,6%1 ,6%1 ,6%1 ,6%1 TWO FACES OF PIŁSUDSKI ON THE EXAMPLE OF CONTEMPORARY MEDIA DISCOURSE mgr Joanna Kukier PhD student, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University [email protected] A few words about media discourse Discourse is a communication event thanks to which it is possible to convey a message using language, determine the state of knowledge and hierarchy of values and communication through media channels [1]. On the other hand, media discourse is: “a set of ways of purposeful, not accidental use of language to communicate information, opinions, values, concepts, media views on various topics”. Małgorzata Lisowska-Magdziarz assumes that media texts located in contemporary communities should be discussed as part of the aforementioned discourse [2, pp. 6-18]. Nowadays we cannot imagine a world without media: they are a source of information; they describe the world that surrounds us and dictate interpretations. Press, television and internet users should acquire skills for critical and thoughtful reception of media content. Discourse determines what both parties of the communication process know about the world and how they can apply this knowledge in any given situation. It is conditioned in a cultural, social and historical way. Teun van Dijk considers discourse to be a structure that we can perceive in three dimensions: the act of using the language itself, inclusion of an idea in discourse and establishing social interaction [3, p. 10]. For the purposes of this article we will focus on one of the functions of discourse: the unveiling of the relationship between power and society and the positioning in the social hierarchy of value of a charismatic politician who has incited extreme feelings both in the past and today. The purpose of this article is to look at the cult of Józef Piłsudski and a dualistic approach to him on the example of contemporary media discourse. The article will be an attempt to answer how we look at the legend of the Marshal from the perspective of the 21st century and what remains of his symbol. Another important aspect that is worth addressing is the dispute about the person of the Commander and showing how Józef Piłsudski is included in the media discourse from two perspectives of his opponents and supporters. The materials on which the article is based are primarily historical magazines, which are a good piece of knowledge worthy of scientific analysis. In contrast, two video materials will allow for an assessment of the atmosphere in contemporary discourse. The text will be an attempt to synthesize media science issues with a historical introduction. At the source of the legend Józef Piłsudski (1867-1935) has served as marshal since 1920. He gained ВИПУСК 33 (том 2) 5 military experience and worked to regain independence. From 1918, he was the commander-in-chief of the Polish Army and created the Polish Legions. We must not forget that he was a politician [4]. Considering the public opinion and the position of those in power, we can conclude that modern society respects Marshal Józef Piłsudski and his media image is characterized positively. However, how we perceive this historical figure depends on the environment in which we live every day. Józef Piłsudski is a person who raises a lot of controversy. Regardless of that fact, he is still one of the most colorful characters who are on the pages of our history. In 1928, Wojciech Kossak painted “Marshal Józef Piłsudski on Kasztanka”. Kossak presented battle-scenes and history in his art. He identified with these kinds of paintings because he was a soldier himself. In 1927, the Marshal posed for the famous painter. Józef Piłsudski dominated the canvas in a majestic pose on his favorite chestnut colored mare. In the picture, the main character is depicted in the prime of life, although at that time Józef Piłsudski was already past that time. The image was to evoke the chief’s greatest successes, which is why the image evokes associations with the battlefield. The soldiers surrounding the commander symbolize his good contact with subordinates [5]. How does Polish society currently perceive the image of Józef Piłsudski? Some looking at the picture would describe the Leader as a confident, majestic figure proudly looking at the battlefield. Others, however, would see more of a propagandist dimension of the image than deserved idealization. Nowadays Józef Piłsudski is the patron of many streets, squares and schools. Monuments and commemorative plaques were created - including one on Litewski Square in Lublin, and the figure of the Marshal inscribed in the canon of Polish national heroes. Chief or collaborator? The cult of Józef Piłsudski began to function even when he himself held a leadership position. Why did it start so early? First, the biography of the Commander was already intriguing, his attentive observers sought controversy in