Department of Slavic Studies Brown University

113 Marston Hall, 20 Manning Walk, Box E, (401) 863-2689 Providence, RI 02912 http://www.brown.edu/academics/slavic-studies/

POLISH CULTURE THROUGH FILM SLAV 1250 Syllabus and Student Information Fall Semester 2015

Classroom meeting location and time: Marston Hall B-1 Thursday 4:00pm-7:00pm Instructor: Maggie Harrison, Ph.D. (Visiting Lecturer) Email: [email protected] Office number: Marston Hall 204 Phone: (401) 863-3972 Office hours: M 12:00pm -1:00pm, R 2:00pm-3:00pm and by appointment

DESCRIPTION OF COURSE CONTENT

This course uses Polish film and media to introduce cultural issues central to the Polish nationality and identity. It is a survey of Polish cinema from before World War II to the present, in which cultural and socio-historical contexts as part of Polish and European traditions are shown and examined through the lens of the camera. The main objective of the course is to provide students with deeper knowledge of and insight into the sociological and cultural issues of Polish society, as well as their complex and multifaceted nature.

The selection of films chosen for the course includes the works of many of the best-known and most influential Polish directors such as Roman Polański, Andrzej Wajda, Krzysztof Kieślowski, and Agnieszka Holland, as well as some less known outside of Poland such as Krzysztof Zanussi, Jerzy Skolimowski, Dorota Kędzierzawska, and Magdalena Piskorz.

The course will consist of seminars, film screenings, and class discussions.

Seminars will be conducted in English and all films will have English subtitles. The viewings will be accompanied by additional texts on Polish culture and history. 2

COURSE RATIONALE

The course presumes neither the knowledge of Polish nor a background in Film Studies and can be treated as an elective or counted towards courses for Slavic Studies concentration.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completing the course, students will have gained essential knowledge of various aspects of Polish culture and become familiar with some of its principal historical and contemporary elements. The course also aims to aid students in development of self-awareness within their own cultural milieu as well as in building cross-cultural awareness in its broader sense.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Attendance and participation are mandatory and form a substantial part of the final grade.

Grades are apportioned as follows:

Class Participation (attendance, preparation [familiarity with the assigned readings], active participation) 30% Film Response/Reflection Papers (1-2 paragraphs for each film) 40% Final Paper/Project (8-10 pages) 30%

DESCRIPTIONS OF MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS

• Students are expected to attend seminars when the films will be shown and discussed, to read the assigned texts and to propose discussion questions based on these readings. • Written assignments will consist of response/reflection papers based on each student’s learning process, his/her personal experiences of and encounters with Polish culture through the medium of film. • Each student will write a final research paper the topic of which must be closely tied in with the course content covered throughout the semester.

EXPECTATIONS FOR OUT-OF-CLASS STUDY

Beyond the time required to attend each class meeting, students enrolled in this course should expect to spend at least an additional 4 – 5 hours per week of their own time in course-related activities such as reading required materials, completing assignments, researching topics for presentation and final paper.

COURSE OVERVIEW

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE NB: As the instructor for this course, I reserve the right to adjust this schedule in any way that serves the educational needs of the students enrolled in the course. – M. Harrison

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CLASS/ WEEK DATE LEARNING OBJECTIVES FILM & READINGS

1-2/3 SEP. 24 Introduction to the course: FILM: syllabus, objectives of the Fragments of various Polish Films (1900s – 1930s) course, course materials (mandatory and ancillary readings), online resources and coursework requirements (participation, assignments, class discussions),

OBJECTIVES: Developing familiarity with Polish Cinema and its basic history as well as Poland – its geography, historical origins of the nation, the language (origins, history, grammar, dialects, linguistic influences)

Film screening FILM: An Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was a God Discussion of film & readings (Stara baśń: Kiedy słońce było bogiem) [director: Jerzy Hoffman, 2003]

OBJECTIVES: REQUIRED READINGS:

