SLA1040

Polish studies I/1A

J Clarke and L Zarnowsky

6 points
* 4 hours per week
* First semester
* Clayton
* Prerequisites: VCE/HSC Polish or equivalent

Objectives On completion of this subject and SLA1050, students should have become acquainted with the major historical, political, economic and artistic trends in Polish culture from 1945 till now and with the more recent political and social changes in the context of the political and cultural developments of the 1990s in Poland; they should be able to see the relationship between ideology and the arts (literature, film, theatre, fine art) in the communist period and in post-communist Poland; they should be able to demonstrate, in independent essays and assignments, an ability to read the major prescribed cultural texts; a knowledge of contemporary manifestations of Polish culture.

Synopsis (1) Language and business studies: a review of various aspects of contemporary Polish, including the language of business. Major aspects of the Polish economy will be studied on the basis of modern economic texts. (2) Literature and society: an introduction to major literary, social and political developments in Poland between 1947 and the Solidarity movement as well as Post-Solidarity period including Martial Law and Post-Communist years. The subject also includes the study of Polish contemporary drama and theatre, as well as Polish film. Selected literary texts of the period will be studied in Polish. (3) Comparative cultural studies of East European countries: a selection of texts will be studied to disclose the special social, political and cultural role of literature in central and eastern Europe. (4) Study and practice of translation.

Assessment Language Test (2 hours): 20%
* Written (1000 words): 20%
* Literature and society Essay (1500 words): 25%
* Tutorial paper: 10%
* Comparative cultural studies Tutorial paper: 15%
* Test (1 hour): 10%

Prescribed texts

Matuszewski R Polska literatura wspolczesna, 1986
Cegiela A and Markowski A Z polszczyzna za pan brat, 1986