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Home , History of Szczecin, Jerzy Pilch, The Constant Factor

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N D The Polish Studies O I T A N G N A I

U M N I O V LO Center Newsletter E RSITY B Center Newsletter Established 1977 Indiana Indiana University University • Bloomington, • Bloomington, Indiana Indiana Spring Spring 2015 2012 Polish Studies Welcomes Former In This Issue: Ambassador to as New Dean 2 Director’s Notebook This winter inaugural Dean of the durability and their ability to deal with School of Global and International change and economic and geopolitical Natalie Misteravich- Studies and former US Ambassador challenges in recent years. Carroll in Kraków4 to Poland, Lee Feinstein, discussed the PSC: What would you say has made new School, his memories of Warsaw, them as durable as they are? Bill Johnston wins and the challenges and opportunities Dean LF: It’s important to note that 5 Transatlantyk Prize facing Poland today. This interview is a Poland has a historically long-stand- transcript, edited for length and clarity ing tradition of supporting democracy, 6 by IU Polish Studies. human rights, and equality. Famous- Gives Jorgensen Lecture ly in American history, Kościuszko Polish Film Series at Polish Studies Center: Eastern played a role in two revolutions, and 7 Europe has been on people’s minds in his last will and testament he left the IU Cinema in a way that hasn’t been felt in a money to support Thomas Jeferson’s Picture Book 2014-2015 while. What kind of role do you freed slaves, which is something that 8 see Poland and Polish area studies Jeferson never executed. There is a playing in terms of America’s cur- long historical foundation in Poland’s 9 Donors and Supporters rent foreign policy objectives? DNA of support for democratic in- 2014-2015 Dean Feinstein: Well, Poland has stitutions. That’s not the only strand emerged clearly in the top tier of the of Polish history, but it’s a very im- In Memorium: 10 European Union. Just in economic portant and recurring one which was Anna Cienciała terms, it’s the sixth-largest economy in not extinguished by the War, nor the the EU and the only member coun- years of Soviet domination, nor by 11 Stanisław Barańczak try to have grown economically every martial law. In the time before the frst Remembered year since 2008. The current President partially free election, nurtured of the European Council is a former and developed the precursors to these Celebrating Poetry, 12 Polish Prime Minister, whom I got to institutions that could carry those Pierogi on Campus know as ambassador, and this is all in- traditions forward. dicative of the fact that Poland is very PSC: What role you see Polish Stud- Maria Mastalerz Wins much the leader in its region. Right ies playing in the new School of 13 Castano Award after the transitions, the countries Global and International Studies? that were fastest out the bloc, if you Dean LF: When I was approached Faculty and Graduate want to make the pun, were Hungary about coming to Bloomington as the Student News 14 and the Czech Republic. But at this Dean of the new School, one of the point, Poland not only has overtaken frst things I noticed was that the Spring Events those countries in terms of economic School had a Polish Studies Center. 15 productivity but also its social institu- I was not entirely surprised because tions have really demonstrated their Continue on pp. 3 Director’sIt is my great pleasure to write to “things Polish” Notebook and how we define oping scholars in the crucial initial you as the new Director of the Polish those things in the first place. Our stage when research interests take Studies Center. My predecessor, physical proximity to other interna- shape. Our first Fellowship recipient Padraic Kenney, left me a vibrant tional units in the new SGIS building is Meghan Knapp, from the Depart- Center that proudly maintains the will no doubt intensify our exchang- ment of History. Congratulations to unique traditions of Polish Studies es with them and stimulate new Meghan! at Indiana University. The old red ways of thinking about the Center’s brick house on Atwater Avenue has institutional identity. I look forward As a poetry fan, I’m particularly witnessed many happy events. But to the exciting possibilities, although excited about a new series of joint soon we will embark on a new ad- I will miss the coziness of our old PSC/PCA events that will nourish venture in the new building of IU’s home. our community’s body and mind: School of Global and International “Poetry and Pierogi.” I expect it Studies. will become another tradition that brings our community together. As I behold the knickknacks and Two special editions of “Poetry and memorabilia we’ll soon be packing, Pierogi,” in March and April, will I can see how much the Center’s even include the participation of long-standing institutional history renowned Polish poets Julia Fie- accompanied Poland’s evolution and dorczuk and Tomasz Różycki. These revolutions, from the handmade folk readings will be unique opportu- statuettes, to a letter by Ignacy Pad- nities for personal interactions erewski, to buttons proclaiming “So- with writers who are shaping the viet tanks, no thanks!” and “Release landscape of contemporary Polish Solidarność NOW!” A photograph literature. of Bill Johnston accepting an award Director of PSC, from the Polish Foreign Minister for Joanna Niżyńska These visits are only the tip of the the Center’s work promoting Polish 2015 Polish Studies iceberg. Our history and culture reminds me of In the last year, the PSC has spon- visiting poets follow the highly suc- the dynamic legacy I am inheriting sored an exciting program of cul- cessful Third Annual Timothy Wiles as incoming Director. Even the brief tural and scholarly events, such as Memorial Lecture, delivered by the overviews of this year’s program- the 2014 Wiles Memorial Lecture historian Prof. Keely Stauter-Halsted ming included in this newsletter by Jacek Żakowski, a lecture by Prof. (University of Illinois at Chicago). show that this legacy is far from Janey Curry, Krzysztof Zanussi’s vis- April brings the visit of another his- over. it, two film series at the IU Cinema, torian, Dariusz Stola, who will come to mention only a few. The Center’s discuss his exciting new book and The administrative incorporation of core faculty grew with the new ad- his work as director of the Muse- the PSC into the School of Global and dition of Geography Prof. Elizabeth um of the History of Polish Jews in International Studies should bring Dunn, and our Polish-language stu- Warsaw. us into even closer contact with dents excelled thanks to our visiting The programming the PSC brings to other international departments and lecturer in , Dr. Kamil Bloomington would not be possible programs on the Bloomington cam- Szafraniec. We can be proud of the without the generous backing of pus, to mention only a few of PSC’s accomplishments of our faculty and those who support the Center with long-term partners such as REEI, the students, and there are surely many their donations. Your support is in- Institute for European Studies, and more than this newsletter can hold. the Borns Jewish Studies Program. valuable in enriching our program- As the SGIS opens up exciting new I’m pleased to announce a new ini- ming and I hope that others will opportunities to do what the Cen- tiative to encourage the young gen- consider contributing as well. I hope ter has been successfully doing for eration of scholars in Polish Studies: you all will join us for the exciting many years, the School’s hetero- the Polish Century Club Exploratory events this spring. As the ice melts, I geneous profile may also help us Research Fellowship. The Explorato- extend my wishes for a creative, pro- envision innovative approaches to ry Fellowship is meant to help devel- ductive, and exciting year ahead! █ 2 Dean of SGIS, Continued from pp. 1 World War I. So actually my arrival Lee Feinstein Bloomington has a great tradition in in Poland as ambassador was almost Central and Eastern European stud- 100 years to the day when my grand- ies. It’s the amount of scholarship parents arrived in the United States, that takes place in Bloomington, not kind of an unimaginable circle. just on Poland but also the region, PSC: Was there anything you or that is very impressive and very your family found pleasantly much in the lead of any institution surprising or challenging about in the US. I’ve been very impressed moving to Poland? with the amount of outreach that Dean LF: It was a great experience. now. The skyline changes rapidly, the Polish Studies Center does. One thing that was not entirely the subway lines get completed, Obviously it’s in proximity to a very surprising but really exceeded our and restaurants open and close. In large Polish community—the largest expectations was the vibrancy of the the three years we spent there, the [in Chicago]—although as someone art community in Warsaw and its dynamism of the city kept growing, who grew up in the New York tri- close afnity to the arts communi- and now it feels very much like Ber- state area I’m actually used to saying ty in the United States. One of the lin in the early ‘90s where anything the second largest Polish American great things about this kind of a job is possible, where there’s all sorts of community. There’s a little rivalry is that it really draws on diferent experimentation, lots of economic there. aspects of your brain and person- growth, too. It’s a genuinely dynam- PSC: Does that mean you had ality. The visual arts community ic European capital. some interactions with Poles in Poland is so deeply interested PSC: I also heard that you were or Polish culture before being in Poland’s history and in dealing present for the opening of the appointed Ambassador? with the whole range of questions new Museum of the History of Dean LF: My very frst trip to is extremely impressive. [As for Polish Jews, is that correct? Warsaw was in 1979. I was a ju- my job as ambassador,] Poland is Dean LF: Yes I serve on the board nior in college and I was en route strategically important, and Poles of the North American Council of to the for a semester have a very strong interest in the the Museum of the History of Polish abroad. While making that historic United States so it’s a great assign- Jews and I was there for the open- train trip from Vienna to Moscow, ment. It’s the kind of ambassadorial ing. The Museum is an incredible we stopped in Warsaw. This was a job someone with a foreign policy testimony to the people and gov- very eye-opening moment for me background like mine looks for. ernment of Poland who built it. It’s because until then—like a lot of You want something that has an one of the biggest if not the biggest Americans of my generation—I gen- important and signifcant foreign museums in the country, one of the erally thought of my background as policy component but that’s not mi- largest in Europe, and it’s an incred- more or less Russian. But I learned cro-managed by Washington. There ibly important museum. In a way, for the frst time that in fact on both are a range of countries that would the stufed cabbage example I gave sides of my family, my roots were in ft into those criteria, and Poland is is the story of the Museum because Poland. It turns out that something one of them. I was confrmed by the the two cultures [Polish and Jewish] like two-thirds of American Jews Senate fve days after the decision are so closely intertwined. Where trace their roots to Poland, although was made by the Obama adminis- one begins and another ends is very they don’t know it. For me the big- tration to replace the old missile de- hard to unpack. The Museum is a ger eye-opening experience came fense system of the previous admin- great contribution to everybody’s with food. At our hotel in Warsaw, istration with a new missile defense understanding of the shared history they served gołąbki—stufed cab- system. On its merits, that decision to see how Jews lived in Poland for bage—and I was mystifed by the was a good one, but the rolling out a thousand years. I think the Mu- fact that it tasted exactly like my of that decision, which predated my seum, its programs, and the links grandmother’s stufed cabbage. It arrival, was handled poorly so I was it’s going to make will change the didn’t make any sense to me at the thrown into that right on arrival. way people travel in that part of the time, but I subsequently put the PSC: Since stepping down as world. I think it’s a terrifc thing. pieces together. My paternal grand- ambassador have you gotten the Given recent events, it’s an amazing parents emigrated from a small chance to visit Warsaw again? counterpoint to what’s happening miasteczko—the Yiddish word Dean LF: I’ve been the back about elsewhere in Western Europe. █ would be a shtetl—not far from a half-dozen times since. Warsaw Lviv’ to the United States just before in particular is so dynamic right

