Kulturos Barai
Eurozine
Kulturos Barai
2006-07-19
Abstracts for Kulturos Barai 7/2006
500 Months -- 40 Volumes
Editor's notes publishing the 500th issue of the journal Kulturos barai.
Kazys ALMENAS
Forgotten but Worth Remembering
Future cultural critics who will discuss the influence of Kulturos barai journal should understand the context in which the journal was published. It is important to note this because evaluating any cultural phenomena of those times we can not understand their importance in isolation. The uniqueness of Kulturos barai is witnessed by its future history. It is the only publication that not only maintained its importance but became even more influential without giving up its title or form. Though the principles of its contents have changed, the publication maintained it former orientations. However, the challenges that the journal faces today are different, but equally difficult.
Rimvydas VALATKA
A Distinguishable Light
While many cultural publications in Lithuania are dying or struggling to survive, Kulturos barai are flourishing. Having in mind a very small number of editors and very limited financial funds the journal is going on and have no doubts that if every businessman in the country made a production at least equal to half of Kulturos barai, Lithuania could be a welfare country, claims the editor of internet daily lrytas.lt congratulating Kulturos barai with their 500th issue.
Lauras BIELINIS
Mechanics of Political Chaos and Its Consequences for Lithuania
Contemporary Lithuanian politics experienced specific trauma of political consciousness. The nearest future will show whether traumatized society is starting to recover after political illness, whether society understands that chaos is not compulsory feature of political reality. We shall see it this autumn before parties will plunge into election campaign for seats in municipalities. In case we will hear rhetorical questions "who is responsible?" instead of arguments, we can soon see a new rescuer, we will witness much ado about nothing and society will be split into two camps: those who don't like a specific politician and those who love him, neglecting his weakness, limited spiritual culture or vague understanding about his country and society.
Vytautas KAVOLIS
Civilization Theory and Collective Identity in the Postmodern-globalizing Age
"The sociologists who have taken civilizations rather than nation states, world-systems, communities, or interacting individuals, as their units of analysis have all been deeply concerned with contemporary life. Indeed it was through their efforts to explain the distinctive characteristics of contemporary life that they have been led to the comparative study of civilizations. Without it, in their view, contemporary life could not be sufficiently understood".
Vytautas RUBAVICIUS
New Civic Europeanness and Expression of Nationality
The state of Lithuanian society from the point of view of national identity and creation of national culture could be described as the one that is in crisis. National identity under independence did not attain a stable and clear form and now is subjected by the processes of globalisation and European integration that turn nationality and ethnicity into commodified signs of difference, on the other hand they marginalize and fragmentize them by implementing the political program of European identity based on an understanding of civility and civic freedoms that is totally different from nationality as dangerous source of nationalism.
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Protection of Heritage and Architectural Expression of Confused Mind
Round-table discussion in the editorial office of Kulturos barai with participating specialists of protection of heritage and architects. Shall we protect the harmony of Vilnius Old Quarters and landscape? this is the theme of the discussion.
Vytautas LANDSBERGIS (Jonas Zemkalnis)
Poems
Jurga ARMANAVICIUTE
Between Two Continents
About the exhibition of Stephen Raul Anaya and Petras Repsys "One Studio. Two artists" or "Two Ugly Boys" as the poster of the exhibition says, that was held at the gallery Kaire-Desine of Vilnius Graphic Artists Centre.
Zita CEPAITE
Activities of Art Galleries and Possibilities That are not Used
The author discusses why art galleries do not treat themselves as business subjects. They are oriented not toward profit that is limited in the present market, but toward receiving support from the state. Though such support is small, it can be offered only for supporting culture and artistic world, but not commerce. Should the state introduce possibilities to form the art market and artists could leave the dealers' percentage of profit to their state but not to foreign galleries that sell art?
Vlada KALPOKAITE
The Matrix of Theatre Wanderers
An overview of the New Drama Action that was devoted to communication of artists of different countries as one of the critical ways of creating contemporary theatre.
Jorge Luis BORGES
Theologian After Death. Biatanatos
Essay. Translated from Spanish and commented by Linas Rybelis.
Saulius KUIZINAS
Crystal Express of Oakland
The exhibition of Australian and New Zealand artists titled "Tide" shown at Warsaw's prestigious Zachota Gallery was renewed, enlarged and brought to Vilnius Contemporary Art Centre. Curators of the exhibition Magda Kardasz and Simon Rees compiled two collections and presented to two Eastern European capitals conceptual information about what happens in the art scene of two important exotic countries. The exhibition is constructed so as to show in a light and funny way how its characters get into comic situations. In any case Europeans have fun to observe the highs of Australian and New Zealand visual culture.
Algirdas GRIGARAVICIUS
The Society of Lithuanian Farmers - Defender of Farmer's Interests
Historian's essay about the political activities of farmers in Lithuania during 1920-1923. Continued in the next issue.
Halina KOBECKAITE
The Role of Priests in Preserving Heritage of Lithuanian Karaites
The joint efforts of priests and Karaites to continue traditions of their ancestors were instrumental in preserving the national consciousness of Karaites, despite of many losses (assimilation, low birth-rate, the decline of the number of those who speak their mother tongue). A strong sense of national belonging was preserved and national patriotic feelings were ceased to be treated as something negative.
Judita GRIGIENE
From Meetings with Jadvyga Ciurlionyte
Memoirs of an editor of a publishing house about her meetings with the sister of renowned painter and composer M.K Ciurlionis, well-known folklore researcher and musicologist, who also edited books about her brother.
Arimeta VOJEVODSKAITE
A Bit About One Vilnius House with Digressions
About political and economic activities of Vilnius famous 16th century town-dweller Andrius Morstinas, a Protestant and his house in present Vokieciu street.
Kostutis NORKUNAS
The Importance of Restoration of Old Cemetery Monuments to the Civic Consciousness of Society
While traveling via beautiful surroundings of Druskininkai, in small village cemeteries one can find many monuments that are extremely attractive. But three monuments are of special interest and not only because of their artistic form, but because they are erected to people who are part of Lithuania's history and are immortalized in literature. These are: Emilija Pliateris, the participant of revolt of 1831, whose last moments of life were put to verses by Adam Mickiewicz; Jonas Ceciotas, poet, ethnographer and deportee, friend of Mickiewicz, colonel Liudvikas Narbutas, participant of the revolt of 1863, who died fighting against czarist Russian army. The process of restoration of these monuments is discussed.
Steven SCHROEDER
Without Romantic or Nostalgic Reminiscences
Review of the book Baltic Postcolonialism, ed. by Violeta Kelertas, Amsterdam-New York: Rodopi, 2006.
Almantas SAMALAVICIUS
Fresh Insights of Architectural Critic
Review of the book by Rimantas Buivydas "Architektura: pozityvai ir negatyvai" (Architecture: Positives and Negatives), Vilnius: Ex Arte, 2006.
Viktorija DAUJOTYTE
Photographs of Metaphysical Viewpoint
Review of the book by Arvydas Sliogeris "Niekis ir Esmas" (Nothing and Essence) t.I-II, Vilnius: Apostrofa, 2005.
Dominykas BURBA
Une Babickaite-Graiciuniene About Politics, Theater, Family and Herself
Review of the book "Une Babickaite-Graiciuniene, Laiskai. Amzininku prisiminimai" (Une Babickaite-Graiciuniene: Letters, Memoirs of People Who Knew Her), Vilnius: Aidai, 2005.
Krescencija SURKUTE
First Lithuanian criminal musical" 11 Men and Their 3 Women"
Ironical essay on Lithuania's political life.