The Polish Studies Center Newsletter Indiana University • Bloomington, Indiana Spring 2009 Director’s Notebook By Padraic Kenney

It is a daunting task to step into Director Bill in an English translation by Bill Johnston, as of Greenpeace, who talked with students Johnston’s shoes, even for just a year. But well as one performance in Polish, to sold- about her work. Finally, anthropologist Anna one of the best parts of this job is to share out audiences at the Waldron Center for the Niedźwiedź of Jagiellonian University shared with you some of the excitement at the Polish Performing Arts. The actors were counting with us her research on the worship of Our Studies Center in 2008. on drawing students (after seeing very few in Lady of Częstochowa. Two great events kept our Center on the New York), and were not disappointed. Turn I am very pleased to announce two world map of Polish Studies this past year. to page 6 for an interview with members of new initiatives in the Polish Studies Center. First, April 2008 brought some thirty scholars the Theater, as well as pictures from their First, the Executive Board now works with of Polish culture from North the Director on long-term plans America, Poland, Germany, the at the Center. One of those plans UK, and as far away as Japan, is to expand greatly our efforts at to Bloomington for a three- outreach and fundraising, in order day conference entitled “New to build a stronger and more visible Directions, New Connections: program. To that end, an Advisory Polish Studies in Cross- Board brings together members of Disciplinary Context.” From the community. You can read more the opening address by Clare about the Board on page 14. Cavanagh of Northwestern During those moments University through the campfire when we were not welcoming picnic in Brown County State and getting to know our frequent Park, this was a memorable visitors, the Center kept humming occasion. You can read more with activity. If you missed our about the conference on page annual picnic in September or the 2. Christmas Party in December, look at our photo spread on pages 12 -13. In November, we welcomed Angnieska Graff (center) talks with Jacek Chmaj and Ewa Wójciak Our annual Film Festival continues the legendary Theatre of the from Theatre of the Eighth Day at a reception at the Waldron Center Eighth Day of Poznań, making to bring the best of current Polish their first visit to the United visit here. cinema every Spring. And there’s States. After a successful run in New York, In between these blockbuster events, much more! My thanks to all who have been they presented their latest play, The Files, the Center kept busy. Benjamin Paloff involved in the activities of the Polish Studies of the University of Michigan lectured on Center this year – and especially to our hard- IN THIS ISSUE: Witold Gombrowicz in March. West Virginia working staff, Program Coordinator Gosia University historian Robert Blobaum visited Swearingen and Graduate Assistant Magda in September to present his research on Sokolowski. Without them, most of these Michał Heller Visit 3 Warsaw in World War One. Feminist scholar events could not get off the ground. Before Faculty Profile: Agnieszka Graff gave a lecture on nationalism you explore this year’s newsletter further, and gender in contemporary Poland in take another look at the photo on this page. Bill Johnston 4-5 November. Also in November, political These prominent figures in Polish culture scientist Jeffrey Kopstein of the University knew about each other’s work, but had never Theatre of the Eighth Day of Toronto discussed pogroms in World War met. Making such encounters possible, and Arts Review 6-8 Two. A surprise visit brought world-renowned allowing the creative sparks to fly, is what is Faculty & Student News 10 - 11 theologian and mathematician Michal Heller, exciting about our Center. I encourage you to winner of the Templeton Prize, to the Center find out what else the Polish Studies Center Photo Review of the Year 12 - 13 for an informal discussion with students. has to offer, and to continue to stay involved Another special visitor was Edyta Sitko with our vibrant community. 2

New Directions, New Dimensions: Conference Review by Magda Sokolowski Thank you to the following More than thirty scholars representing possibilities of cross-disciplinary discourse for their financial an array of disciplines and several countries were highlighted in a variety of panels contributions gathered at Indiana University from April 17 – “Psychoanalytic Approaches to Polish to the to April 20, 2008 to take part in the conference Literature and Culture,” “Queering Polish Polish Studies Center: “New Directions, New Connections: Polish Literature and Culture,” “The Nineteenth Mirka Berkvam Studies in Cross-Disciplinary Context,” co- Century: Interdisciplinary Perspectives,” Michael L. Berkvam, Ph.D. chaired by Professors Justyna Beinek and “Cinematic Inquiry” – while other panels Anna M. Cienciala, Ph.D. Bill Johnston and administered by the Polish focused on cultural studies, poetry and Dr. James P. Czechanski Studies Center. Participants presented prose, and theater. Indiana University’s Mary Hermanowski current research and examined the state of Polish Studies had a strong representation Richard Hermanowski Polish Studies in North America, continuing at the conference. Professors Justyna Suellen M. Hoy, Ph.D. a discussion initiated at the previous Beinek (Slavic Languages and Literatures) Margaret J. Jurkiewicz conference in Toronto in 2006 in response and Halina Goldberg (Musicology) lectured Maria M. Michaliczyk-Lillich to the political and socio-cultural changes in together on nineteenth-century literary and Matthew L. Lillich Poland over the last two decades. musical albums, Professor Bill Johnston Lynn T. Lubamersky, Ph.D. Polonists from Harvard, Northwestern, (Comparative Literature and Applied Edward H. Meros the University of Chicago, UCLA, the Linguistics) read from his translations of Stanislaw A. Milewski, M.D. University of Kansas, the University of Polish literature, and Professor Padraic Northern Trust Company Charitable Trust Michigan, and the University of Florida, to Kenney (History) chaired the cultural studies Walter Nugent mention just American institutions, were panel. Three IU graduate students delivered Capt. Frank J. Nice divided into ten panels and spent four days talks: Bethany Braley and Bora Chung (both Edward A. Pasko grappling with urgent questions confronting from the Slavic Department) spoke about Polish American Services the field. What is the place of Polish Studies Modernist poetry and prose, respectively, Chester S. Rog in light of the shift in humanities toward while Mira Rosenthal (Comparative Helen B. Rog cross-disciplinary inquiry? And how can Literature) addressed issues of translation. John W. Ryan, Ph.D. specialists in Polish language, literature, The successful event culminated on D. Patricia Ryan and culture be trained to acquire sufficient Saturday evening with an outing to Brown Felix Smigiel expertise in matters specifically Polish, County State Park where participants and Charlene A. Soby while simultaneously managing to function organizers enjoyed food, drink and good Raymond Sowinski, Ph.D. across other fields and multiple disciplines? conversation over a crackling fire. Eleanor J. Valentine By examining these questions and others, Generous conference support was panelists and attendees of the conference provided by four units of Indiana University: & hoped to make new theoretical, substantive, the College of Arts and Humanities Institute, and disciplinary contributions that could the Office of the Vice Provost for Research: reinvigorate Polish Studies and point the New Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities The Office of the field in innovative and productive directions Program, the Office of the Vice President for Vice President for while linking it to other disciplines. International Affairs, and the Polish Studies International Affairs Over the course of four days, the Center.