3 Natalie Misteravich-Carroll On Exchange in Kraków Natalie Misteravich-Carroll (lef) stigmatized landscape, and some takes in the “Fontanna Przyszłości” presented provocative works that installation with a FCDCN colleague challenged Nowa Huta’s socialist at the Grolsch ArtBoom Festival. past. When I was not conducting re- search in the library, I spent time in Nowa Huta traversing the vast city, visiting major landmarks, and attending cultural events. I also befriended the young work- ers from the FCDCN and spent time with them visiting museums, trekking the Kopiec Kościuszki and Kopiec Piłsudskiego, and enjoying Friday evening discussions over Polish piwo. I am truly thankful for their kindness, assistance, and friendship. I am no stranger to Kraków, but Thanks to the IU Ofce of the Vice llonian University library, but I each day I found myself discover- President of International Afairs also conducted research at Radio ing something new and diferent (OVPIA) graduate student exchange Kraków, the Nowa Huta Historical about a city that I thought I knew so award, I spent fve months con- Museum, and the Fundacja Cen- well. I never grew tired of the beau- ducting dissertation research at trum Dokumentacji Czynu Niepod- tiful architecture, walking the wind- Jagiellonian University in Kraków, ległościowego (FCDCN), all in ing planty or hearing the hejnal Poland. My dissertation, “Nowa Kraków, Poland. The result of this played over the Old Town square. I Huta: a Cultural Study of Identity,” successful trip is a research bibliog- took advantage of Kraków’s im- is a cultural-literary study of the raphy containing one-hundred and pressive calendar of cultural events, city of Nowa Huta, built in 1949 as seventeen sources (not counting such as “Szymborska’s Drawer” Poland’s frst “Socialist City.” My each poem and short story in the and “Forever Young! Poland and its dissertation examines the causative anthologies) along with radio inter- art around 1900” at the Kamienica power of texts as they function to views, and a myriad of newspaper Szołayskich branch of the National create, manipulate, or destroy the articles and photo documents. Museum. I also attended two fan- identity of a city and its people. I While I was in Kraków, I discov- tastic Operas at the Opera Krakow- analyze a wide range of texts (nov- ered that the theme of the annual ska: a modern interpretation of els, poems, flms, songs, and visual Grolsch ArtBoom Festival was going Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and a art) as both a product and a produc- to be “Nowa Huta: Redefnition,” a haunting performance of Penderec- er of history and identity. Starting truly serendipitous moment for my ki’s The Devils of Loudun. with texts from the Stalinist period research! The sixteen-day festival It is difcult to describe my expe- and working chronologically up to presented works, colloquiums, and riences in such a short entry, but I the present day, my dissertation lectures all focused on Nowa Huta will always deeply cherish my fve- demonstrates that narratives about and how its controversial history is month stay in Kraków. I hope to Nowa Huta and its inhabitants have appropriated in the present day re- return to Kraków soon, and I look evolved diachronically, parallel to ality. The themes and works varied forward to walking down Floriańs- historical events in Poland, yet each to refect all aspects of Nowa Huta’s ka Street and experiencing that successive attempt to produce a new culture. Some works highlighted breathtaking moment of entering identity is inherently informed by the city’s socialist realist architec- the magnifcent Old Town Square the Stalinist narrative. ture and embellishments, some once again. █ I worked primarily at the Jagie- ofered reinterpretations of the 4 Bill Johnston Honored as Ambassador of into English. His translations cover the breadth and diversity of Polish literary history, from early Polish literature (Jan Kochanowski’s The Envoys) through nineteenth- and twentieth-century classics (Juliusz Słowacki’s Balladina, Stefan Żeromski’s The Faithful River and The Coming Spring, ’s Bacacay) to con- temporary works, including the poetry of Tomasz Różycki (Twelve Stations), Wiesław Myśliwski’s On June 12, 2014 at Collegium Maius of the Jagi- novel Stone Upon Stone, and books by Magdalena ellonian University in Kraków, IU’s own Bill John- Tulli, , and Jerzy Pilch. In addition ston became the frst English-language translator to honoring Prof. Johnston’s prolifc translatorial to be awarded the Transatlantyk Prize for his work contributions, the Transatlantyk Prize recogniz- as an ambassador of Polish literature abroad. The es his work integrating the difuse communities prize was awarded by the Polish Book Institute of people working to promote Polish literature, (Instytut Książki), a national cultural institution including translators, literary critics, literary established by the Ministry of Culture to popular- historians, and cultural animators. Over the years, ize books and reading within Poland and to pro- the IU Polish Studies community has represented mote Polish literature abroad. In addition to his one of the primary benefciaries of Prof. Johnston’s work as a Professor of Comparative Literature and eforts, which have brought countless authors, former Director of the IU Polish Studies Center critics, scholars, interdisciplinary conferences and (2001-2010), Prof. Johnston has made prolifc con- symposia to Bloomington. Serdecznie gratulujemy █ tributions to the translation of Polish literature i dziękujemy Panu Profesorowi Johnstonowi! Selected Translations by Bill Johnston Available in the PSC Lending Library

