New exclusive story of success for a new Europe?
Discussion about urban campaign, visions of many-functional spaces and conflicts of interests (page 2).

Karolis Paulavichius
Problem of migration in Lithuania
After Lithuania joined EU, migration of Lithuanians to the West grew. Politicians discuss this problem because the state faces an economic decline and limits imposed on development due to the lack of manpower. There are many reasons for this tendency, but politicians forget another side of it – the growing immigration (page 9).

Jerome Sgard
Nicolas Sarkozy Reads Gramsci
New power and temptation of hegemony. "Return of Politics" advertised by the presidential campaign was widely discussed. Strange as it might be, but this fact was interpreted almost in the same way as the referendum regarding the EU Constitution in 2005. Rejecting the sorrows concerning the results of voting, foreign media had a positive view of the new political activity in France. The same comments could have been made this year, stressing mass participation of voters, mass rallies and TV debates between Royal and Sarkozy (page 10).

Valdemaras Klumbys
About Childish Sterility
This article is the opinion of an amateur – I am neither a professional environmentalist, nor a linguist. But I would like to give a reminder that the majority of language users are amateurs as well, but their attitudes are important. I would like to remind the reader that we are dealing with the tendency to change common sense and taste with rules (page 17).

Vladas Turchinavichius
How a historian covers "filth column" under a Trojan horse
Historian Mindaugas Tamosaitis, who writes about the Society for Learning the Culture of Soviet Russia, active in pre-war independent Lithuania, is constantly repeating his thesis, hardly adding anything new. The readers are urged to understand that the highest responsibility for cultural bolshevist propaganda and Lithuania's incorporation into Soviet Union goes to the activists of this association. I would like to remind Mr. Tamosaitis that this is a very easy approach, but it leads nowhere because the fault of real powers responsible for the cause is silenced (page 21).

Aidas Marchenas
Poems (page 27).

Egle Mikalajunaite
Art Biennial, titled TEXTILE
In an introduction to the catalogue Textile 07, critic Laima Orzekauskiene insists that curators of the exhibition are not afraid of making mistakes and enter "a world of research, searching and finding that rejects all signs of limit". And really, the Biennial is full of free live, organically created spirit that overflows some visible mistakes. Thus it is a pleasure to be left with a feeling of uncertainty as to what can be expected from Kaunas art Biennial Textile 09. It might possibly change even its title (page 30).

Richard Noyce
Print Tectonics
"All of the positive factors of print art have been generally true until relatively recently, but I sense that there is an evolution in progress in which some artists are now beginning to create print art on an increasing scope, either as individual works or as installations. This in itself is not a bad development, but there might perhaps be a danger if print artists seek to replicate what has happened with painting, in which bigger is rarely better /.../ If such a trend continues, there is a danger that there might be a risk of alienating the enthusiastic following for print art that has built up in recent years, and the losses could perhaps outweigh the gains" – writes the UK art critic in an essay written specially for Kulturos barai (page 34).

Karolina Buivydaite
Symbol "X" in Objects of Architectural Heritage
Integration of old and new symbols in architecture should be treated not only as relics of religious, socio-cultural, mystical or aesthetic motives, but as a heritage that should be studied and protected. The motif "X" as many ancient symbols in architectural structures so far has been treated in a simplified way (page 39).

Stasys Gostautas
Exile is alive
Reflections on the activities of Lithuanian diaspora in US in new circumstances (page 45).

Coleen McCullough
On, off
Excerpt from a novel to be published by Tyto alba. Translated from English by Kristina Aurylaite (page 52).

Robert Misik
Simulated cities, sedated living
Shopping mall as paradigmatic life style of capitalism In the essay, the Austrian cultural critic discusses how the architecture of shopping malls is creating a space that is homogeneous all over the world. The architectonics of this kind was justly called "junk-space" by Rem Coolhaas, and this label reflects its true nature and character. Moreover, the space created by shopping malls claims to be open, inclusive and public, but in fact it is private and is hardly democratic at all; it is designed for fast consumption and anything that goes beyond the prefabricated pattern is forbidden (page 59).

Giedre Jankevichiute
Discovering Lithuanian art of the twentieth century. Works of Telesforas Kulakauskas (1907-1977)
Telesforas Kulakauskas, as well as many artists of his generation, is neither acknowledged nor rejected in Lithuanian art history of the twentieth century. Entries about him and his works can be found in three volumes of Lithuanian art history of the past century, research articles and reviews of his art have been published. However, they were written a long time ago and he is somewhat forgotten. At least until September 2007, when gallery Kaire-Desine put on a general exhibition of his art on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary (page 64).

Almantas Samalavichius
In the Siamese land
From a diary that was not written. The author continues his cycle of writings focused on Southeast Asia. In the form of a supposed diary he has written about the rich Thai cultural heritage, impressive architecture of Buddhist sanctuaries, and travel routes made during his many trips into the country that used to be the Kingdom of Siam. The first part of the essay is focused on the history and cultural legacy of Bangkok and Ayutthaya. To be continued (page 69).

Jagoda Hernik-Spalinska
Heroism or Collaboration? Polish theatre in Vilnius during World War II
The Polish theatre historian destroys the myth of resistance in Polish theatre in Vilnius during the dramatic years of the German occupation (page 75).

Aloyzas Urbsys
Relations Between Lithuania and the Holy See in 1922-1939
Last year was the eightieth anniversary of Lithuania's signed agreement with the Holy See, thus an overview of how these relations developed is needed, especially as so far there have been no attempts to discuss this issue. It is considered that relations between the country and the Holy See were established somewhere about 1250 before Mindaugas embraced Christianity and was crowned king. But official state relations began more than eight centuries later, when Lithuania re-established its independence in 1918 (page 81).

Algirdas Grigaravichius
Development of nationalist ideology and policy until 1926
Historical essay. A bit simplified, and rejecting geographic and other classifications of national resurgence movements, we can find its roots in culture and state. Belief in national progress unites the project of future with the idea of progress. Formation of homogeneity of society, imperial minority that makes itself a nation, bonds of official and folk nationalisms, the role of religion and local parishes and other factors were responsible for the civility of Lithuanians in the course of history (page 88).

Krescencija Surkute
Pax Paleckiana
Ironical essay on Lithuania's cultural and political life (page 93).

Published 2008-02-11