The Laughter of Life and Death
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Przemysław Paweł Grzybowski emember r Przemysław Paweł Grzybowski is a lecturer in the Chair of General and Comparative Pe- dagogy of Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz. His research interests comprise inter- ducate and and ducate cultural education; education in disfavoured environments; tanatopedagogy (education e concerning suffering, ailing, and dying), as well as laughter as a factor of education and The LauGhTer of improving the quality of life. He is the coordinator of the Forum of Young Education- alists “Międzyszkolnik” at the Committee of Pedagogical Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences; the supervisor of the Academic Centre for Voluntary Service of KWU; an es- perantist and a doctor clown volunteer. Selected publications: Doktor klaun! Od terapii śmiechem po edukację międzykulturową; Edukacja europejska – od wielokulturowości ku mię- of Life and deaTh dzykulturowości; Edukacja międzykulturowa – konteksty. Od tożsamości po język międzynaro- dowy; Edukacja międzykulturowa – przewodnik. Pojęcia, literatura, adresy; Morycek w szkole. Żydowskie dowcipy o edukacji, w dialogu międzykulturowym; Spotkania z Innymi. Czytanki do edukacji międzykulturowej; Śmiech w edukacji. Od szkolnej wspólnoty śmiechu po edukację międzykulturową; Śmiech życia i śmierci. Od osobistych historii po edukację do pamięci o oku- pacji, gettach i obozach koncentracyjnych. Website: www.grzybowski.ukw.edu.pl hettos and Concentration Camps to to Camps Concentration and hettos g The book comprises some descriptions of the circumstances in which the phenomenon ccupation, o of laughter occurred in times of social crisis associated with the Second World War and the occupation of Poland during that time. Owing to the reports, memories, and testimonies provided by the participants of the dramatic events in occupied Poland, the ghettos, and concentration camps, as well as the collection of humorous works from the times of the war and occupation, the reader will realize what an important function was fulfilled by laughter, as a factor of resistance, improving the quality of life, and shaping a community. The author presents some examples of the activity of the “people of laughter” during World War II, within cultural creation, underground activity and in street folklore. He also presents some fragments of the personal stories of both the people known from mass culture in Po- land (Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki, Marian Hemar, Anna Jachnina, Jerzy Jurandot, Aleksander h Personal Stories of the the of Stories Personal h Kamiński, Szymon Kobyliński, Janusz Korczak, Bożena Krzywobłocka, Eryk Lipiński, Antoni T Marianowicz, Marian Walentynowicz, Władysław Szpilman, etc.) and little known or anony- ea mous ones, who by making others laugh and laughing with them improved the quality d of life of the people experiencing the trauma of war and occupation. The book is interesting for people eagerly studying the history of World War II and the Ho- locaust in its intercultural approach. Furthermore, those who deal with historical education associated with national memory sites and with laughter therapy for the victims of social crises will find new inspiration through the anecdotes and stories contained herein. er of Life and and Life of er T Personal Stories of the occupation, ghettos ISBN 978-83-8018-322-3 and Concentration Camps to educate and remember The Laugh The Przemysław Paweł Grzybowski emember r Przemysław Paweł Grzybowski is a lecturer in the Chair of General and Comparative Pe- dagogy of Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz. His research interests comprise inter- ducate and and ducate cultural education; education in disfavoured environments; tanatopedagogy (education e concerning suffering, ailing, and dying), as well as laughter as a factor of education and The LauGhTer of improving the quality of life. He is the coordinator of the Forum of Young Education- alists “Międzyszkolnik” at the Committee of Pedagogical Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences; the supervisor of the Academic Centre for Voluntary Service of KWU; an es- perantist and a doctor clown volunteer. Selected publications: Doktor klaun! Od terapii śmiechem po edukację międzykulturową; Edukacja europejska – od wielokulturowości ku mię- of Life and deaTh dzykulturowości; Edukacja międzykulturowa – konteksty. Od tożsamości po język międzynaro- dowy; Edukacja międzykulturowa – przewodnik. Pojęcia, literatura, adresy; Morycek w szkole. Żydowskie dowcipy o edukacji, w dialogu międzykulturowym; Spotkania z Innymi. Czytanki do edukacji międzykulturowej; Śmiech w edukacji. Od szkolnej wspólnoty śmiechu po edukację międzykulturową; Śmiech życia i śmierci. Od osobistych historii po edukację do pamięci o oku- pacji, gettach i obozach koncentracyjnych. Website: