextpicture addsaninteresting twist to this idea. advantage manage bias bythewaymen totake lives.isevidenced with Thepatriarchal sex their theirhusbands andlose in interest all sex men while undisturbed by their age and uglinessgoon onby fat becheated will they andugly, grow marry they becauseonce beautiful are youngand 1999:137) In a different cultural In adifferent1999:137) resistanceit toofficial cultural and social – be context discourses against the debasements of the low (the lower classes, low culture, the lower body…” (Kipnis, its opposition to high culture and official culture, which feeds the continual need to protect itself In her of examination 4.4. Clearly, the message is that women’s destiny is to make mostthe of their lives while they Owning movies porn in wasillegal socialistitimpossible.but Hungary, wasn’t The Conclusion Hustler , Laura Kipnis writes: “The power of grossness is very simply 66 CEU eTD Collection could want them. naturally amoral, butolder andugly stupidwomen not tounderstandare that no‘decent’ man is Female ‘success’ imageof sexuality dichotomy. orsex-discourse/sanitized whore/madonna incompatibilityoldersides asexuallosers women the stressing as two the of of the handitderides activities.profit-making social Ontheother these the stigma thatsurrounds or theirmaterial for sexual powers forgets aboutgains, whileitin the (s)exploitation inherent sexuality is limited in many ways. On one the handmocks it young, beautiful forwomen using responsibility and moral concern while keeping upgenderinequalities in family.the freeof as malesexuality of construction the from benefited have men side other the face’. On citizens, image whilekeepingupthe morea human socialism ‘constructing with dangerous) of implicitly (and male its of patience the buy to sought regime oppressive an how is this because women’s menof right of men’ The‘brotherhood bodies to wasnecessary (Pateman, 1988). as universal the byCarol Pateman described contract sexual the of conditions the recreating thus paternalist stateand its male workers. A sort of agreement was reached at the expense of women, category of Hungarian cultural politics was in flux due to the constant negotiation itof between a which was a more sensitive issue in the eyes of the political regime than anything else. status-quo, of formulation the critique radical the packagingfor of was usedas female sexuality socialism as asexual, or even too sanitized dissent. possibility of the readers its skilled offer laughter of excuse is a one-sided picture. onthe socialistinspired capitalist – is enacted pagesmagazines,humor which or of under the In the case of Although criticizing both Although both discourses the on criticizing sexuality middle the that observe to is imperative it chapters three previous of the In thelight state- seeing that argument the support to evidence sufficient gives analysis above The 67 Ludas Matyi stance on stanceon women’s Ludas Matyi CEU eTD Collection the rules is not necessarily a feminist project, because here, in here, becausecaseof the afeministproject, necessarily rulesthe isnot hand, is this kind of transgression to the advantage of women? I believe that the mere defiance of sexual functions power in of favor an overtly critique.” (Kipnis,political 1999:153)On other the such a singularwithinis reading theimaginary that the parody, staging ritualsofmalethe of male bodies opens up possibilitythe misogynyof charges. Butwhat becomes for problematic to relation asaservice mightmanybe described areinwhat that female and bodies are naked possibility of greater complexity. Laura Kipnis claims that the simple fact “[t]hat more of the through officially either represented “sexwas undercommunism that statement by supported Vera Sokolová’s sanctioned issuefemale has of sexuality been not under state-socialism addressed (Adamik, 2000:170) and channelscited inAdamik,2000:186)This complemented byAdamik’s argument, that the observation or women’s bodies were underless not scrutiny publicly approved in than Western (Fodor, societies.” represented fashion, emphasizedmagazines andefficiency – than make-up cleanliness rather adornment at all” practices. largely Women’s from and forbidden pornography,overt absent werestrictly are possiblecommodification of the female body, in particularbecause in advertisements, prostitution, or of a context. social and a specifichistorical in establish nature offemaleprogressivein toorconservative its representations order sexuality, inposition to asatisfying degree.society women’s question doesn’t it and place in its contract sexual the keeps still criticism social When sexuality is not portrayed for its own sake as it is in this case, there