Bacacay by Witold Gombrowicz (2004) Self-Portrait with Woman by Andrzej Szczypior- Polish Memories by Witold Gombrowicz ski (1997) (2004) The Shadow Catcher by Andrzej Szczypiorski (1997) Dreams and Stones by Magdalena Tulli (2004) Stone Upon Stone by Wiesław Myśliwski (2010) Moving Parts by Magdalena Tulli (2005) Flaw by Magdalena Tulli (2007) The Coming Spring by Stefan Żeromski (2007) The Faithful River by Stefan Żeromski (1999) Fado by Andrzej Stasiuk (2011) Nine by Andrzej Stasiuk (2006) The Envoys by Jan Kochanowski (2007) The Noonday Cemetery and Other Stories by New Poems by Tadeusz Różewicz (2007) Gustav Herling (2003) His Current Woman by Jerzy Pilch (2009) Peregrinary by Eugeniusz Tkaczyszyn-Dy- cki (2008)

5 Krzysztof Zanussi Talks Art, Physics, and Censorship

at the

Polish Filmmaker, Krzysztof inema Zanussi at the IU Cinema This interview is a transcript, edited for lengthIU and clarity C producer. In Europe it’s a disaster, but in America it’s by IU Polish Studies. It does not represent the entire con- common, and some of the producers are really creative, tent of the interview, conducted by Paige Rasmussen (Dept. I’ll admit it. of Comparative Literature) for the IU Cinema’s Jorgensen PR: Before you became a flmmaker, you studied Guest Filmmaker Lecture Series. physics and philosophy. Have physics and philoso- phy infuenced your work as a flmmaker? Paige Rasmussen: Did you experience any difculties KZ: I started my university studies as a very young man. as a flmmaker, specifcally in producing the three mov- Technically speaking when I was only 15, not because ies shown this fall at the IU Cinema? I was a genius but because we were of the generation Krzysztof Zanussi: We were all subject to censorship. whose childhood was stolen by the War. I know that The biggest intervention was in Illumination, where physics left very deep traces on me, and I was very they cut whole sequences, but Camoufage caused the impressed by physics. I still love physics but physics biggest problems. The biggest issue in there was the never loved me. So after a couple of years, I realized presence of an actress, Halina Mikołajska, who became this is not my vocation, so I switched to philosophy for a very important dissident. After the flm was already a couple of years. I learned from philosophy that there shot and edited, the Minister of Culture at that time is a strong and clear-cut distinction between things you said, “You must do something because we don’t want can express by words and things you can express in arts, her on the screen.” “It was winter,” I said, “reshoot the where you go beyond the words and beyond the ideas. flm now with the scenes with her is nonsense and, It’s easy to say physics and storytelling have nothing besides, it will have a very bad propaganda impact.” The in common, but it has something very substantial in point was to not say “no,” because if you say “no” they common. Physics teaches you to deal with mystery. always have more power to fght, so to avoid confronta- We know very little indeed, and this sense of mystery tion, I said “it is practically impossible.” is something I kept with me when I stopped being a Sometimes with producers the confict is very similar, physicist. It’s something I take with me in my approach it’s not only with censors. I’m a producer myself, but I to life as well. Life is mysterious, and there is always also know the stories my colleagues tell of very despot- something totally unpredictable in every human life. I ic producers who also want to win because they want think physics gives me some background to cope with to create. It’s a nightmare for me to meet a creative this. Paige Rasmussen interviews Krzysztof Zanussi for PR: I’d like to ask about your work as a professor at the IU Cinema Jorgensen Guest Lecture Series. university. How does teaching ft into your work as a flmmaker? KZ: I know I may assist a young artist in his creative development, but I’m not very keen on telling people what I know because they tend to know it, too. This is a question of fnding yourself. Reading lectures is for me a waste of time. I am invited very often to give lectures on subject matter unrelated to flm that address sociol- ogists, psychologists, political scientists. I fnd this far more exciting. I sometimes use flms as examples, so it’s not teaching flm but using flm to teach other things,

6 maybe even some wisdom. We’re all trying to fnd some wisdom of our own about our existence, about our condition on this earth. You can’t really teach it, but you can help people fnd their notion of wisdom. A year for PR: Is flm the best medium to express that message for you? KZ: I tried theater, I’ve been trained as a musician, as director of operas (not the composer of opera), so, yes, for me flm was the best. Unfortunately flm is expensive. You make great poetry and you don’t spend much money, but in order to make a flm, The Polish Studies Center was Has. The three flms that accom- you already have to be successful because proud to co-sponsor a nationally panied Krzysztof Zanussi’s visit if somebody trusts you and gives you the touring Polish flm series at the to Bloomington (“Camoufage,” large amount of money you need to make a world-class IU Cinema this year. “The Constant Factor,” and “Illu- flm, then you’ve already achieved success. Curated by acclaimed American mination”) along with a Hallow- Audience Question: What kinds of flms flmmaker, the “Martin Scorsese een screening of “The Hourglass do Polish people and especially young peo- Presents Masterpiece of Polish Sanatorium” (1973, dir. Has) were ple want to see in Poland these days? What Cinema” flm series brought a so well received by the Blooming- do they expect a flmmaker to provide total of eight classic Polish flms ton community that the IU Cine- them with? to Bloomington, as well as one ma extended the series into 2015. KZ: Well, most of them expect enter- of the series’ featured directors, In January and February 2015, tainment and they go to see Hollywood Krzysztof Zanussi. the PSC co-sponsored screenings movies and cheap Polish imitations of The idea for the Polish flm series of “Eroica” (1957, dir. Munk), Hollywood movies. We make quite a lot began when Scorsese travelled “Innocent Sorcerers” (1960, dir. of imitations and they’re popular among to Łódź to accept an honorary Wajda), “Night Train” (1959, dir. young people. But this is the majority’s doctoral degree from the famous Kawalerowicz), and “The Sara- choice. I don’t need to reach the majority, Leon Schiller National School gossa Manuscript” (1964, dir. I need to reach people who are dynamic, of Film, Television, and Theater. Has). who go beyond the average, and these peo- While there, Scorsese met a This very special series, along ple also go to see movies. The only problem digital restoration expert, Jędrzej with the parallel “Polish Interi- is that competition is enormous now and it Sabliński, who shared a list of ors” flm series that aired Os- is at all levels. new digital restorations of some car-winner “Ida” at the IU Cin- PR: What do you hope a person takes of Poland’s most acclaimed flms ema in the fall, made 2014-2015 away from your flms, the flms being of the twentieth century. This a year to remember for Hoosier screened at IU Cinema in particular? meeting and subsequent conver- fans of Polish cinema. █ KZ: There are many reasons why people go sations generated a North Amer- to the cinema, but if I made their life, their ican flm tour of restored Polish horizon a little more rich, if they met peo- cinema classics. With the help of ple and situations that they haven’t met in renowned distributor Milestone their own life or they have seen them from Films and his own non-proft a diferent perspective, then I have some organization, The Film Founda- merit. I contributed to their life, and that’s tion, Scorsese chose 21 digitally my goal. If my flm is forgotten tomorrow restored flms to tour the United that’s one thing, but it’s another if a flm States and Canada. is successful because people have bought Thirty-one theatres from Van- tickets. But if they’ve forgotten it the next couver to Texas and Los Angeles morning, then for me it’s a disaster. If to Montreal were selected to people remember, if I left any trace, if one screen masterpieces by celebrat- character from my flm sticks to you for ed Polish flmmakers, such as a couple of days or a couple of months or Andrzej Wajda, Jerzy Kawale- maybe more then I accomplished all that rowicz, Krzysztof Kieślowski, an artist can accomplish, nothing more Andrzej Munk, and Wojciech American Filmmaker, Martin Scorsese than that. █ 7 The Polish Studies Center Picturebook 2014-15