www.grzybowski.ukw.edu.pl hettos and Concentration Camps to to Camps Concentration and hettos g The book comprises some descriptions of the circumstances in which the phenomenon ccupation, o of laughter occurred in times of social crisis associated with the Second World War and the occupation of Poland during that time. Owing to the reports, memories, and testimonies provided by the participants of the dramatic events in occupied Poland, the ghettos, and concentration camps, as well as the collection of humorous works from the times of the war and occupation, the reader will realize what an important function was fulfilled by laughter, as a factor of resistance, improving the quality of life, and shaping a community. The author presents some examples of the activity of the “people of laughter” during World War II, within cultural creation, underground activity and in street folklore. He also presents some fragments of the personal stories of both the people known from mass culture in Po- land (Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki, Marian Hemar, Anna Jachnina, Jerzy Jurandot, Aleksander h Personal Stories of the the of Stories Personal h Kamiński, Szymon Kobyliński, Janusz Korczak, Bożena Krzywobłocka, Eryk Lipiński, Antoni T Marianowicz, Marian Walentynowicz, Władysław Szpilman, etc.) and little known or anony- ea mous ones, who by making others laugh and laughing with them improved the quality d of life of the people experiencing the trauma of war and occupation. The book is interesting for people eagerly studying the history of World War II and the Ho- locaust in its intercultural approach. Furthermore, those who deal with historical education associated with national memory sites and with laughter therapy for the victims of social crises will find new inspiration through the anecdotes and stories contained herein. er of Life and and Life of er T Personal Stories of the occupation, ghettos ISBN 978-83-8018-322-3 and Concentration Camps to educate and remember The Laugh The The LaughTer of Life and deaTh For all the victims of the occupation, ghettos and concentration camps. Let the nightmare they experienced never return. Przemysław Paweł grzybowski The LaughTer of Life and deaTh Personal Stories of the Occupation, Ghettos and Concentration Camps to Educate and Remember Bydgoszcz 2020 Reviewer: prof. Marek Rembierz, Ph.D. hab. – University of Silesia in Katowice Translation: Agata Cienciała, M.A. – University of Silesia in Katowice Proof-reading: John Eric Starnes, Ph.D. – University of Silesia in Katowice Polish edition: Śmiech życia i śmierci. Od osobistych historii po edukację do pamięci o okupacji, gettach i obozach koncentracyjnych. Editorial Board Jarosław Burczyk (Editor-in-Chief) Jolanta Mędelska-Guz, Roman Leppert, Grzegorz Domek Helena Ostrowicka, Krystian Obolewski Katarzyna Matuszak-Gołda, Ireneusz Skowron (Secretary) Cover design ArtStudio Editor Sylwia Białobłocka Typographic development ArtStudio | Anna Mreła © Copyright by Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Kazimierza Wielkiego Bydgoszcz 2020 All rights reserved, including the right to translation into any foreign language. No part of this book may be reproduced in any way without the permission of the copyright owners. ISBN 978-83-8018-322-3 Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Kazimierza Wielkiego (member of The Polish Chamber of Books) Office: 85-074 Bydgoszcz, ul. K. Szymanowskiego 3 tel. 52 32 66 479, e-mail: [email protected] http://www.wydawnictwo.ukw.edu.pl Dissemination: tel. 52 32 36 730, e-mail: [email protected] Print: Drukarnia Cyfrowa UKW tel. 52 32 36 702, e-mail: [email protected] Poz. 1961 Ark. wyd. 15. Contents Introduction . 9 The reading with “a user’s manual” . 10 From Augustynek to Rubinsztajn – about the people of laughter . 15 Part One QuiTe seriousLy abouT LaughTer Laughter in physiological and sociocultural perspectives . 21 Laughter versus limit experiences . 25 Communities of laughter . 29 The typology of laughter in times of crisis . 31 Part Two The LaughTer of vicTims, execuTioners and gawkers Occupation . 39 Preludium – pre-war laughter . 39 Small theatres of occupied Warsaw . 46 Resistance with a smile . 52 Street folklore and jokes . 60 The people of laughter . 65 Examples (reports, testimonies, memories) . 67 Example 1. Eryk Lipiński about the capital’s air defences . 67 Example 2. Szymon Kobyliński about the first encounters with the occupiers in Mścisko near Wołomin . 68 Example 3 . Antoni Marianowicz about the events of September, 1939 . 69 Example 4. Aleksander Kamiński about street satire . 70 Example 5 . Marian Ruth Buczkowski about street satire . 70 Example 6. Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki about being transported to Pawiak . 71 Example 7. Stanisław Pigoń about a prisoner’s adventure . 72 Example 8 . Adolf Gawalewicz about the events in Montelupich Prison in