Synopses & Reviews
As narrow, nationalist views of patriotic allegiance have become widespread and are routinely invoked to justify everything from flag-waving triumphalism to xenophobic bigotry, the concept of a nonnationalist patriotism has vanished from public conversation. Taking Liberties is a thoughtful and deliberative study of what may be called patriotism without borders: a nonnational form of loyalty compatible with the universal principles and practices of democracy and human rights, respectful of ethnic and cultural diversity, and, overall, open-minded and inclusive.
Moving beyond a traditional study of Polish dramatic literature, Halina Filipowicz turns to the plays themselves and to archival materials, ranging from parliamentary speeches to polemical pamphlets and verse broadsides, to explore the cultural phenomenon of transgressive patriotism and its implications for society in the twenty-first century. Three major themes unite this exploration: controversies over true” and false” patriotism; disputes over class and gender boundaries; and imaginative attempts to expand the meaning of us” to take in not-us,” and perhaps even to undo the whole opposition between us” and them.”
In addition to recovering lost or forgotten materials, the author builds an innovative conceptual and methodological framework to make sense of those materials and to challenge many long-standing assumptions about Polish cultural and intellectual history. Taking Liberties contributes to the debate over the meaning and practice of patriotism.
Review
Dr. Filipowicz has turned her attention to gender dynamics in Polish theatre, literature, and culture, skillfully weaving themes of transgression (variously conceived) and patriotism throughout the narrative.”
Catherine A. Schuler, editor, Theatre Journal
Synopsis
In this] compelling, extremely well-researched work, Filipowicz offers a fresh perspective on Polish drama, shedding light on some lesser known works and encouraging a reevaluation of Poland s canonical literature and how its various national, historical myths have been structured to shape a collective identity. Her readings point to the counteractive patterns of culture, the complicated, paradoxical, and discursively rich alternative stories that are smoothed over, manipulated, if not outright silenced, in the creation of a single paradigm of patriotism.
The Cosmopolitan ReviewAs narrow, nationalist views of patriotic allegiance have become widespread and are routinely invoked to justify everything from flag-waving triumphalism to xenophobic bigotry, the concept of a nonnationalist patriotism has vanished from public conversation. Taking Liberties is a thoughtful and deliberative study of what may be called patriotism without borders: a nonnational form of loyalty compatible with the universal principles and practices of democracy and human rights, respectful of ethnic and cultural diversity, and, overall, open-minded and inclusive.
Moving beyond a traditional study of Polish dramatic literature, Halina Filipowicz turns to the plays themselves and to archival materials, ranging from parliamentary speeches to polemical pamphlets and verse broadsides, to explore the cultural phenomenon of transgressive patriotism and its implications for society in the twenty-first century. Three major themes unite this exploration: controversies over true and false patriotism; disputes over class and gender boundaries; and imaginative attempts to expand the meaning of us to take in not-us, and perhaps even to undo the whole opposition between us and them.
In addition to recovering lost or forgotten materials, the author builds an innovative conceptual and methodological framework to make sense of those materials and to challenge many long-standing assumptions about Polish cultural and intellectual history. Taking Liberties contributes to the debate over the meaning and practice of patriotism.
"
Synopsis
Moving beyond a traditional study of Polish dramatic literature, Taking Liberties is a masterful intellectual history of what may be called patriotism without borders: a nonnational form of loyalty compatible with the universal principles and practices of democracy and human rights.
Table of Contents
- Series Editor’s Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Compass Points
A Prologue
- Introduction
- 1. Controversies over “True” and “False” Patriotism, 1786–91
- 2. Poland Unmanned?
Zofia Chrzanowska
- 3. Is There Transgression in This Text?
Wanda, Queen of Poland
- 4. No More Separate Spheres?
Emilia Plater
- 5. Apocalypse Now?
Tadeusz Kosciuszko
- 6. Controversies over “True” and “False” Patriotism, 1941–89
- Transformations
An Epilogue
- Notes
- Plays Cited
- Index