Padraic Kenney addresses the Fall Picnic 2014

Jacek Żakowski delivers 2014 Wiles Memorial Lecture

Fall Picnic 2014

Prof. Janey Curry gives visiting guest lecture, fall 2014

Polish Saturday School and IU Polish students performing at the 2014 Holiday Party 8 Donors 2014-15 Marcin and Namrata Zalewski William Germano Judith Blanchard Joyce and Richard Pacer Suellen Hoy and Walter Nugent Mary Bent Eleanor Valentine Mary and Richard Hermanowski Alan and Mary Golichowski Roberta Adams Charlotte Templin Karen and Steven Franks Marlena and Roman Frackowski Robin Elliot Students Prepare a Polonez for the Edith Sebelik Catherine and Paul Nagy 2014 Slavic Spring Talent Show Kathleen and William Hojnacki Kathleen Minahan Zbigniew and Ewa Sobol Tomas and Diane Peters Maria Michalczyk and Paul Steele Felix Smigiel Richard Panofsky Padraic Kenney and Edward and Alice Meros Izabela Ziolkowska-Kenney Joanna Nizynska Matthew Lillich Leon and Roberta Brauner Lana and Paul Eisenberg Charlene Soby Daria Zieminska Owen and Ann Johnson Frank and Kathleen Ciof Maria Mastalerz Alfred Gottschalk and Michael Ausbrook and Ariann Stern-Gottschalk Ewa Paluszkiewicz Supporters and Co-sponsors 2014-15 Russian & East European Institute, Robert A. and Sandra S. Borns Jewish Studies Program, Department of Slavic and East European Languages & Cultures, Department of Comparative Literature, English Deparment Creative Writing Program, School of Global & International Stud- ies, Department of History, Department of Political Sci- ence, IU Cinema, Ofce of the Vice President for Interna- tional Afairs, the Ryder Film Series, the Polish American Grad Students teach folk dances Congress, the Northern Trust Company Charitable Trust, on IU Campus for and the Polish Cultural Institute of New York “Wytnij Hołubca” celebration Congratulations to 2014-15 Thank you! Scholarship winners! Support the activities & students PSC Travel Award: Amanda Fisher of the PCC Travel Fellowship: Virginia Whealton (2014) Polish Studies Center! Inaugural PCC Exploratory Fellow- Learn more on our website: ship: Meghan Knapp (2015) http://www.indiana.edu/~polishst/support/ Samuel and Alicja Fiszman And more at the IU Foundation’s Guide to Giving: Scholarship: Steven Holser (2014) Criss Beyers (2015) http://iufoundation.iu.edu/giving.html 9 In Memoriam: Anna M. Cienciała November 29, 1928 - December 24, 2015

Nathan Wood (IU PhD, 2004), As- (Yale, 2008), for which she wrote the 1955, and then completed her PhD sociate Professor of History at the introduction and explanatory mate- under the tutelage of Piotr Wandycz University of Kansas, remembers fel- rial to more than 100 primary source at IU in 1962. After teaching for a low IU Polish Studies Alumna Anna documents related to the murder of few years in Canada, she began her M. Cienciała (IU PhD, 1962), who nearly 22,000 Poles by the NKVD in career at KU in 1965. (Readers inter- passed away at the end of 2014. the spring of 1940. ested in more of Cienciała’s biogra- Anna Maria Cienciała was born 29 phy may read here. Scroll to p.4.)

Anna Cienciała (4) with sister Danuta (2) in their uncle’s American car, , Poland, August 1933.

On Christmas Eve 2014, one of the November 1929, in the Free City Cienciała was a tireless advocate bright lights of the Polish studies of Danzig/Gdańsk. Her father was of Polish studies and a voracious community was snufed out when an administrator at a shipping reader of the history of the region. Professor Emerita Anna Cienciała company, and the family enjoyed a Students and colleagues alike re- died in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Cien- comfortable existence in the neigh- member her for her rigor, tempered ciała, a specialist in the diplomatic boring port city of Gdynia until the by generosity and dry wit. After her history of the period 1918-1945, outbreak of war shattered 9-year- retirement she maintained a web- taught at the University of Kan- old Anna’s world. Cienciała and her site on the history of East Central sas from 1965 until 2002. Over the mother and sister escaped to France Europe and she donated generously course of her career, Cienciała wrote (via !) and then to Britain, to invite Polish Studies scholars to two books, edited fve, published 18 “just in time for ,” as she KU for the annual Backus Lecture in book chapters, 100 academic arti- liked to joke. She completed a B.A. Polish Studies. In 2007 she received cles, and 117 book reviews. She is at Liverpool in 1952, studied for a the Distinguished Achievement best known for her coedited book year at the Russian Institute at Co- Award from the Polish Institute of Katyń: A Crime without Punishment lumbia, earned an MA at McGill in Continue to pp. 13

