Polish Writing Seen As Grotesque Form
Much of recent Polish literature tends to use grotesque forms to report life inside Poland, a professor of Russian and Polish languages said last night at a University Lecture.
By Rick Mabbutt
Page 7
Jery Krzyzanowski, an associate professor at the University of Colorado, explained this trend evolved in an effort by Polish writers to tell the truth despite the restrictions imposed by Nazi and Russian censors.
Since many of the writers use the grotesque forms, which seem to have little relation to current society inside Poland, Prof. Krzyzanowski said the censors pass the writing off as fantasies—nothing more.
THUS, TO PEOPLE unacquainted with life in Poland, the literary works seem to have little meaning. But the Polish people, he said, can translate the literature into reality because they know the situation.
Prof. Krzyzanowski traced the history of modern Polish literature, which, he said, began late in the 19th century with the writings of Henryk Sienkiewicz, who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1905.
During this period Polish literature was concerned with national issues and the leadership of the people, but between 1918 and 1939 the literature took a 180 degree turn, the professor said. The new attitude was art for art's sake—one should not mix art and current affairs, he said.
ALMOST 90 PER CENT of Polish literature until recently was written in his style and with his words, he said. Sienkiewicz's works show the influence of a brief stay in America near the turn of the century.
The next period, he explained, was influenced by World War II.
"It was not a shock for the nation as a whole, but for the literature too," he said.
THE NAZIS BANNED all publishing by Polish writers, although they did not prevent them from writing. Consequently, many Polish writers spent much of the five years of occupation reporting Nazi atrocities and conditions in Poland, he added.
After the war, every writer who survived felt it necessary to publish his reports of the events of the war, he said. Since there was governmental laxness on former publishing restrictions many writers were able to publish their works. This period between 1945 and 1949 is marked by the most cruel and terrible stories in Polish history, he said.
Then in 1949 the Russians clamped down on publishing of certain Polish writers—the works of some writers were not allowed to be published at all, he stated. During this period a new wave of young writers came to the front in Polish literature. He said they were the people who believed there was a certain amount of freedom under Communism and those who had been re-educated or had become Communists.
The new writers, he explained, produced a completely new trend in Polish literature. The main themes of their works was that the best means of survival was dependence on Russia or that it was the Communists who fought the Nazis during the war and not the home armies.
This period between 1949 and 1955 is called the dark period of Polish literature, he said, because the works were bad imitations of the Communistic writings of what he termed the "Red beats."
"FORTUNATELY IT did not last long or hurt Polish literature too much." he said.
Since the October 1956 revolution in Poland, which, he said, was led by the intellectual writers and students, the country has enjoyed more freedom in producing their own literature than any other country behind the Iron Curtain.
The intellectuals, students, and writers are able to discuss the issues in some papers in Poland and make the public aware of the issues. It was this trend, he said, which produced the spirit of the revolution.
Although Poland enjoys greater freedom in literary production the situation is always changing, he said.
THE POLISH LEADERS have declared that they must make their own literature, he said, but they do not want to be influenced by western culture. The Polish people can read works by western writers, but the government does not want the writers to copy or imitate them.
LIVE JAZZ! at the Dine-A-Mite this Thursday 8:00 p.m.
featuring
SCOTT NELSON — DRUMS
HERBIE SMITH - ALTO SAX
CHARLIE MATTHEWS - BASS
JIM HAMLETT - PIANO
Students planning on changing from one school of the university to another between semesters have been requested by James K. Hitt, registrar, to notify him as soon as possible.
School Change-overs Must Register Soon
University Daily Kansan
Complications and delays during enrollment for next semester can be eliminated by filing a request for change of schools at 122 Strong Hall, Hitt said.
Johnson Delays Airline Walkout
WASHINGTON—(UFI)—In his first intervention to halt a strike, President Johnson has created an emergency board to head off a walk-out that would have crippled six major airlines in the midst of the Christmas travel rush.
On Johnson's order, the board was set up yesterday to investigate a dispute between the machinists' union and Braniff, Continental, Eastern, Northwest, Trans World Airlines and National.
The action will postpone a strike for at least 60 days while the board tries to solve the dispute over pay raises and rule changes.
The Presidential order came with only minutes to spare. A National Mediation Board spokesman said a quickie walkout had been feared in 20 minutes at National Airlines, despite a strike deadline of one minute after midnight Thursday.
The President's action, however, still leaves the threat of a walkout hanging over United Airlines. The strike is set for 11:01 a.m. Dec. 19. At last report, a federal mediator trying to work out a settlement said no progress had been made on an agreement.
Mechanics and ground crews on the other five airlines have voted for a strike, but set no deadline.
Both the airlines and the union then will be barred from changing the status quo for another 30 days from that time.
Thursday, Dec. 12, 1963
Ship Launching of Polaris Fails Near Cape Kennedy
CAPE KENNEDY — (UPI) An advanced version of the navy's Polaris missile failed last night for the second straight time from a launching aboard a laboratory ship at sea.
The Polaris "A-3" rocket thundered from the USS Observation Island into the darkness off the Florida coast at 8 p.m. EST. It was destroyed by a range safety officer 53 seconds later when the rocket veered offl course because of a malfunction in its first stage.
Just two weeks earlier, a similar polaris was blown up 52 seconds after being launched on the deck of the ship.
Before the powerful "A-3" had run up 13 straight successes. It has been fired twice from a Submerged submarine and both shots were successful.
This was the seventh test of the new Polaris model aboard the observation island. Four were successes.
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