Recent Books by Polish Studies Faculty

Building States without Society: European Union Enlargement and the Transfer of EU Social Policy to Poland and Hungary, by Beate Sissenich (Rowman & Littlefield, 2008).

Music In Chopin’s Warsaw, by Halina Goldberg (Oxford University Press, 2008).

Peregrinary by Eugeniusz Tkaczyszyn-Dycki, translated by Bill Johnston (Zephyr Press, 2008). 3 Spring 2009 • Newsletter

Templeton Prize Laureate Michał Heller Visits IU By Magda Sokolowski

This past November, the efforts to serve as a philanthropic Polish Studies Center was catalyst for discovery in areas delighted to host a student engaging life’s biggest questions, gathering with Michał Heller, the ranging from explorations into the Polish cosmologist and Catholic laws of nature and the universe priest, who won the prestigious to questions on love, gratitude, and highly coveted 2008 forgiveness, and creativity. Templeton Prize. During the conversation For more than 40 years, over breakfast, when asked Heller, who currently holds a by one student what Professor Professor of Philosophy post Heller aims to do with his award at the Pontifical Academy money, he responded in his of Theology in Kracow, has humble, quintessential way, “I developed sharply focused don’t need the money ... so I will and strikingly original concepts give it away.” on the origin and cause of the Professor Heller plans universe, often under intense Professor Heller with IU students to dedicate the Templeton Prize governmental repression, particularly during an informal gathering over breakfast money to help create the Copernicus Center during the Communist era. at the Polish Studies Center in conjunction with Jagiellonian University Professor Heller has become a and the Pontifical Academy of Theology in compelling figure in the realms of physics and bagels, undergraduate and graduate Krakow to further research and education and cosmology, theology, and philosophy students from Indiana University met with in science and theology as an academic with his cogent and provocative concepts Professor Heller in an informal setting with discipline. on issues that all of these disciplines a chance to ask him questions about his Professor Heller’s visit to IU was pursue, albeit from often vastly different philosophy, his work and what winning the sponsored by the Departments of Physics, perspectives. With an academic and Templeton Prize has meant for him. Astronomy, Mathematics, Philosophy, religious background that enables him The Templeton Prize, valued at History and Philosophy of Science, to comfortably and credibly move within more than $1.6 million, is awarded each Religious Studies, and the Polish Studies each of these domains, Heller’s extensive year (since 1973) by the John Templeton Center as part of the The Joseph and writings have evoked new and important Foundation. The Templeton Prize is the Sophia Konopinski Colloquia Series, at consideration of some of humankind’s most world’s largest annual monetary award which Professor Heller presented his talk, profound concepts. given to an individual and is guided by “The Existence of Singularities and the On a Thursday morning over coffee the Templeton Foundation’s international Origin of Space-Time.”

Robert Blobaum speaks on Warsaw in the First World War

Fall 2008 started out with a bang for was it that Warsaw managed to avoid a Polish Studies, as over fifty people, including pogrom at this time when the Jews of other many undergraduates, filled the Faculty cities, like Lwów, were not so fortunate? Room in the IMU to hear a talk by Professor The answers Professor Blobaum gave Robert Blobaum of West Virginia University. were not particularly rosy. Warsaw had all Blobaum is Eberly Family Professor of the makings of a pogrom, and was lucky History and the author of numerous books to avoid one. The talk presented urban and articles on turn-of-the-century Poland Poland on the eve of independence in under Russian rule. intimate detail, and indeed there are few Professor Blobaum’s talk, co-sponsored in the world who know that important era by the Borns Jewish Studies Program with in Polish History as well as does Robert assistance from the Department of History Blobaum. Look for his forthcoming book, and REEI, was entitled “A Warsaw Story: tentatively entitled A Minor Apocalypse: Polish-Jewish Relations in the First World Everyday Life in Warsaw during the First Professor Blobaum speaks to a packed War.” The talk explored a conundrum; how World War, in the near future. audience at the Indiana Memorial Union 4

Faculty Profile: A talk with Polish Studies Center Director Bill Johnston by Magda Sokolowski

