Full-text resources of CEJSH and other databases are now available in the new Library of Science.
Visit https://bibliotekanauki.pl

Refine search results

Results found: 2

first rewind previous Page / 1 next fast forward last

Search results

Search:
in the keywords:  „Kontynenty”
help Sort By:

help Limit search:
first rewind previous Page / 1 next fast forward last
EN
The first part of the text is an analysis of the category of ‘Polishness’ (its senses, understanding and functioning) with respect to emigrational youth gathered around magazines published in the United Kingdom by Polish students, and then by the literary group The Continents (Kontynenty). We show that among the basic problems connected with The Continents Group one may mention the search for the ways in which national identity could be preserved and then passed on to future generations. The definition of what refugees were supposed to do was different if we compare young emigrants and the older generation (which was shaped and gained maturity before the Second World War). The young generation was open to dialogue, but wanted to redefine the common ideas and search for new paths and means which would be useful in preserving cultural identity. Significantly, both generations were in favour of preserving Polish language and culture. As discussed in the second part of the sketch, this was related to the category of patriotism, as well as back-to-front ‘Polish national vices’. In these areas one may observe disparities between the generations; disparities which come down to the opposition: rational assessment vs. mythologization. The former allows young emigrants, who have no complexes or sense of guilt, to take advantage of the opportunities created by the countries in which they settle, and still not lose their bonds with the nation.
Tematy i Konteksty
|
2018
|
vol. 13
|
issue 8
304-330
EN
Transgenerational conflicts, complaints of the representatives of the older generation on the younger one, objections put forward by the latter to the former are phenomena equally common and, one may say, everlasting (even Plato complained about the Athens youth). War emigrants who found their places in the West of Europe right after they finished their active participation in fights, most frequently left their homeland as mature and well-shaped people. They were assumed as the „old” generation. They were accompanied by children and the youth who got their education in the foreign land, started employment, settled families and also took their first steps on the cultural ground. They were assumed as the „young” generation. Taking these names into quotation marks is justified by their large conventionality, their instability and changeability in time. As I will attempt to prove in this text, the line separating the „old” from the :young” did not only refer to their dates of birth and the age line of division did not definitely settle the whole matter. It was so the more that part of the „young” also took active part in fight and after its ending despite the “old’s” expectations did not share their views and convictions. This problem being connected with others such as the relation to the past and history, relations with the homeland, patriotism and relations to Polishness1 is wide and multithread enough that there is no way to present it in its entirety. Thus I am going to focus on its part which seems to me particularly important for understanding socio-mental relations and structures of the second independence emigration. The subject of my reflection will be texts and speeches showing this conflict which appeared in the circle of published in London students’ journals in years 1949-1966 around which the later poets’ group Continents was established. This outlinepresents the chronological order of the conflict, the evolution of the way of thinking of both sides, the most important points of ignition and most visible differences and divisions revealed in this conflict. Due to richness of materials and problems requiring discussion this text has been divided into two parts. The first part comprises years 1949-1954. At that time the conflict emerged and unusually dynamically it developed leading to a clear difference between emigration generations (as it will be shown in the second part of the outline four stages of the conflict can be distinguished in this period). The second part begins with presenting the events of 1955 when the definite division between the „old” and the „young” happened. It is mainly about the November events in Manchester which can be viewed as the climax of the conflict and which initiatedits fall. Discussing it along with the division into two phases (the fifth and sixth) endswith a summary and conclusions concerning the course of the conflict.
first rewind previous Page / 1 next fast forward last
JavaScript is turned off in your web browser. Turn it on to take full advantage of this site, then refresh the page.