10 Joanna Niżyńska remembers

Stanisław BaraNovember 13,ń 1946czak - December 26, 2014 Joanna Niżyńska, 1968 and later PSC Director and the bloody 1970 Associate Professor protests were a of Slavic and East formative experi- European Languag- ence. His poetry es and Cultures was engaged in remembers her the search for a colleague from new poetic idiom Harvard University. in “the language in which the In 1994 the jour- word truth is a nalists of the newspaper name Poznań edition of and ‘freedom’ the daily Gazeta and ‘democracy’ Wyborcza award- are administered ed Stanisław by a police chief” Barańczak the (as he wrote in honorable title of his early poem Giant, an annual “N.N. starts distinction given asking ques- to those whose tions”). The idea awe-inspiring. He said once that he work ethic refects the qualities of was to make the Polish language, is a full-time translator and a part- laboriousness, diligence, and perse- abused by the regime’s New Speak, time poet, but even if translation verance that, in Barańczak’s native have meaning again on the most took most of the time at some point city of Poznań, are considered the fundamental level. At the heart of of his career, it was really the poet in region’s venerable trademarks. In- this poetry wasn’t, however, a social him that drove everything he did. deed, it is hard to fathom how much activist but an existential loner; He would probably fnd it some- Stanisław Barańczak managed to the project was deeply individual, what ironic that the frst responses produce in sixty-eight years of life just as the price for claiming one’s to his death in the Polish media marred by several years of increas- freedom is deeply individual. It was emphasized as the context for his ingly debilitating illness. a poetry of ferce desire to practice work his political involvement with Ten volumes of poetry, starting independence. the dissident movement in 1970s with his debut, Korekta twarzy (Face When Barańczak and his fami- Poland; his work as a founding Editing), in 1968, to the last volume ly left Poznan in 1981 during the member of the Workers’ Defense of Chirurgiczna precyzja (Surgi- “carnival of Solidarity” (a period Committee (KOR, a seminal orga- cal Precision, 1998), for which he between the birth of Solidarity in nization for the birth of Solidarity); was awarded the Nike, the highest August 1980 and the martial law of and his being fred from the faculty literary prize in Poland; two mono- December 1981) he did not know of his alma mater, Adam Mickiewicz graphs (on Miron Białoszewski and that martial law would change what University in Poznań, for his politi- Zbigniew Herbert); several volumes was to be a three-year contract to cal opposition. All of this he did and of essays ranging from close read- teach at Harvard University to a it was admirable and courageous, ings of personalized license plates contract for the rest of his life. It is but he would perhaps be somewhat to refections on the existence of the American chapter of Stanisław put of by the fact that, in his pro- God; endless anthologies of his own Barańczak’s life that is most prolifc lifc life, the image assigned to him translations, mainly from English and yet much less known and cer- relatively early on has so persisted, a (with some Russian and German in tainly less Romantic than his young cultural straitjacket for his amazing the mix), and the crowning glory dissident years. range. of a new rendering of the (almost) For Poles there seems to be an in- Stanisław Barańczak was a leading complete works by William Shake- visible line dividing Barańczak’s life poet of the New Wave or so-called speare. Barańczak’s mastery of into part one—biography fused with Generation 68, the generation for diverse genres of expression was Continue on pp. 13 whom the student riots of March 11 Polish Cultural Association Fosters Traditions and Poetry on Campus After a successful frst year, the Pol- remembers Barańczak, pp 11). The ish Cultural Association was fortu- Polish Studies community celebrat- nate enough to have the majority of ed Barańczak’s literary career and its Executive Board members return legacy, reading and discussing his for the 2014-2015 academic year. Un- poetry while enjoying traditional der the leadership of co-Presidents, Polish food. Poems discussed in Criss Beyers and Olivia Piekosze- detail at the event included: “She wski; Secretary, Damon Smith; Cried that Night, but Not for Him and Treasurer, Amanda Fisher, the to Hear,” “Second Nature,” “Don’t PCA had an exciting fall semester. Use the Word ‘Exile,’” and excerpts Notable events included an Oc- from Podróż zimowa. Both the tober showing of the cult-classic original texts and their transla- Seksmisja, which was one of the tions were read and discussed by PCA’s highest attended events to numerous faculty and students in date! In December, students and attendance. In fnishing the event, Polish Instructor Kamil faculty worked in collaboration graduate student, Amanda Fisher, Szafraniec demostrates with the PCA to hold an Andrzej- led the participants in a successful Andrzejki traditions ki celebration, complete with folk attempt at singing the verse from CANDLES Holocaust Museum traditions. This semester, the PCA Podróż zimowa along to Schubert’s and Education Center, founded plans on holding monthly “Poetry original score of Winterreise. Later by Auschwitz survivor, Eva Mozes and Pierogi” readings in coopera- this spring, we plan additional Kor. In the future, the PCA hopes tion with the Polish Studies Center Poetry and Pierogi readings in to continue working closely with under the new direction of Prof. conjuction with the visits of Polish the Polish Studies Center to pro- Joanna Niżyńska. As our frst event, poets Julia Fiedorczuk and Tomasz vide entertaining and educational we celebrated the life and work of Różycki to Bloomington. The PCA programing for the entire Polish Stanisław Barańczak (see Niżyńska will also make a return trip to the community of Indiana University. █ Criss Beyers, PSC Fiszman Scholar Studies in Kraków Greetings from Kraków! I would frst like to say that I did. While CASH’s program is conducted in English, am truly honored to represent IU’s Polish Studies com- I fnd myself trying to use Polish as much as possible munity as the 2015 Samuel and Alicja Fiszman Scholar. outside of the classroom. The struggle