Investigating historical and Dyczewski, L. (2002). Values and Polish Cultural Identity. In L. cultural topics presented in Dyczewski (Ed.) Values in the Polish Cultural Tradition. Polish the film Philosophical Studies, III. Washington, DC: The Council for Research in Values and Philosophy. Understanding culture & (Ch. 1, pp. 1-43) defining cultural stereotypes; Kolek, L. S. (1997). Polish Culture – An Historical Introduction. Lublin, Discussing demographics – Poland: Marie Curie-Skłodowska University Press. [Ch. 1- ethnic structure, diachronic in Before the Conversion to Christianity, pp. 13-26] demographic composition Radzilowski, J. (2004). A Traveller’s History of Poland. Northampton, MA: Understanding Polish history Interlink Publishing Group, Inc. [Ch. 1 – Early Poland, Origins and culture in the 10th to the to 1138 – pp. 6-32; Ch. 2 – From Fragmentation to Rebirth – 15th century period (overview 1138-1333 – pp. 33-50; Ch. 3 – From Wood to Stone, 1333-1466 of the main events; changing – pp. 51-74] borders of the country) Triandis, H. C. (2001). Individualism and Collectivism: Past, Present, and Future. In D. Matsumoto (Ed.), The Handbook of Culture and Psychology. Oxford: University Press. p. 35-50.

Whitaker, A. (2012). Speak the Culture: Poland. London, England: Thorogood Publishing Ltd. [Ch.1 – Identity – pp. 5-37; Ch. 2 – Cinema and Fashion – pp. 145-163]

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

Kolek, L. S. (1997). Polish Culture – An Historical Introduction. Lublin, Poland: Marie Curie-Skłodowska University Press. [Ch. 2 – The Medieval Foundations: Poland in the Early Middle Ages [10th-13th centuries] – pp. 27-46; Ch. 3 – From Consolidation to Maturity: Poland in the Late Middle Ages [14th- 15th centuries] – pp. 47-68]

Whittaker, A. (2012). Speak the Culture: Poland. London, England: Thorogood Publishing Ltd. (Entire Book)

Zamoyski, A. (2009). Poland: A History. London: Harper Press. (Entire Book) 4

3/4 OCT. 1 Film screening FILM: With Fire and Sword Discussion of film & readings (Ogniem i mieczem) [director: Jerzy Hoffman, 1999]

OBJECTIVES: REQUIRED READINGS:

Investigating Polish history in Hauser, E. (2000). Reconstruction of National Identity: Poles and the 15th-18th century period Ukrainians Among Others in Jerzy Hoffman’s Film “With Fire and the influence of politics on and Sword.” The Polish Review, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 305-317. culture Kolek, L. S. (1997). Polish Culture – An Historical Introduction. Lublin, Poland: Marie Curie-Skłodowska University Press. Ch. 5 (Pitfalls of Isolationism)(pgs. 97-105) [On Sarmatianism]

Radzilowski, J. (2004). A Travellers’ History of Poland. Northampton, MA: Interlink Publishing Group, Inc. [Ch. 4 – The Golden Age, 1466- 1576 – pp. 75-95; Ch. 5 – The Silver Age and the End of the Commonwealth, 1576-1795 – pp. 96-136]

Tarnavsky, Y. (2000). With Camera and Actors: Reflections of a Ukrainian on Jerzy Hoffman’s “With Fire and Sword.” The Polish Review, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 321-324.

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

Zamoyski, A. (2009). Poland: A History. London: Harper Press. Ch. 9 (A Biblical Flood): 136-151.

4/5 OCT. 8 Film screening FILM: Sir Thaddeus of the Last Lithuanian Foray Discussion of film & readings (Pan Tadeusz, czyli Ostatni Zajazd na Litwie) [director: Andrzej Wajda, 1999] OBJECTIVES: REQUIRED READINGS: Learning about the survival of the Polish nation and Davies, N. (2005). God’s Playground, vol. 2, Ch. 2, "Rossiya: The Russian preservation of culture in the Partition (1772-1918)", pp. 81-111. 18th-19th centuries – the times of Partitions of Poland; culture Mazierska, E. (2001). In the Land of Noble Knights and Mute Princesses: and language without a Polish heritage cinema. Historical Journal of Film, Radio and political state Television, Vol. 21, No. 2, 2001: 167-182.