Bill Johnston is Associate Professor of Can you talk a bit more Comparative Literature at IUB and Director about your interest of the Polish Studies Center. In this in the intersection interview, Professor Johnston talks about between Poles and his current research in Poland involoving NorthAmerican North American Christian evangelicals, evagelicals? What winning the Found in Translation Award and are you discovering being on Polish televsion. Johnston will through your research? resume his position as Director of Polish Studies this summer when he returns from From my work in applied his Fulbright Fellowship. linguistics I knew of two significant developments. You are currently on a Fulbright in First,Evangelical Poland, could you explain the work that missionary organizations you’re doing? are increasingly turning to the use of English I have a Fulbright Research Fellowship as a Foreign Language to conduct an ethnographic study of an (EFL) as what is called evangelical Christian language school in a platform for mission Poland. I’m fascinated by the spiritual and work. Second, after the cultural encounter between Poles and North collapse of communism American evangelicals, which is a part of evangelical organizations the larger globalizing processes of the last have taken a special ten or fifteen years. interest in the countries of the former communist the polarizing presence of Radio Maryja. In Where did your interest for the project bloc. I did some research and found that any case, I continue to be fascinated by come from and how does it relate to there are large numbers of North American- the work, and I’m planning to write a book some of the work you’ve done in the past, based evangelical missionaries in Poland, based on my study. particularly with Native Americans? many involved in EFL. I was intrigued by the thought of the encounter between Are you currently working on any In my work as an applied linguist I spend a Poles and North Americans in the domain translations? lot of time working with language teachers. of religious and spiritual beliefs—and by With teachers of English I became the idea of attempting to convert Catholics I’m always working on a translation! I interested in teacher identity and the values to Christianity! I decided I’d really like to just finished revising Juliusz Słowacki’s that any teacher brings to the classroom; for observe these processes at first hand, by Balladina, which will come out later this year evangelical teachers this includes religious conducting an ethnographic study of an in a volume of Słowacki translations; I also values. As for Native Americans, I work a English school run by evangelicals. It turns recently turned in Andrzej Stasiuk’s Fado, lot with teachers of less commonly taught out, of course, that the situation is much a collection of essays, and the proofs for languages, including teachers of Native more complex—for a start, the Catholicism Jerzy Pilch’s novel The Mighty Angel (Pod American languages, especially Lakota, of Poles is often more a matter of religious mocnym aniołem), which will be brought a language spoken in North and South observance, whereas evangelicals believe out later in the spring by Open Letter. Dakota and surrounding areas. I regard this in a “personal relationship with God.” The I’m currently translating a magnificent as the most important work I’ve done as whole thing too needs to be seen against novel called Stone Upon Stone (Kamień an applied linguist—in helping teachers to the backdrop of broader social, cultural, and na kamieniu) by Wiesław Myśliwski, for know how best to teach the language, I’m political changes in Poland, including the Archipelago Books. trying to play at least a small part in keeping all-present consumer culture that creates its that language alive. own problems of anomie and alienation, and This past year, you were awarded the first 5 Spring 2009 • Newsletter

ever Found in Translation Prize for your too, about Polish national identity and How are you spending your time when translation of new poems by Taduesz how that might be changing (as well as not working, if that’s possible? And Rozewicz, which was also a finalist for what you’re finding out through your what are some of your favorite places to the National Book Critics Circle Poetry current research). frequent? Award? What does it mean to get this kind of recognition? And for those of us Perhaps the biggest discovery for me from I don’t have a lot of free time! Part of the dying to know the details, how was the my research has been the vibrant Polish reason is that, in addition to the research awards ceremony in New York for the evangelical Christian community—Kraków, project and the translation, I was also asked National Book Critics Circle Award? for instance, has about a dozen evangelical to co-host a weekly television program churches, and there are many others about books on Poland’s TVP1 channel. It was a great honor to receive the Found around the country, almost all led by Polish The program is called Hurtownia Książek in Translation award. The National Book pastors. As for the country as a whole, what or “Book Warehouse,” and it will run to the Critics Circle nomination was for Różewicz, I see happening is a Polish version of the end of February. It’s been great fun to do—I not me, which was fantastic—he’s a culture wars—a rather outdated right wing travel to Warsaw once a week and we film in forgotten author here in the States, and trying to hold onto values and practices an actual book warehouse outside the city. it was wonderful to see him getting such that are increasingly marginalized, and a But with all the reading and everything else, attention from the American literary world. liberal side that is struggling to constitute I rarely even have enough time to see my The book I translated contained his most a left-wing identity distinct from the (in two oldest children, Ania and Piotrek, who recent poetry, and it shows how vital he still my view) morally bankrupt “left” of the live in Kraków, the former with my grandson is as a writer, and still unafraid to experiment former communists. Many young people, Hugo—so whenever I’ve got some time, I and to shock. The awards ceremony was for instance, are very cosmopolitan and try to spend it with them. VERY New York—lots of famous writers welcoming of otherness; many others, at and literary groupies. It was interesting to the same time, are drawn to more culturally If readers of Polish literature were to be be there, but I’m glad I don’t have to live in conservative communities often, though not given Bill Johnston’s top three, what that rarefied atmosphere! I find Bloomington always, gathered around the church. Add to would they be? I’m thinking particularly much more conducive to creative work. this the impending economic crisis, which of the contemporary scene and what is already hitting Poland hard (increased seems to be most interesting on the Many of our newsletter readers are unemployment and so on), and I think the bookstore shelves at the moment. familiar with your translation work, but next few years are likely to be highly volatile for those who aren’t, can you talk a little from a social and ideological perspective. To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure that bit about how you decide to translate today’s literature is up to that of the past, the work that you do? Poland’s been in the Western limelight so I’ll give you two top threes among quite a bit recently with the recent books that are available in English. Out At this stage in my career I often have Climate talks in Poznań and, of course, of Polish literature overall, I would select the luxury of choice, which means I opt to the ongoing issues surrounding the Bolesław Prus’s brilliant long novel The translate the books I feel most comfortable missile defense shield -- do you want Doll, the short stories of Bruno Schulz, with and, even more important, that in to comment on the political climate in and Witold Gombrowicz’s last and greatest my view are the most valuable—that was Poland right now as you perceive it from novel, Kosmos. Of the literature published the case with Różewicz, Myśliwski, and a visitor’s perspective? in the last twenty years, I’d say perhaps Magdalena Tulli, for instance. But, even Andrzej Stasiuk’s Tales of Galicia, (Dukla though I have some influence with the In its current incarnation Poland is twenty is even better but, as I mentioned earlier, publishers, the decision is ultimately always years old, and to be honest it behaves not published in English), Stefan Chwin’s theirs, so I don’t always get to translate like a typical twenty-year-old—at times Hanemann, and Magdalena Tulli’s Dreams exactly the books I want—for example, I’m it’s impressively mature and respectable and Stones. still trying to persuade someone to publish (for example in its participation in NATO), Andrzej Stasiuk’s Dukla, which is his best at others it reverts to teenage tantrums And as for those titles Polish titles not book, yet still hasn’t been accepted by any (witness the frequent bickering among yet in translation, like Dukla by Andrzej English-language publisher. politicians). Ecologically the country is a Stasiuk we’ll be keeping an eye out for long way behind Western Europe, but it’s English translations from you, Bill! You’ve been in Poland now for several mostly moving in the right direction. I don’t months while working on your latest know enough about the missile shield to projects, can you talk a little about the comment about it, but it does seem to me changing face of Poland as you see that Poles are somewhat uncritical in their Magda Sokolowski is a 2nd year graduate it? Does anything appear substantially assumption that the shield is in Poland’s student in the Master of Fine Arts Program different since your last visit? I’m curious own best interests. with an emphasis in Poetry. 6