between my My time abroad in Poland would not be possible with- desired language profciency and the reality can be out this generous gift. I am spending the spring semes- trying, but at the end of the day, I must remember that ter studying at the Centre for Advanced Studies in the learning a language and becoming accustomed to a Humanities at Jagiellonian University, which is part of culture is a process. It takes time and most importantly the Faculty of Polish Studies. CASH’s interdisciplinary patience. approach to academics, and reassertion that pursu- I am thrilled to be able to take courses with leading ing the humanities is essential in today’s society are scholars in Holocaust studies and Polish-Jewish rela- refreshing, and what initially attracted me to the pro- tions, such as Jolanta Ambrosewicz-Jacobs, Annamaria gram. While this is not my frst time in Kraków, it is my Orla-Bukowska and Roma Sendyka. Outside of the tra- frst time living in the city as a student. The diferences ditional classroom setting, I will have the opportunity in being a tourist and a student are great, but they are to do some feldwork throughout the city. Studying and largely mental, and revolve around a sense of respon- living in Kraków has proved to be a wonderful experi- sibility. As a tourist, the language and cultural barriers ence, and one that has already had a great impact on seemed acceptable. Being in such an international city, my life. █ I previously felt okay with speaking English, and often 12 Barańczak, cont. from pp. 11 His translations were masterpieces writing—and part two—writing of craft and invention. He considered without biography. Yet, it’s good to each act of translation as, frst of all, remember that for most of the 1980s, an act of close reading. His renditions with Solidarity underground, the are unmistakably his, immediately Barańczak home in Massachusetts recognizable as Barańczakian for was an infuential cultural space for their matchless rhythm and rhyming. Poland’s diaspora. Barańczak was “Never translate good poetry into bad actively engaged in things Polish and poetry” was his motto; he once wrote kept writing about Poland. that if you cannot translate Akhma- Life in a suburban Newtonville felt tova’s measures, you’d better turn sometimes as exile although in one of your attention to cultivating cacti. He his well-known poems he strongly ar- had an amazing ear for the cadences gued against the word. Out of his el- of a spoken language: no wonder his ement—the element being the Polish translations of Shakespeare’s plays language—he showered audiences are cherished by actors who feel as on both sides of the Atlantic with the if Barańczak exacted each line by Maria Mastalerz great gifts of his translatorial talent. counting their steps on stage. This For English-speaking audiences he impeccable sense of linguistic musi- wins prestigious is probably best known as co-trans- cality manifests itself in Barańczak’s lator with Clare Cavanagh of Wisła- collection Podróż zimowa (Winter award wa Szymborska and of the superb Journey, 1994), containing his origi- Congratulations to Indiana anthology Spoiling Cannibals’ Fun: nal poems, which can be read inde- Geological Survey geologist and Polish Poetry of the Last Two Decades pendently but also to the music of friend of IU Polish Studies, Ma- of Communist Rule (1991). From the Schubert’s Winterreise. The precision ria Mastalerz, who was awarded perspective of his Polish audience, of each verse matches Schubert’s mu- the John Castano Honorary life in English brought to fruition sic and becomes a modern rewriting Membership Award, given to sci- his fascination with English-lan- of Willhelm Müller’s Romantic songs. entists whose work demonstrates guage poetry and fully articulated his Polish critics are right when they a high degree of originality and immense talent for translation. In claim that what began as a search serves to advance the science of 1990 he created the series Biblioteka for a simplicity in Barańczak’s early Poetów Języka Angielskiego (Library poetry concluded with Parnassian organic petrology. Dr. Mastalerz of English Language Poets), in which virtuosity of Baroque provenance. received the award at the annual he anthologized and translated such I can’t imagine what more could be meeting of the Society for Or- poets as Emily Dickinson, John Keats, accomplished in one lifetime. It was ganic Petrology last September W. H. Auden, and Seamus Heaney. painful for Stanisław that his sickness in Sydney, Australia. Serdecznie Each edition of the series—still pop- prevented him from doing more. He gratulujemy! █ ular and widely read—was awaited gave both of his worlds—Polish and Cienciała, cont. from pp. 10 impatiently by Polish poetry-lovers. English—so much that we can only Arts and Sciences in America. He would treat this titanic labor feel humble when faced with such On January 22, 2015 Deputy Chief lightly, crediting his productivity to talent and generosity. To his beloved of Mission of the Republic of the fact that translating was his favor- wife Ania he dedicated all his books, Poland Maciej Pisarski and Dep- ite pastime, that he loved word games and although it was his brilliant mind uty Consul Robert Rusiecki of the and puzzles, and that translations and antlike labor behind his work, Chicago Consulate posthumously are such games even in their most it was her heart and dedication that honored Cienciała with the Com- intellectually and spiritually enrich- made it possible for him to exercise mander’s Cross of the Order of ing forms. Barańczak wanted to be his talents throughout his life. Her Merit with Star, the state’s penul- playful for his readers; the sheer plea- love and devotion to him made the timate honor for her contribution sure of crafting and playing with his Stanisław Barańczak as we—his read- to knowledge about Poland. The native language permeates his efer- ers and friends—know him, possible. ceremony, which was planned pri- vescent translations of Dr. Seuss—I or to her death, became a moving can’t imagine any other translator A longer version of this remembrance memorial service for this wonder- being able to introduce this American appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of ful scholar, teacher, mentor, and classic to Polish children. Cosmopolitan Review. █ promoter of Polish history. █