Understanding the underlying Radzilowski, J. (2004). A Travellers’ History of Poland. Northampton, MA: causes of Polish Diaspora Interlink Publishing Group, Inc. [Ch. 6 – The Long Nineteenth Century, 1796-1914 – pp. 137-159]

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

Mazierska, E. (2007). Polish Postcommunism Cinema. New York: Peter Lang. (Part 2. Ch. 3. Heritage Cinema – pp. 63-89)

Zamoyski, A. (2009). Poland: A History. London: Harper Press. Ch. 14 (Armed Struggle): 218-231. 5

5/6 OCT. 15 Film screening FILM: The Promised Land Discussion of film & readings (Ziemia Obiecana) [director: Andrzej Wajda, 1974]

OBJECTIVES: REQUIRED READINGS:

Understanding the implication Bechtel, D. (2006). Urbanization, Capitalism, and Cosmopolitanism: of the Industrial era on the Four Novels and a Film on Jews in the Polish City of Łódź. Polish land under Partitions. Prooftexts 26 (2006): 79-106. (Read: pp. 79-93)

Filipowicz, H. (2006). The Wound of History: Gender Studies and Polish Particulars. In H. Gościło & B. Holmgren (Eds.) Poles Apart. Women in Modern Polish Culture. Bloomington, IN: Slavica. (pp. 147-167)

Popławska, I. & Muthesius, S. (1986). Poland's Manchester: 19th- Century Industrial and Domestic Architecture in Łódź. Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Vol. 45, No. 2 (Jun., 1986), pp. 148-160

Radzilowski, John. (2004). A Travellers’ History of Poland. Northampton, MA: Interlink Publishing Group, Inc. (Ch. 6 – The Long Nineteenth Century – pp. 137-159)

6/7 OCT. 22 Film screening FILM: Katyń [director: Andrzej Wajda, 2003] Discussion of film & readings REQUIRED READINGS: OBJECTIVES: Radzilowski, J. (2004). A Travellers’ History of Poland. Northampton, MA: Understanding World War II in Interlink Publishing Group, Inc. [Ch. 7 – Rebirth, 1914-1939 – the context of Polish history pp. 160-188; Ch. 8 – War, Occupation and the Holocaust, 1939- and national trauma 1946 – pp. 189-228; Ch. 9 – ‘People’s Poland,’ 1946-1978 – pp. 229-20]

Seymour, G. (2009). Polish Film Confronts Stalin’s Big Lie. World War II. Vol. 24, Issue 2: 70-71. (article reviews A. Wajda’s Katyń)

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

Batowski, H. (1993). 17 September 1939: Before and After. East European Journal Quarterly, XXVII, No. 4: 523-534.

Bliss Lane, A. (1965). I saw Poland betrayed: An American Ambassador Reports to the American People. (1965 ed.). Western Islands; 1st Ed, 1st Printing.

Garliński, J. (1975). The Polish Underground State (1939-1945). Journal of Contemporary History, Vol. 10, No. 2: p 219-259.