Poland’s Legendary Theatre of the Eighth Day Performs at IU by Magda Sokolowski

In November, the Polish Studies Center English, though we often perform other plays version here because both versions have in conjunction with the College Arts and in English when we travel. But The Files are the potential to get mixed together. Humanities Institute were delighted to host very special because there is so much text the phenomenal theater group, Theatre of in the play. It’s probably the most talkative How did New York go? How was the the Eighth Day (Teatr Ósmego Dnia) as play that we’ve ever done, and we put a lot reception of the show? part of their US debut tour in New York city of effort in preparing ourselves for such an and Bloomington. Prior to their first show, English-intensive performance, including Ewa: It was wonderful. We are still getting I met up with Ewa Wójciak and Marcin hiring an American language coach whom emails from people who came to a Kęszycki of the group to performance in New York discuss their experience expressing their gratitude in the US performing The for the show and how it was Files. What follows is our an emotional experience engaging conversation for them, from Polish as about The Files, its history well as non-Polish people. and the changing face of This makes us very happy. Polish theater. And we were so satisfied by the reviews, like in the A big hearty welcome Village Voice, which were to Bloomington! How overwhelmingly positive. are you feeling today And the reviews helped to on the day of your first increase our ticket sales for performance here in the performances in New town? York. Each performance over the course of three Ewa: Like always when weeks was for a fuller and we perform for the first fuller audience. time in a new town among new people, we are full Marcin: Yes, we are very of hope, but also a little surprised by the reaction of nervous and stressed the public. What surprised [laughs]. us the most was how the American audience tended Theatre of the Eighth day members during a performance Marcin: Yes, but on the to respond to the play in of The Files at Bloomington’s John Waldron Arts Center; other hand, we are used to many of the same parts that (from left to right) Tadeusz Janiszewski, Marcin Kęszycki, performing in new places. the Polish audience was Ewa Wójciak and Adam Borowski We travel a lot in many receptive to, finding humor countries, so we are a used in the same places. It was to the stress, which is an expected part of we worked with before we came to the fantastic, we had no idea that the American performing. States. audience would relate to the play, its humor, Marcin: For that reason, we had a lot of its politics in the same way as the Polish Three of four of your performances of stress before the first show in New York. We audience does being that they might be more The Files here in Bloomington will be wanted to makes sure that the play’s ideas familiar with the experiences of the play. On performed in English, which I should were understandable, fully translatable, and the other hand, one of the differences we mention, is based on the translation that the audience would accept our different noticed between the two audiences is that in of the play from the Polish by our very way of pronunciation. Poland, we have a much younger audience, own Bill Johnston. How many times while in the US, we’ve experienced a much have you performed this play in English? Ewa: And, of course, the play, especially older, more mature audience. And how is the experience different from the first few times around, was much, much performing it in Polish? longer than the Polish version because we I’m curious about the historical context took such great care to enunciate everything of the play, that is, what were The Files Ewa: Well, the English version of The Files clearly and to be precise. responding to when they were being we’ve performed now about twenty times, written? I wonder if the American having just spent three weeks in New York Marcin: [laughing] And now, we’re more audience that you have been experiencing City, but this is the first tour of The Files in stressed about performing the Polish lately has been responsive to some of the 7 Spring 2009 • Newsletter

issues within the play. I can see some from the beginning, it was very much there is a theater group which doesn’t act strong correlations between the events about creating something that was our as a team. They tend to be separate from when The Files were being written and the own, alternative and much more spiritual each other and it lacks the cohesiveness of contemporary American political climate, brotherhood of people and more than just the group. For us, building strong personal especially under the last presidential theater. And from the very beginning, the relationships was the foundation of what administration. we were doing and what we wanted to do and from that improvisation, Marcin: Oh, very clearly so. of course, becomes much easier to do when the group dynamics are Ewa: Yes, yes, yes. We counted on so strong and interconnected. It’s a that when we came here, that the deep partnership. performance would be universal enough for American audiences. Not Your group is renowned for your only because they would be able to outdoor performances. I’ve seem sympathize with those others in the amazing pictures of some of your play, but because they also know what outdoor shows on the internet. censorship means, especially to a What prompted taking the theater democratic state. The irony in the play from the inside to the outside or and its humor—people respond to that vice versa? because people are sensitive to the political subjects [within the play], they Marcin: There were many reasons. seem to have universal appeal. We started to work on the street during the Communist period, which You have been performing together was a very bad time to do such a since the 1970s … thing because performing in the streets required permits, you had to get permission and there was Marcin: [laughing] Yes, this is a very During the reception following the Polish performance censorship … hard reality and it’s true. of The Files at the John Waldron Arts Center; top: Ewa Wójciak , bottom: Tadeusz Janiszewski Ewa: [laughing] We are the children of Ewa: It was rather forbidden. the ’68 Revolution. Marcin: Right, it was strictly forbidden. Marcin: Yesterday in the motel, we saw It wasn’t easy doing outdoor a copy of a magazine with the Rolling performances then, but we tried Stones on the cover and we could anyway. But eventually we had to relate. Though, of course, they are take cover, so we started performing older, we started to wonder if we look as in churches, which at that time, were they do [laughs]. quite independent. So we started performing both inside churches Ewa: [laughing] Sometimes friends in as well as in the spaces outside of Poland call us the “Rolling Stones of churches. And outside was the better alternative theater.” space because it was without the hindrance of alters, sacred sculptures, That’s hilarious. In many ways, that’s benches and so on, and we obviously quite a compliment. I imagine that had a lot more room, which was a big the deep relationship that all of you advantage. have fostered over the years adds greatly to your stage performances, Ewa: We should mention that during especially when you are called to that time, under Martial Law in improvise. Can you talk a little bit Poland, the Polish Catholic church, about the benefits of having worked not all of them, but some of them together for so many years and were ‘underground’ meeting places how that adds to the on-stage dynamics focus was much more on the group as a for practitioners of various arts and social between all of you? place where we could discuss, read, share movements, which is why we were drawn in spiritual discoveries and we learned that to those spaces. It was quite different then Ewa: Of course. We met originally with it was very important to work together as than what the Polish Catholic church is now. the idea of creating a performing group as a team because theater anyway is very But that was all before we were forced to a response to the Communist reality. So social. You can tell on the stage when leave Poland and we went West. 8