is the In inFodor herPh.D.1997 Éva argues forms dissertation “certain that of the entails that cultural product of each individual the assessment Iadvocate Instead 68 Ludas Matyi harsh CEU eTD Collection similarly difficult, as it addresses both women and men (as in the case of inthe case men and (as women both itaddresses as difficult, similarly is culture popular Finally, gendering culture. popular and consumerism between capitalism, connections inherent abandon needis the the to there Therefore regimes. andeconomic political across similarities great shows it details in its Moreover regime. apolitical on contingent not is above). popular culture Second, status-quo of (critique the inothers transgressive but too complex. It may be normalizing in a certain aspect (in gender relations in the above example) impossibleis posit to asinherently normalizing popular culture orsubversivebecause thefieldis line the from time to timeit. andgotpenalized for crossed cultural products someother category while negotiated situating inthe themselves parts contamination by its other. contamination gendering asfeminine be can only justified bythemasculine bias of patriarchy, afraid of ( findHungary forit all to of works was possible categories cultural three politics representative popular culture inHungarian sexuality of study case I the meantThrough complexity. contradictory its in to seen not is point at the complexitiesmethodological bias. Popular culture is most often ignored, buteven itwhen considered (Fodor) of popular cultural sources. In the case of support Therefore my analysis has important implications for the study of popular culture. First, it , tolerate and forbid ) – some of it endorsing the official discourse on sexuality, other 69 Ludas Matyi Ludas ). Its CEU eTD Collection Marxistand theorist of sees‘massculture’ label) asthe is(his industry culturethe product that John Fiskeare seen who as poles opposing the popularisthinkingof about culture. Adorno a an overview of the debate I turned to the ideas of Theodor Adorno from the Frankfurt School and For context. state-socialist for theHungarian theories of these relevance potential andthe studies fieldcomplemented oftheinputfeminism byhascultural the brought of consideration the to culture. high of manner intheproducts than coherent in amore articulated of discourse sexuality gets ispopular thesite whereadistinct in capitalism. culture caseof In the 1980s, Hungary the of is in asit context the as legitimate isjust regimes under state-socialist culture popular the background against which I built upthe main argument of my thesis, namelyis that the study situation of This state-socialism. under sexuality female of discourses of (non)availability the on is informing alsothere little the emerging feminist thesystem in scholarship after change 1989 The distinction culture. popular researching from fields the separated carefully still example, are today,specificallyin visible thestructures of studies,academialiterary anykind where of for on lives still culture popular and culture high so-called between distinction the calls Huyssen oppositional of framework popular (Huyssen, culture. “theGreat 1986:ix) Divide”, Moreover, as its relationship with traditionsthe of bourgeois culture while ignoring dismissing or its postmodern. According to Andreas Huyssen, most often, discussions of modernism emphasize from of modern shifttothe is the majorthe andpopularculture of culture one characteristics the The theory of postmodernism argues that the blurring of the boundary between high boundary the of blurring thatthe argues postmodernism The of theory The first part of my thesis reviewed the major points of the popular culture debate Conclusion 70 CEU eTD Collection threat of the masses refers to the proletariat in general but also to groups of contesting of women groups to butalso in general proletariat the to masses refers the of threat the thus in history, slot time same the shared movement feminist the and antagonisms class that described as having feminine characteristics.Huyssen explains equivalencethis by pointing out binarythe man of and woman. Thisis especially visible whenmass culture is constantly amount feminist of scholarship the on topic of popular culture. by impressive the evidenced be fertile considerably to hasproved widening perspective the of scholars pointed areasof out other like inequity,social of thatgender and sexuality. The entered the scene of cultural studies. Mostlyinferior groups. confined to class power of globalized capitalism ispresentedasequal availablewith ‘guerillathe warfare’ to analysis till that the in asystem which creating interactions, by these entailed inequalities