7/8 OCT. 29 Film screening FILM: Man of Marble Discussion of film & readings (Człowiek z marmuru) [director: Andrzej Wajda, 1976]

OBJECTIVES: REQUIRED READINGS:

Discussing Poland as one of Radzilowski, J. (2004). A Travellers’ History of Poland. Northampton, MA: the countries behind the Iron Interlink Publishing Group, Inc. [; Ch. 9 – ‘People’s Poland,’ Curtain 1946-1978 – pp. 229-20]

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

Szporer, M. (1991). Woman of Marble: An Interview with Krystyna Janda. Cinéaste, Vol. 18, No. 3: 12-16. 6

8/9 NOV. 5 Film screening FILM: Black Thursday. Janek Wiśniewski Fell Discussion of film & readings (Czarny Czwartek: Janek Wiśniewski Padł) [director: Antoni Krauze Wajda, 2011] OBJECTIVES: REQUIRED READINGS: Investigating the concept of collective memory in Poland Konrád, G. (1994). To Cave Explorers from the West. 1988. In Mills, Nicolaus (Ed.), Dissent - 40 Years of Writing From Dissent Magazine. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Osnos, P. (1977). The Polish Road to Communism. Foreign Affairs. Vol. 56, No. 1: 209-220.

Radzilowski, J. (2004). A Travellers’ History of Poland. Northampton, MA: Interlink Publishing Group, Inc. [Ch. 9 – ‘People’s Poland,’ 1946- 1978 – pp. 229-20]

Thomson, E. M. (2011). Ways of Remembering: The Case of Poland. In T. Trojanowska, A. Płaczkiewicz, A. Polakowska & O. Ponichtera (Eds.), New Perspectives on Polish Culture. NY, Piasta Books. (pp. 221-235)

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

Drakulić, S. (1993). How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. (Ch. 2 [Pizza in Warsaw, Torte in Prague], Ch. 3 [Make-up and Other Questions], Ch. 7 [Forward to the Past], Ch. 9 [The Strange ability of Apartments to Divide], Ch. 11 [The Language of Soup], Ch. 12 [A Communist Eye], Ch. 19 [How We Survived Communism]

Haltof, M. (2002). Polish National Cinema. New York, NY: Berghahn Books. (In Ch. 9 – Return of the Repressed: Man of Marble and Its Followers– pgs. 208-214)

Kolek, L. S. (1997). Polish Culture – An Historical Introduction. Lublin, Poland: Marie Curie-Skłodowska University Press. [Ch.8 – Challenges of the Twentieth Century – pp. 179-238]

Szporer, M. (1991). Woman of Marble: An Interview with Krystyna Janda. Cinéaste, Vol. 18, No. 3: 12-16.

9/10 NOV. 12 Film screening FILM: 80 Million Discussion of film & readings (80 Million) [director: Waldemar Krzystek, 2011]

OBJECTIVES: REQUIRED READINGS:

Discussion of Solidarity, the Drakulić, S. (1997). Café Europa. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & first legal trade union in the Company Inc. (Ch. 1 Café Europa, pgs. 1-13) Soviet Bloc, and Martial Law Hetnal, A. (1999). The Polish Catholic Church in Pre- And Post-1989 Poland: An Evaluation. East European Quarterly, XXXII, No. 4: 503-529.

Kosiński, K. (2006). “Solidarity” In the Eyes of the Youngest Generation. Polish Sociological Review, No. 153, pp. 91-98.

Radzilowski, J. (2004). A Travellers’ History of Poland. Northampton, MA: Interlink Publishing Group, Inc. [Ch. 10 – The Age of John Paul II, 1978-2005 – pp. 241-257]

Sułek, A. (2009). On the Unpredictability of Revolutions: Why did Polish Sociology Fail to Forecast Solidarity? Polish Sociological 7

Review, No. 168 (2009), pp. 523-537.

Zuzowski, R. (1993). Political Culture And Dissent: Why Were There Organizations Like KOR in Poland? East European Quarterly, XXVII, No. 4: 503-522.

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

Drakulić, S. (2011). The Cat-Keeper in Warsaw (Letter to the State Prosecutor). From A Guided Tour Through the Museum of Communism. London, England: Penguin Books. (pp. 79-102)

10/11 NOV. 19 Film screening FILM:

Discussion of film & readings The Decalogue VIII (“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”) OBJECTIVES: (Dekalog VIII) [director: Krzysztof Kieślowski, 1988] Understanding the concept of Polish National Cinema REQUIRED READINGS:

Investigating the history of Haltof, M. (2002). Polish National Cinema. New York: Berghahn Books. Polish-Jewish relations [pp. 248-254; In Ch. 8 – Krzysztof Kieślowski – pgs. 197-202]

Kowal, K. (1999). Kieślowski’s Dekalog 8: Narrating Jewish-Polish Reconciliation. The European Legacy, Vol. 4 (4): 58-80.