Marcin: And when we came back to Poland be a response to that, I’m curious about Regarding the growing Western- in the early 1990’s, after our experiences how the actual playwriting changed in oriented consumption-culture in Poland in the West, we noticed that the Polish response to that political shift and how that you just described, how has that audience had become pre-occupied with the subject matter that you were dealing been impacting the arts and theater, in other things, different from what seemed with changed. particular? Has that been a chance for to be the concerns before we left Poland greater artistic opportunities or not? Is and they weren’t as interested in theater Ewa: Maybe the writing became more global, there an artistic expression forming anymore. but it was still political. For us the motivation in response to these new capitalistic, to do theater is always as a reaction to what consumerist modes? Ewa: When democracy started Polish people is going on in the world. That’s natural for stopped going to the theater. Marcin: As you might know, Poland Theater had always been an right now seems to be very much alternative space of freedom fascinated with America. It’s not during the totalitarian system only the Hollywood films, but the and suddenly, after 1989 when mundane day-to-day things too, there was so much more access like eating at McDonald’s and to other ideas, the people of those kinds of things. But there Poland seemed not as excited is a slow growing resistance to by the theater as they once that, which is very new. At first, were. And we ourselves had people were just happy to have become a little bored of the dark, all of these new things, but now dingy underground that was so as the novelty of them seems to much of the theater back then. wear off, there appears to be a And so we decided to pursue the growing movement against these people, which is when we really things. took the theater outside. Ewa: And it’s probably bigger Marcin: Right. If the people don’t than we realize. But there is come to the theater then that an anti-American movement, in means that the theater has to go the sense that more and more to them. people, particularly the younger Adam Borowski during a performance of The Files generation are against the mass- Ewa: Yes, and also we decided that consumerism that they see going on around we wanted to do shows that people them. And we’re familiar with many of these could participate in, so it wasn’t that we us; it is our character to react to what is going movements because we are an island, simply moved the theater from the inside to on around us. And of course we do it too one of the few remaining groups from our the outside, but we wanted to redefine the because Polish reality is still very far from generation who continue to be active in the theater. That’s when we started thinking where it needs to be. It’s a democracy, yes, growing midst of these younger generations’ about how to perform without using words but now we’re in a very consumption-oriented movements. We have been very lucky and and how to make it visible enough so that it way of developing as a country, which in are quite comfortable now in Poland where in could be experienced just as equally by one many ways is very superficial. It’s heavily Poznań, owing to our reputation as a legend hundred people as say, by two thousand. American-influenced and not all of that is of the democratic opposition movement, Taking the theater outside has allowed us a necessarily in the best interest for Poland. we have set up a cultural and artistic center completely different way to interact with our There is an overwhelming move in Poland around the theater space, where we are the audiences and now we’re addicted to these towards consumerism and adaptation of hub for many different groups and ideas types of large-scale performances. Western values, which we think need to be including anarchists, gays and lesbians and questioned. And we feel that there is still a various other minority groups. So, while we Marcin: Also, outdoor theater gives us lot of work to do for our theater as it concerns were the generation of the ’68 Revolution new possibilities for developing theatrical these changes. We are sensitive, too, to and much has changed since then, we language in a completely different way, other things going on around us, like the continue to concern ourselves with issues of Ultimately, these two different types of series of wars in the 1990’s in the Balkans social justice and resistence. theater – the indoor and outdoor – inspire and how those have affected us. The each other. genocide in that region continues. These Marcin: In this way, we were never only a events have been an inspiration for one of theater group. The theater is one aspect of So there was this move from the indoor our most well-known shows called Ark which what we do, which is part of the much larger to the outdoor around the time when is about civil war refugees from the Balkan action to react to the world and to foster Communism fell, the move seemed to region looking for new homelands. social expression and social protest. 9 Spring 2009 • Newsletter