social the point,marginalize feminist freedom seems to and choice of celebration his unproblematic readings. Unfortunately, resistant of variety a and dominant the among choose to choice the have now readers the by cultural both products arguing that position their asagents.InFiske’s ‘consumer’ model then products. In words,other Fiske the unsettles self-contained boundarybetweenhigh and popular whensubordinated groups ‘consuming’significant amount cultural agency of popular the to interests of ‘the people’ and the ‘power-bloc’ are set up as antagonistic. In this way popular he In cultural hismeaningproduct. theory, is the ascribesalways resultstruggleof inwhich the a interpretation the popular cultureof for andemphasizes anysingle diversity readings possible of inmasses, deprivingthe them of Fiske,any agency. the on hand,other rejects Adorno’s false consciousness of capital by creating the interests economic primarily promote the meant to The high between ‘Great Divide’ andisculture popular culture carefully molded upon research feminist when was emphasized that relations of power is It analysis exactly the 71 CEU eTD Collection media in 1980s of media is myresearch in 1980sof focus production of the Hungary. The of of discourses T’s. three so-called the policy the of through category the within boundaries well the as popular culture correct’ of emergence regulate the an ‘ideologically that triedparty to policies cultural production theas ‘oppositional’ state is to because untenable it inHungary was explicit societies, consumerism and themass production of popular culture. Similarly,framing popular capitalist industrialized between connections inherent hitherto the forreconsidering base the offers state-socialism under culture popular of field thriving The implications. important has regimes. forecloses the understanding of of complexity the cultural underproduction state-socialist Iordanova, Ialso argue ignoring that the items ofpopularfrom culture state-socialistthe period with in agreement Moreover, overtones. with patriarchal project modernist a into translates regime state-socialist the the ways concerning in scholarship culture popular of marginalization the that argue to scholars regional of works the on draw I section last in the Therefore, potential in‘the positioning by popular culturepower-bloc’ asagainst Fiske alike.Hall and resistant the account into onetakes intriguing when is especially inregard this research lack of The understate-socialism. of inquire culture status is the popular legitimate about to question a Then order. economic in framed a capitalist of the context itisis factthat exclusively the culture logicthe of “thegendering persistent asfeminine of which is that devalued.” (Huyssen, 1986:53) between high culture andpopularcultureinvolves also the rejection of femininethe following fear institutionsthe distinction contamination of The the obsessive underlying patriarchy. The second part of The myof second part is thesis taken up by analysis discourse the of popular printed the Applying the theory of popular culture to this different economic and political context on popular aspectof important this debate most myanalysis, the of perspective From the 72 CEU eTD Collection official would allow.discourse a However, upon closer look so-calledthe sexual liberation was than issues the sexual on take moremuch ‘liberated’ a and offer seemsto books commissioned the pages of these works whatsimilarwe call to ‘pop-psychology’. Thetoday of discourse comessexuality that through departs more and more from the sanitized society. ina men andwomen socialist are equal image of sexuality imageof the of sexuality which of sanitized articulatethe books these discourse the standards official the life. to Conforming casts women in the exclusive role of mothers, while purporting that was of Ts that category three of the debated most The correctness’. ‘ideological itsby degreeof the delineatedistinguished acategory cultural of meantto production group of group illustrate the To respectively. policy, of cultural categories of three the representative clusters time. atthe politics and my Ichose specific examples toexplore gradualliberalization the Hungarian of cultural socialism Hungarian of decade last the encompasses My research system. of the power political inthe changes the reflected usually onethat asthe andrenegotiated contested was continuously letters of the three Hungarian words which mean which words of Hungarian three the letters for the regulation of which myI approach isculturalsources of that cultural politics. In Hungary important mostthe principle production lensimplicitly explicitlyaddressing thethrough andsexuality. issueof