13 Faculty News Jack Bloom Bill Johnston (Comparative Lit- sociation for Slavic, East European, (Sociology, IU erature) is continuing his work on and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES). His Northwest) a new translation of Adam Mick- term as president will be the calen- celebrated the iewicz’s Pan Tadeusz. In June 2014 dar year 2016. North Ameri- he became the frst English-lan- can release of guage translator to be awarded the Ariann Stern- his most recent Transatlantyk Prize for his work in Gottschalk book, Seeing Through the eyes of the promoting Polish literature abroad (Slavic) received Polish ‘Revolution: Solidarity and (see pp. 5). Later in the year his an information the Struggle Against Communism in translation of Wiesław Myśliwski’s literacy grant from Poland. Originally published by Brill novel A Treatise on Shelling Beans the IU Libraries Press in Holland, Haymarket Press (Archipelago Books, 2013) was and Vice-Provost released it in 2014 as a paperback in shortlisted for the National Trans- for Undergraduate Education for a the U.S. lation Award. His translation of Spring 2015 course titled “Linguis- Tomasz Różycki’s mock-epic poem tics through Literature.” Taught in Owen Johnson Twelve Stations comes out this collaboration with Wookjin Cheun (Journalism) re- spring. (IU Librarian for Slavic and East tired on May 31, European Studies), the course has 2014. He writes: Padraic Kenney (History) par- a very strong research and infor- “Retirement is ticipated in a con- mation literacy component. The allowing me to focus my attention ference hosted by students’ fnal project will be a on research and writing on Russian Polish President Bro- Library Guide on the Russian Silver and East European area journalism nisław Komorowski Age for the IU Libraries website. She and on the journalist Ernie Pyle. in May on transna- is also planning research activities Early this spring I will be traveling tional cooperation and lectures that will be delivered to Moscow to give two seminars at during the Cold War. as part of the IU Faculty Short-Term Moscow State University.” In September, he was elected Vice Exchange to Jagiellonian University President/President-Elect of the As- in May 2015. █ Graduate Student News With the support of a Polish Studies tion in Warsaw for his dissertation on Music. Gratulujemy! Center Travel Grant, Amanda Fisher Polish immigrant men. Recently, he was Mary Werden (History) presented (Slavic) presented a paper, “Tethered interviewed on Chicago Polish Radio a paper on rural modernization enti- and Unbounded Creativity: Authorship about his research. tled, “Tysiąc szkół na Tysiąclecie: Edu- in The Letter Killers Club and House cational Secularization and the Cath- of Day, House of Night,” at a compar- Natalie Misteravich-Carroll (Slavic) olic Church in the People’s Republic of ative literature conference held by was awarded a College of Arts and Sci- Poland” at the 2014 ASEEES conference the University of . Amanda is ences Dissertation Complete Fellow- in San Antonio. The conference travel publishing a forthcoming report about ship for the 2015-16 Academic Year. was sponsored by grants from REEI and this conference in the International the College Arts and Humanities In- Comparative Literature Association’s Damon Smith (SPEA) will graduate in stitute (CAHI). She has a forthcoming journal Recherche Littéraire / Literary May 2015 with a dual MPA/MA focusing book review of Michael Fleming’s Com- Research. on Polish & Ukrainian political econo- munism, Nationalism, and Ethnicity in mies and international development. Poland, 1944-50 on the Polish studies As the frst recipient of the PSC Polish He has accepted a three month assign- listserv, H-Poland, this spring. Century Club Explorary Fellowship, ment at the US Embassy in Warsaw for Meghan Knapp (History) will conduct summer 2015. By August, he hopes to In April, Michael Young (Folklore) research this summer in Kraków for her fnd permanent work in international will present a paper on his research project, “From Bar, with Love: Network- development and consulting institu- with urban folklore revivals at the 3rd ing French-Polish Correspondence, tions like the Department of State. Annual UIC Polish Studies Conference. 1768-1792.” With support from REEI and CAHI, he Lisa Cooper-Vest (Musciology) de- will return to Poland in summer 2015 fended her dissertation this fall and has Hubert Izienicki (Sociology) began to continue feldwork at a handful of accepted a position at the University of 2014 guest-lecturing at the Universität summer music and dance workshops Southern California Thorton School of 14 Mannheim and completing data collec- organized by revival groups. █ Polish Studies Spring Events! The 3rd Annual Timothy Wiles Memorial Lecture in Polish Studies