“Polish is not Difficult” by Wiola Próchniak

I have been teaching Polish to foreign a constant problem determining whether at at the Polish Studies Center, a unique place students for several years, but I had to come noon one eats a “second breakfast” or lunch. that no other American campus can boast of. to Indiana University in Bloomington to notice The answer to the innocent Polish question There is another place in Bloomington where that certain things that I had considered “what do you study?” is not as clear-cut as a one can hear Polish: every Thursday at 6 obvious are not really obvious. Let me supply Pole would expect: answers are sometimes p.m. speakers and students of Polish meet a few examples. vague and the most frequently heard one at the Runcible Spoon cafe at the “Polish Since the fall of 2007 I have been is “I (still) don’t know.” Such differences in Table.” We are in the fourth year of these teaching Polish in Bloomington at three perceiving reality are a part and parcel of our meetings, inspired by Prof. Justyna Beinek levels: beginning, classes. in 2005. The Polish Table has become a intermediate, and Polish Bloomington tradition with both steady and advanced. I have both Americans seasonal participants. We welcome all who undergraduate and constitute more would like to join us. graduate students than half of my in all of my classes. students. This Wiola Próchniak is currently Visiting Professor And that was one of broad term includes of Polish (Fall 2007 – Spring 2009) here at my first discoveries: many variants: Indiana University and Fellowship holder of you can study biology, sometimes the Kosciuszko Foundation Lecturer from business, political they are native the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, science, musicology, speakers of Polish, Poland. She will be returning to her home in or linguistics, and but most often they Poland this summer. find yourself in a are young people group of people who whose ancestors are interested in a came to the United Open Letter completely different States a long time field than your own. ago, and their of Appreciation I can see that this is Polish national Dear Wiola, very stimulating for identity has been We, your students, just want you to students: you learn preserved in know how much we have appreciated new things about fields holiday customs, Wiola Próchniak, IU’s beloved Visiting your time, teaching, and fellowship that you previously never songs, or just a few Professor of Polish over the past two years. You have paid much attention to, words. It happens been so gracious with your efforts, and now they become that studying Polish engaging us in discussion (but not interesting. This process takes place with is a difficult existential experience: every getting too frustrated when we make the help of the Polish language and in the day one has to study new grammatical the same mistake over and over), context of Polish history and traditions. Even structures, foreign words, and Polish ways of explaining Polish grammar, and at the beginning stages of learning Polish thinking about the world. One of the biggest laughing about everyday life. You you can discuss important and serious challenges that both students and teachers truly worked to make the language topics, not only building dialogues that have face is what to do in order to study effectively classroom an engaging environment, to do shopping or ordering a taxi (although and learn Polish quickly. using literature and film to bring our these skills eventually turn out to be quite Most students have made a lot of language study out of the textbook and useful, too). progress in learning Polish, and a few have into real life. You have encouraged us On the other hand, a student who goes to exceeded expectations. This academic to tackle complicated topics in our Poland to study Polish becomes immersed in year five students of Polish have applied research, and have urged us to read, Polish reality; he or she learns while hearing for grants and fellowships that would allow write, and speak about broad cultural conversations on the street, observing them to continue Polish studies. Let’s keep issues and concerns current in everyday life, and simply living in the country. our fingers crossed for their success! Poland and around the world. We will When all this takes place in a country that I think that one student’s evaluation is definitely miss you next year - both in is not Poland, things become complicated; the best conclusion to my notes on teaching the classroom and at Polish table - Polish reality is different from the American Polish at IU: “I knew Polish a bit. I want to but we wish you all the best as you one. For example, we had to minimize using study it because Polish is important to me, return home to family and friends! such words from our textbook as “train and also knowing one more foreign language station” or “train ticket” because Americans can be very useful in adult life.” Do zobaczenia, use other modes of transportation. We have Last year I taught all my Polish classes Your students 10

FACULTY NEWS

Justyna Beinek (Slavic) published two an ethnographic study of an evangelical completed his MA at Purdue University, articles in Polish periodicals: one on Christian language school. He is also working where he examined the lives of Polish Romantic albums in Rocznik Humanistyczny on a translation of Wieslaw Mysliwski’s immigrant men who have sex with other and another on women in Polish film in 1984 novel “Stone Upon Stone” (Kamien men. His current work also focuses on the Postscriptum polonistyczne. She delivered na kamieniu) for Archipelago Books. Finally, intersection of sexuality and one’s immigrant talks on the dynamics of individual/national he is currently a co-presenter for “Hurtownia experience. memory in Polish and Russian albums Ksiazek,” a weekly program about books on of the Romantic Age at the Humboldt Polish TVP 1. Ania Muller (History) – see Letter from University in Berlin and the University of Gdańsk on page 11 detailing Ania’s family Hamburg in Germany in June 2008. Beinek Padraic Kenney (History) conducted and academic life in Poland while there on and Halina Goldberg co-authored a paper, research in South African archives in the a Fulbright. “Literary and Musical Albums” Conventions summer of 2008, gathering material for and Contexts,” at the conference New a book on political prisoners in the 20th Daniela Nimmich is an exchange student Directions, New Connections: Polish Studies century world. He published an article on from the Christian-Albrechts University of in Interdisciplinary Context (see page 2). In contemporary performance art in Central Kiel in Germany, spending this year in the summer 2008, she traveled to Jagiellonian Europe, “Pranks for the Post-Coms,” in History Department. Being of both German University in Kraków to work on A Critical Modern Painters (December 2008). An and Polish origin, she is very interested Guide to Witold Gombrowicz, a project for Italian translation of his book Burdens of in Eastern European History, Modern which she received a NEH Collaborative Freedom: Eastern Europe Since 1989 also European History and Literature. Fellowship (2007-2008). appeared in 2008. He continues to serve as president of the Polish Studies Association. Magda Sokolowski (English, Poetry) Jack Bielasiak (Political Science) served has been awarded a grant by the College as Division Chair, Politics of Communist Beate Sissenich (Political Science) -- see Arts and Humanities Institute to study in and Former Communist States, American page 2. Nepal this summer as part of the cultural Political Science Association; in September, literacy project entitled “The Writer in the he was Chair and Discussant of “Post- World: Cultural Space and Displacement” Soviet Authoritarianism: Regime, Party, sponsored by Professor Samrat Upadhyay, Leadership,” at the Annual Meeting of the STUDENT NEWS Director of Creative Writing. Her work in American Political Science Association in Nepal will focus on the poetics of space and Boston. how writers respond to geographical and Alison Behling (SPEA) is writing her WEST political exile. She will present her work in Halina Goldberg (Musicology) published a thesis on nuclear energy policy in Europe, the fall of 2009 as part of a larger panel and book, Music in Chopin’s Warsaw. New York: using the cases of Germany and Sweden. reading presentation. Oxford University Press, 2008 (see page 2). Last summer she worked as an intern with Her article entitled “Chopin’s Late Fantasy the US State Department at the Embassy Kristen Strandberg – see Travel awards on Pieces in the Context of Nineteenth-Century in Berlin. page 14 to learn more about Kristen’s recent Fantasy Genres” appeared in Chopin’s trip to the Chopin Institute in Warsaw. Musical Worlds: the 1840s (Warsaw: Jolanta Mickute returned in late November Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina, 2008, from dissertation research in Poland Lisa Vest (Musicology) received the Mellon 2007). She also presented a number of and Lithuania. She is presently doing Pre-Dissertation Research Grant through papers on Chopin and other topics in dissertation writing and additional research the Russian and East European Institute, Poland, Germany, and the United States. at the Center for Jewish History/Yivo in and traveled to Poland in May-June 2008 NY. With support from the Morris and Alma to begin researching her dissertation topic. Bill Johnston (Comparative Literature and Schapiro Dissertation Research Fellowship, She hopes to focus on the interactions Second Language Studies) was awarded Jolanta is writing her first chapter on Jewish between the communist government and the first ever Found in Translation Prize for women zionists in interwar Poland. the music community in Poland during the his translation of new poems by Tadeusz Gomułka era (1956-1970). In April she will Rozewicz. The book was also a finalist Bora Chung (Slavic) presented a paper travel to England to present a paper on for the National Book Critics Circle Poetry entitled “Feminine Voice in Modernist “Issues of Gender and Voice in Penderecki’s Award. In 2008 he published Peregrinary by Folk Songs” at the AAASS Convention in The Devils of Loudon” at a conference on Eugeniusz Tkaczyszyn-Dycki with Zephyr November 2008. “Polish Music Since 1945,” organized by Press. Johnston is currently in Poland on a the Music Department of Canterbury Christ Fulbright Research Fellowship, conducting Hubert Izienicki (Sociology) recently Church University. 11 Spring 2009 • Newsletter