Thespecific or gender was the politics of thesexuality three Ts, made for up of womenthe first under state-socialism. The three clusters of data that I examine are all The issecond cluster made upby four sexual manuals targetingyoungeducation adults, In agreement with the previous categorization I structured my differentthree structured In intowith previous categorization I agreementdata the support ed works Ipickedstate commissioned educatinged works two books family youth about 73 support , tolerate and forbid. tolerate Each term was , which CEU eTD Collection women by a patriarchal world order. Although the discourse of modernization legitimates the bindassignedto double impossibility dyad, the the into of whore/madonna the They translate in politics as this category. represented ‘the brotherhood of men’ is by vividlyillustrated negotiatingthe partners of Hungarian cultural that he is notgoing to question the legitimacy of the political regime. Carol Pateman’s concept of buy patiencethe of ‘worker’the by allowing pursue to his own sexual interests on conditionthe to sought The state women. of expense atthe its andcitizens male state a paternalistic between Hungarian middle the politics, cultural category of young, sexually available, attractive lover as the progressive and modern woman. the of celebration a hand other the on while outdated, and conservative as mother and wife aging the of dismissal is the there hand one the On discourses. competing two the representing each sexuality, onwomen’s in take a double itsresults on pages.The approach articulated is image of sexuality sanctioned of the criticism version of as aswell a male-biased discourse Iargue chapter althoughfocus (andthat is magazine’slimit) primary the social sex- criticism, the this In magazine’. satirical a‘weekly as labeling own its by explicit made is positioning resistant Matyi is fully developed on of pages the fully on is developed andfears tobecomecomplexes ‘modern’. more their renounce to need who backwards sexually as women casting and men targeting fact in was a famous Hungarian humor magazine, symbolic for the state-socialist regime. Its The next conclusion is that the two discourses of female sexuality are incommensurable. are sexuality female of discourses two the that is conclusion next The Concerning follows. as are analysis the of out came that conclusions important most The This discourse whichThis discourse I call the labelfrom – borrowing Mária Adamik –thesex-discourse Ludas Matyi Ludas 74 , which constitutes the third body thirdthe body data. of , whichconstitutes tolerate is in fact the result of of result negotiation is inthe fact the Ludas CEU eTD Collection cultural practices characteristic of the post-state socialist context. socialist post-state of the characteristic practices cultural understandingsocialist culture eventually will uswith a better popular provide of different researching state Moreover, citizens. cultural as ‘proper’ status women’s feminine, undermining as culture gendering of popular out the todeconstruct becausesets itfeministproject significant same high-cultureis ‘other’,i.e. andits popular Atthe it time culture. a boundaries between renouncingmethodologies elitist and accepting the postmodern condition blurringof the means seriously also culture Taking popular regimes. political these lifeduring everyday understand complexitiesin the of to totake order step regimes is necessary a state-socialist counter-discourse of that turningsexuality. study the Iargue Therefore in to of popular culture coherent a perceiving of thepossibility forecloses that culture popular of marginalization sources. They either coherently. 2000:170)Iargue that (Adamik, ‘impossibility’consist the her isdue strategicto selection of of pieces of high-culture literatureideologies. limited or scholarly research.sex-discourse, eventually both variants turn out to be just as damaging womento becauseIt of their is the Mária Adamik claims that the sex-discourse is sporadic and cannot be is articulated sex-discourse sporadicMáriaAdamik claims that the and cannot 75 CEU eTD Collection International Feminist Journal of Politics. Einhorn, B.and “Gender Sever, (2003). Ch. and Civil in Society Central and Eastern Europe.” Essig L.(1999). Hungarian Cultural 1920-1990].Debrecen:Politics, Csokonai. Drabancz, R.&Fónai,M. (2005) Hall Brundson, Ch. (1996). “A thief in the night: Stories of feminism in the 1970s at the CCCS.” In S. [Film and Cultural through Politics Lensthe Bp: of Prizes Planétás.1948-1989]. G.(1998). Bolvári-Takács, Bp: MVöröskereszt. School]. Family Maiden Life. about Bogárdi, M.(1982). Berry, E. 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