Kulturos barai
Eurozine
Kulturos barai
2010-12-06
Summary for Kulturos barai 11/2010
Arunas Spraunius
Back to normalcy. According to Ralf Dahrendorf, normalcy always overtakes a human being
Treating this fact dialectically, it is not a single act but a continuous process. Globalization is a serious and complex project which needs abilities that have been tested and capitalist wisdom in order to deal with a variety of life forms. Flexibility and rigidity -- these opposites are united by marketing.
Gesine Schwan
Knowledge is not a shovel. Universities and democratic society
The primary aim of education, however one understands it, must be to nurture the ability to reflect, to develop new ideas, and to implement these collectively, writes Gesine Schwan. Cognitive multilingualism is the only way to prevent the specialization of knowledge narrowing our horizons to an extent that results in structural irresponsibility.
Simas Chelutka
In the middle of the road between conservatism and liberalism
The phenomenon of Michael Oakeshott. Lithuanian right wing intellectuals treat British philosopher Michael Oakeshott as a conservative thinker. However, Simas Chelutka discusses the liberalism of Michael Oakeshott. He rejects the tradition of natural law, the idea of the organic state, and the public role of religion. A stress on the present makes him less of a conservative thinker. His liberalism speaks for limited power and limited politics.
Redas Dirzys
Art is not good
Polemical notes on the exhibition "Lithuanian Art 2000-2010: Ten Years", organized by Contemporary Art Centre in Vilnius.
Irena Aleksaite
"Can historical memory be an inspiration to theatre?"
Review of the play "Antigone in Siberia" directed by Jonas Jurasas in Kaunas Drama Theatre.
Algis Mickunas
To Vytautas Kavolis: Thanks for the friendship by a recreant
I had two decades to know the theories and methods of Vytautas Kavolis
When he became president for the association of Comparative Civilizations, he used to present a paper at the annual meeting of the community. New categories, interesting dimensions of civilizations always provoked long discussions. Even the best researchers of civilizations were awed by Kavolis' insights. And I admit that his tolerance and inducement helped such a recreant as I to establish ties with Lithuania and even take part in the country's academic life.
Almantas Samalavicius
On "Diplomacy of silence" and "Monoculture of thought"
In the first part of the article Almantas Samalavicius discusses the 76th congress of International PEN held in Tokyo this autumn. He discussed the role of the Writers in Prison Committee -- which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year -- in helping imprisoned and persecuted writers. He also focuses on the main theme of the congress, Environment and Literature, and the speech by renowned scientist and environmental activist Vandana Shiva. The heritage of Japanese temples is also treated in these notes.
Ausra Marija Sluckaite-Jurasiene
The Duke of Alsedziai. In memoriam Kazys Varnelis
Renowned artist, collector of art, restorer, aesthete and a person of great erudition who will be with us even after his death. Kazys Varnelis established a bond between the tradition of wooden sculpture of Samogitia and intellectual Western culture, and he gave his own art as well as a collection of art, books, cartography and furniture to his country.
Herkus Kunchius
Istanbul: about ostensible freedom and enviable masculinity
"While climbing up the hill in complete darkness I went back from Adam Mickiewicz's "Lithuanian" Istanbul, and I promised to come back -- maybe not in autumn but in some brighter time, and not in the evening but when the doors of the house (museum) will be open and a city full of life will radiate nostalgia diagnosed by Orhan Pamuk."
Ramute Rachlevichiute
The sacred daily life of Elena Kniukstaite
Painters Petronele Gerlikiene, Lidija Meskaityte, sculptors Lionginas Sepka and Stanislovas Riauba, graphic artist Romanas Krasninkevicius -- are some of the exceptionally gifted artists who have contributed to Lithuanian art. Elena Kniukstaite is another.
Kristina Civiskiene
What Eimutis Markunas filled the emptiness with
The exhibition of Kaunas artist Eimutis Markunas held in October-November in Kaunas Picture Gallery encouraged a discussion on the provocative role of art.
Rimas Driezis
The "duel" Between Silvestras Dudele and Spjebl and Hurvinek
Driezis discusses, with a view to the past history of classic Lithuanian art, Stasys Usinskas Theatre of Marionets and its links with Chekh puppet theatre -- "Divadlo S+H" of Josef Skupa which toured in Lithuanian in 1935.
Vygantas Vareikis, Vytautas Jokubauskas
Who is Lithuania prepared to fight with between the two world wars?
Evaluating the situation of the state based on the climate of society is one thing, to evaluate them on concrete plans, military logic, resources and geopolitical considerations -- another. Vareikis and Jokubauskas discuss the strategic and tactical plans of the Lithuanian military in the period between the two world wars when the country turned out to be situated between two aggressive military powers.
Stasys Lozoraitis
Four pro memorias by Stasys Lozoraitis written in 1945-1947, and the manuscript Shadows of the Past
Stasys Lozoraitis was one of the most important Lithuanian diplomats before WWII and spent four years as minister of foreign affairs. When the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania, he remained chief of Lithuania's diplomacy. This is a continuation of publications started by Kulturos barai in 2009.
Leonas Stepanauskas
Albertina -- between culture and barbarism?
Review of the book by Helmut Wilhelm Schaller, Geschichte der Slawischen und Baltischen Philologie an der Universität Königsberg, Frankfurt a. M., Peter Lang, Symbolae Slavicae; #28, 2009, p. 193.