VISITING SCHOLARS Letter from Gdańsk This has been a very eventful year for the (Muller)-Hinnants. Ania’s 2007-08 Fulbright Agata Barzycka was a visiting scholar year began rather precariously when we arrived to our kamienica (old apartment building) from Jagiellonian University in Kraków in as it was under major construction. Between the noise and commotion of the workers Spring 2008. While at IU, she conducted coming in and out, it was difficult to get settled in. Ania had trouble doing her research and I research relating to her Ph. D. project titled was having trouble maintaining my sanity. We arrived in August, but the project had begun “The childhood in bourgeois families in in June with a planned completion date of mid-October. But since the workers seemed to Western Galicia in the second half of the be taking breaks more often than actually working, it wasn’t until mid-February of 2008 that 19th Century”. Currently, she works as an the project was finally finished. editor in the Polish Biographical Dictionary Ania escaped much of that chaotic time by making trips to Warsaw to visit the archives in Krakow (Institute of History, Polish and interview her women prisoners. It was a very fruitful research year for her, judging from Academy of Sciences in Warsaw) in the the progress she’s making during this, her dissertation-writing year. Nowadays, Ania can 19th century history section. only be found behind her computer monitor and next to her teapot writing away. Zosia, our five-year-old daughter, wasn’t crazy about her pre-school in 2007-08. But we Anna Niedźwiedź visited IU and the Polish changed schools this year and she’s perfectly happy going to school everyday now. She’s Studies Center in September-October dabbled in a few new hobbies, like horseback riding and ballet, but her passion remains 2008. During her stay, she was affiliated drawing hearts, flowers, and flying ponies. Since New Year’s Eve, she’s added fireworks to with the Department of Anthropology. Dr her drawing arsenal. Niedźwiedź (Ph.D. in cultural anthropology, Once the renovation was finished in February 2008, I started thinking about improving Jagiellonian University) is interested in my Polish and teaching some English. In the fall of 2008, I formally started teaching English contemporary approaches to religion and through a (very) small, one-person English company I created: “World of English”. Also, religiosity (especially mass and popular the apartment renovation experience inspired me to undertake some renovation projects religion) as well as the role of image in of my own – namely converting basements and attics into livable and rentable apartment modern societies. She is the author of space. These projects are underway, but involve more waiting than action, as paperwork Obraz i postać. Znaczenia wizerunku and permissions tend to get bogged down while flowing through local government offices. Matki Boskiej Częstochowskiej (Image From my observations living here and conversations with my English students, I can and Figure: Meanings of the Icon of Our tell you that the Tri-city (and presumably Poland as a whole) has dramatically changed Lady of Częstochowa) (2005). While in since 2003, when we last lived here. The feeling of uncertainty and apprehension that was Bloomington, she presented a talk based customary in the pre-EU days is long gone. These Poles are self-confident and optimistic upon this research. about realizing the kind of lives they’d like to have for themselves. Of course, any self- assuredness built on wealth is being tested by the current economic crisis. Nevertheless, Michal Skiba is an assistant professor I feel Poles have attained the kind of stability that will help them endure this trying time and at the Institute of Geological Sciences at eventually prosper along with the rest of the European Union. Jagiellonian University. This fall semester he took advantage of a great opportunity to Cheers from Gdańsk, visit IU and work with Professor Dr David Andy, Ania & Zosia L. Bish of the IU Geology Department on several projects focused on clay mineralogy. The work done by Skiba during his stay in Bloomington will hopefully be published in the near future.

Patrycja Szmyd is a Doctoral student at the Institute of English Studies, Warsaw University. Her research interests lie within Psycholinguistics and Pragmatics. From October 2008 until February 2009 she pursued her research on comprehension of proverbs. While at IU she was affiliated with the Department of Linguistics.

photo: (from left to right) Andy Hinnant, Ania Muller and daughter Zosia sailing in Gdańsk. 12

Photo Review of the Year

Our annual picnic at Bryan Park featured everyone’s favorite Polish foods and authentic costumes. At the Christmas Party, bilingual Christmas caroling was accompanied by a trio of Emmanuel Borowsky, violin; Anna Sliva, cello; and Grigor Khachatryan, piano. The Polish Culture Association also enjoyed a year full of exciting festivities, on the next page. 13 Spring 2009 • Newsletter

This page (clockwise from top left): Theatre of the Eighth Day members enjoy pizza with Agnieszka Graff at the Polish Studies Center; Greenpeace Activist Edyta Sitko visits the PSC and speaks about her recent trip to Poland as part of the Poznań global warming talks; New Dimensions/New Directions Conference participants enjoy a warm fire and good conversation at Brown County State Park last April; Polish Culture Association students experiment with fortune telling traditions at their Andrzejki party; Professor Heller meets with students over tea and coffee at the Polish Studies Center over conversations of time, space, religion and environment; Michael Watson of PCA during the pizza party with members of Theatre of the Eighth Day. 14