him and interpreted the details of his life in a way that worked for their advantage. Secondly, this situation was compounded by the multitude of thread of hope provided by Józef Piłsudski. For many, he was the embodiment of the dream of a free homeland. They saw him as a hero and compared him to great Polish personas such as Mickiewicz, Słowacki, Kościuszko or Poniatowski. Interest in his person began already at the beginning of World War I, prior to the events which brought fame to Józef Piłsudski. After Poland regained independence his cult began to grow. He was titled commander, resurrectionist of Poland or commander-in-chief. This term is marked positively. Also, the term “Grandfather”, which evokes a negative association, was to emphasize his role in Polish society. National Democrats used the echoing Battle of Warsaw of 1920 for social manipulation, which involved the mythologization of Józef Piłsudski. According to E. Maj: they attempted to degrade Piłsudski in the process of preparing and 6 ГУМАНІТАРНИЙ КОРПУС implementing the Battle of Warsaw plan and tried to present negatively the image of the winner from Kiev, they denied perceiving him as a political genius and, when referring to previous achievements, they argued that the enforcement of Polish actions in the fight for independence by establishing Legions, did not play a key role in the case of Poland [6, p. 500]. Attempts at degradation also occurred in other historical fields. Józef Piłsudski was accused of making political mistakes: he misdiagnosed the European situation, sympathized with central states and had anti-national preferences. Even remembrance dates became the subject of investigation by the oppositions, e.g. the celebration of the name day on March 19 was criticized and the celebration of May 12-14 was questioned. Opponents of Józef Piłsudski set the public to disapprove of symbolic signs or recognize “Miracle on the Vistula” only as interference of the higher forces. To diminish the role of the “legend” they called the Marshal “a fallen legend”[6, p. 512]. Adolf Nowaczyński, Władysław Grabski or Stanisław Stroński are just a few characters who instigated public opinion against the uncritical adoration of the Marshal. Józef Piłsudski died in 1935. Crowds came to his funeral and worshiped him. That the society would develop in the spirit of Piłsudski was to be ensured by the specially appointed Supreme Remembrance Committee. One of the aims of the organization was to provide patronships for organizations to ensure that they would not ridicule the chief. An extreme example was the desire to canonize him; to recognize him as a patron or to name part of land after him [7, p. 244]. After the death of Józef Piłsudski, various people wrote about him - some of them interacted with him every day, while others haven’t seen him. It was widely believed that one should talk about the Hero as much as possible. Some of the publications had to be withdrawn from the bookstores due to their weak substantive value [8, p. 12]. One such publication was the book of general Felicjan Sławoj-Składkowski. Nationalists in every function of Piłsudski depreciated his merits and refused to have the politician as a resurrectionist of Poland [6, p. 524]. In 1938, the Sejm adopted the Act on “Protection of the property of Józef Piłsudski, the first Marshal of Poland”. It dictated a sentence of up to five years imprisonment if anyone dared to desecrate the memory of the deceased. It was an attempt to regulate the Marshal’s worship. The act was signed by politicians such as Ignacy Mościcki, who served as president at the time, Felicjana Składkowski and Witold Grabowski. It did not take long for the act to sow its crops. In 1938, Stanisław Cywiński in Dziennik Wileński presented an article in which he called Józef Piłsudski a “cabotine”. The offices of Dziennik Wileński were demolished by officers and the author himself was beaten and arrested. This controversial case became popular and acted as inflammatory link for the creation of the Act on the Protection of the Name [9]. The conflict over the Marshal was already under control when in 1926 the supporters of Józef Piłsudski took over. In the official discourse a positive image of the Chief was prominent. The extremist defenders of the good name of Józef Piłsudski resorted to physical violence. This shows not only the example of Stanisław Cywiński, but also Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz, ВИПУСК 33 (том 2) 7 the creator of “Career of Nikodem Dyzma” or Adolf Nowaczyński, also a man of letters [7, p. 244]. The charismatic figure that Józef Piłsudski was, was also met with negative interpretations. Opponents of the Marshal closely watched his every move before him supporters began to dominate the political scene. The opposing encampment built an alternative biography, dragging out unsavory facts from Piłsudski’s life.