"Our Mickiewicz" in contemporary Belarus

[Robert Orr]

It might also be noted that during the recent International Congress of
Slavists in Minsk the hosts put on a day trip out to Navahrudak and other
places linked to Mickiewicz nearby.

 

From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list
[mailto:SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU] On Behalf Of Curt Woolhiser
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 3:22 PM
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU
Subject: [SEELANGS] “Our Mickiewicz” in contemporary Belarus

 

Dear SEELANGers,

Those of you with an interest in Polish-East Slavic literary and cultural
relations might be interested in this report (in Russian) from Belarusian TV
about the upcoming premiere of a Belarusian-language stage adaptation of
Mickiewicz's “Pan Tadeusz” at the Janka Kupala Theatre in Minsk. Mickiewicz,
born and raised in the Nowogródek (Navahrudak) region in what is today west
central Belarus, is increasingly being portrayed as part of the Belarusian
literary canon, despite the fact that he wrote in Polish. Note that at the
end of the report, the journalist refers to “OUR Mickiewicz” and quotes the
opening lines of “Pan Tadeusz” in Belarusian! (“Litva! Ty, jak zdarouje u
nas, maja Ajchyna!”)

 

 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TCTwE8RMGQ>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TCTwE8RMGQ

 

There has recently been something a Mickiewicz boom in Belarus, as 2012 saw
the premiere of Mickiewicz’s “Dziady” in Belarusian (a Belarusian-Lithuanian
co-production): 

 

 <http://novychas.info/kultura/dziady_spiektaklj_jaki_cakali/>
http://novychas.info/kultura/dziady_spiektaklj_jaki_cakali/

 

 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bIoGgIG_eA>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bIoGgIG_eA

 

The increased attention to Mickiewicz in Belarus is clearly part of a
broader trend. Whereas previously it was only the pro-European,
anti-Lukashenko opposition that looked to the legacy of the Grand Duchy of
Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as a source of historical
legitimacy, now even the Lukashenko regime has begun to integrate the GDL
into its narrative of Belarusian identity. This is reflected, for example,
in the ambitious program of restoring the castles and palaces of the
Radziwills, Sapiehas and other magnate families of the Grand Duchy. This is
a report from Belarusian state TV (in Russian) about the castles of Belarus:
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOVowKm7i90>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOVowKm7i90). 

     Not surprisingly, the fact that the regime has begun to cultivate the
memory of Belarus’ role in the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania is
making some commentators in Lithuania nervous (article in Russian from the
Lithuanian internet news portal Delfi):

 

 
<http://ru.delfi.lt/vkl/history/bumblauskas-poka-litva-dumaet-vitis-mozhet-v
ernut-belarus.d?id=59429949>
http://ru.delfi.lt/vkl/history/bumblauskas-poka-litva-dumaet-vitis-mozhet-ve
rnut-belarus.d?id=59429949

 

The rise of “Litvinism” in contemporary Belarus has also been noticed by
Russian nationalists, who generally regard Belarus as part of Russia's
irrendenta: 

 

 <http://www.regnum.ru/news/1554354.html>
http://www.regnum.ru/news/1554354.html

 

 

Curt Woolhiser

 

=============================

Curt F. Woolhiser

German, Russian and Asian Languages                     

and Literature 

Brandeis University

415 South Street  MS-024

Waltham, MA 02454 USA

 

Tel.  <file:///\\localhost\tel\%2528781%2529%20736-3200> (781) 736-3200


Fax  <file:///\\localhost\tel\%2528781%2529%20736-3207> (781) 736-3207

Email:  <mailto:cwoolhis at brandeis.edu> cwoolhis at brandeis.edu

==============================

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