P O L I S POETRY TODAY H Featuring TOMASZ RÓŻYCKI (Opole) PLUS! Polish Culture The poet, essayist, and translator will visit Association (PCA) the IU campus to celebrate the release of the “Poetry and Pierogi” Gathering: latest English language editon of his work, Mon. 4/14 @ 6:30pm Twelve Statons, translated by Bill Johnston (IU Ballantine 004 Return Migration and the Comparatve Literature). The book launch will Creation of a Transatlantic include a bilingual poetry readings and recep- BOOK LAUNCH ton. Monday, April 13, 2015 at 5:30 pm Polish Culture President’s Room, presented by This event is made possible IMU University Club Keely Stauter-Halsted by the generous support of: Recepton to Follow Professor of History The College Arts and Hu- TRANSLATION SEMINAR manites Insttute (CAHI), Hejna Family Chair in Polish Studies Dept. of Slavic and East Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 at 4:00pm University of Illinois Chicago European Languages and Persimmon Room (IMU) Cultures, and Reception to follow! The Polish Studies Center Free and Open to the Public! Tuesday March 10, 2015 7:30pm State Room East at the Indiana Memorial Union Polish Studies Presents: Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 5:30 pm College Arts and Humanites Insttute (CAHI) 1211 Atwater Ave.

Contact us to sign up for our email bulletins to learn more about our exciting events like: Polish Poetry A special bilingual reading of recent A visit from historian and Director of works by the POLIN Museum of the History of o Polish Jews Dariusz Stola JULIA FIEDORCZUK d Co-Sponsored by: (WARSAW) (April 23-24th) Dept. of Comparatve Dept. of English MFA Creatve More “Poetry and Pierogi” Literature, ritng Program, and Dept. of Slavic and East Euro- The Polish Studies Center a and Polish Artists at Lotus Festival pean Languages and Cultures, 2015! y 15 Polish Studies Center 23-287-60 Indiana University 1217 E. Atwater Avenue Bloomington, IN 47401 Address Service Requested

The Polish Studies Center

Director Joanna Niżyńska

Graduate Assistant Michael Young

Phone: 812-855-1507

[email protected]

indiana.edu/~polishst SCHOOL OF GLOBAL & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

Greatings from the IU Polish Studies Center!

Pozdrowienia z Ośrodka Badań Polskich na Uniwersytecie Indiana w Bloomington!