Polish Studies Center Executive Committee and Advisory Board

The Polish Studies Center now benefits from the advice of our singer and classical recitalist in the United States and Europe, and friends in the Polish community in Bloomington and around as a professor of voice at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, Drake Indiana. University and Indiana University. Professor Krajewska is well known in professional organizations, having served on the boards or holding Executive Committee Members: such positions as East Central District Director of Mu Phi Epsilon, Padraic Kenney, Acting Director, Professor of History Indiana Music Chairman for the National Federation of Music Clubs, Bill Johnston, Ongoing Director, Associate Professor of annual concert coordinator for Bloomington Worldwide Friendship, Comparative Literature and Music Chairman and adjudicator for the Bloomington Chapter Justyna Beinek, Assistant Professor, Slavic of the National Society of Arts and Letters, as well as local chairman Steven Franks, Professor and Chair, Slavic and national adjudicator for the Shirley Rabb Winston Scholarship. Halina Goldberg, Associate Professor of Musicology Jeffrey Veidlinger, Professor of History and Associate Mirka Berkvam has lived in Bloomington for 23 years. She works as Director, Borns Jewish Studies Program a psychotherapist at the Bloomington Hospital Outpatient Behavioral Health Services; previously, she worked in the same field in Poland. She has been an active member of the Bloomington community for Advisory Board: many years, especially working on healthcare issues. The Advisory Board meets from time to time to discuss outreach to the community and fundraising goals and strategies. The Monika Stepien ~ Born and raised in Poland and a resident of the Advisory Board looks forward to hearing your ideas about the United States since 1983, I have always had difficulty answering Center’s future. Here are brief profiles of the members of the questions regarding my nationality. Polish by birth and American by committee. destiny. My daughter, born in Indianapolis, is fluent in Polish with strong interests in Polish art, music, and literature. My days are busy John Brian O’Donnell, MD has lived in Bloomington since with running a company dedicated toInternational Export and Import 1994, and is a family practitioner. His wife, Maria Mastalerz, is of Industrial Products. a Research Scientist in the Department of Geological Sciences at IU. Zygmunt Pizlo is a Professor of Psychology at Purdue University. He received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electronic Engineering Marian Krajewska Bates ~ After completing studies at the in Poland (in 1978 and 1982, respectively), and a Ph.D. degree in Juilliard School of Music and as a Fulbright Scholar in Vienna Psychology from the University of Maryland at College Park in 1991. at the Akademie fur Musik und darstellende Kunst, Marian His research interests concentrate on computational modeling of Krajewska Bates has enjoyed a long career as a leading opera cognition.

Polish Studies Travel Grants, 2008

Each year the Polish Studies Center awards grants to students and faculty who are traveling to present their research at conferences. Here are some of the places where we have been heard from:

Justyna Beinek (Faculty - Slavic) travelled to Philadelphia in November and delivered a paper entitled “Performing the ‘Slavic Soul’ in Sławomir Mrożek’s ‘Moniza Clavier” at the annual convention of the American Association of Slavic Studies.

Halina Goldberg (Faculty - Musicology) travelled to Warsaw, Wrocław, and Berlin in December 2008, presenting three papers on Chopin, Liszt, and Elsner at Karol Lipiński Academy of Music, Wrocław; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; and the 8th International Chopin Conference, Fryderyk Chopin Institute, Warsaw.

Anna Muller (PhD candidate, History) travelled to Philadelphia in November 2008, where she presented a paper entitled “Together and Apart - Women Communists and Anti-Communists in Stalinist Prisons in Poland.”

Kristen Strandberg (PhD candidate, Musicology) travelled to Warsaw in December to deliver a paper entitled “’Une véritable consécration’: Revisiting the Question of Chopin’s Influence on Gottschalk,” at the 8th International Chopin Conference at the Fryderyk Chopin Institute.

Jolanta Mickutė (PhD candidate, History) travelled to Kraków to explore the repositories of the Archive and Library of Jagiellonian University and the Kraków State Archive. 15 Spring 2009 • Newsletter

Donate to the Polish Studies Center

The Polish Studies Center is greatly in need of financial contributions for its scholarly, cultural, and social activities. Donations to the Center are crucial in allowing us to build our program. As you know, the Center arranges a wide array of scholarly events like conferences, talks, and symposia; cultural events such as concerts, theatrical performances, readings, and exhibitions; and informal social gatherings. Your help is vital in pursuing the Center’s mission, which is to promote the study of Polish culture, history, and society at Indiana University and beyond.

Thanks to state and federal tax laws, your gift to the Indiana University Foundation for Indiana University’s Polish Studies Center can be a real bargain! Indiana residents can receive a 50 percent tax credit on their Indiana tax returns, up to a maximum credit of $100 if you are filing alone or $200 if you are filing jointly. Add the value of the charitable deduction when you itemize on your federal return, and your gift winds up actually costing you a fraction of its value to Indiana University.

For example, a gift of $500 to the PSC is eligible for a $200 credit on a joint Indiana tax return—that’s two- fifths of the gift back to you right there. And if you itemize deductions on your federal return, you could avoid paying $198 in taxes (based on a 39.6 percent bracket). Your total tax savings are $398. Thus, your $500 gift to IU’s Polish Studies Center costs you only $102.

Thank you for your support of the Polish Studies Center!

Polish Studies Center Donation Form

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To donate to the Polish Studies Center, please make a check payable to “IU Foundation” and be sure to write “Polish Studies Center” in the memo portion of the check.

The check should be sent to: IU Foundation Polish Studies Center Post Office Box 500 Bloomington, IN 47402 Polish Studies Center campus mail Indiana University 1217 E. Atwater Avenue Bloomington, IN 47401

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Director Bill Johnston Take a look Acting Director inside to find out Padraic Kenney more about this Program Coordinator year’s Gosia Swearingen exciting events Graduate Assistant hosted by the Polish Magda Sokolowski Studies Center Phone: 812-855-1507 Fax: 812-855-0207 photo: Marcin Kėszycki of Theatre of the Visit our website: Eighth Day www.indiana.edu/~polishst