Perlmutter, R. (1997) Testament of the Father: Kieślowski’s The Decalogue. Film Criticism. (Winter 1997/1998), Vol. 22, Issue 2:51-65

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

Zubrzycki, G. (2001). “We, the Polish Nation”: Ethnic and Civic Visions of Nationhood in Post-Communist Constitutional Debates. Theory and Society, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 629-668.

11/13 DEC. 3 Film screening FILM: Students’ Choice Discussion of film & readings To be decided, based on the students’ interest. It will be a film from the most recent selection. OBJECTIVES: REQUIRED READINGS: Analysis of the chosen, To be determined based on the selected film contemporary Polish film in the context of the course RECOMMENDED READINGS: readings and other films To be determined based on the selected film

12/14 DEC. 10 LAST CLASS REQUIRED READINGS:

Final discussion of all films & Kay, M. (2011). Theorizing Cultural Change in Postcolonial Poland. In T. readings Trojanowska, A. Płaczkiewicz, A. Polakowska & O. Ponichtera (Eds.), New Perspectives on Polish Culture. NY, Piasta Books. OBJECTIVES: (pp. 194-205)

Synthesis and final analysis of the course films and readings

Final comments and conclusions about the learning experience

DEC. 20 FINAL PAPERS/PROJECTS DUE

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READINGS AND COURSE MATERIALS

REQUIRED READINGS All readings will be available on the course Canvas site in PDF format. For each topic, there will be a core reading, that is a chapter on the particular period in Polish history depicted in the film.

SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS In addition to the required readings, there will be available various readings for students’ own interest. These readings can help to more deeply understand topics depicted in the course films and discussed in class or simply provide more information on related topics. Should students find any interesting readings related to the course (from websites, academic journals, or press), they are encouraged to share them with the professor and the group.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, EXPECTATIONS

ATTENDANCE AND CLASS PARTICIPATION Regular classroom attendance is expected of all students. All classes and exams are based upon that assumption. You are responsible for acquiring class notes if you have to miss. Ultimately you will find that regular attendance is essential for a satisfactory grade performance.

MISSED SEMINARS AND/OR LATE ASSIGNMENTS Since film is the main medium of learning in this course, students are asked to attend each weekly seminar. Films will be screened in the first part of the class, followed by a group/class discussion about the film in the context of the assigned readings. Students are encouraged to submit their film response/reflection papers regularly. In case of any late submission of work or missed class (screening) students must contact the professor.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Students are responsible for knowing the University’s Academic Code on the use of copyrighted materials and plagiarism. Not giving credit to a person for their intellectual work and passing it off as one’s own is considered stealing.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

DISABILITY SUPPORT Brown University is committed to full inclusion of all students. Any student with a documented disability is welcome to contact me as early in the semester as possible so that we may arrange reasonable accommodations. As part of this process, please be in touch with Student and Employee Accessibility Services by calling 401-863-9588 or online at http://brown.edu/Student_Services/Office_of_Student_Life/seas/index.html

Students may also speak with Student and Employee Accessibility Services (SEAS) at 401-863-9588 to discuss the process for requesting accommodations. Email: [email protected]

WRITING CENTER Brown’s Writing Center provides individual and group writing support free of charge to any member of Brown community. Writing Center associates assist students with all stages of the writing process, from finding a topic through drafting, revising, and final editing. Individual writing conferences are available on the hour from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday – Thursday, and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. The Center is located at J. Walter Wilson, Room 213 Phone (401) 863-3524 Email: [email protected]