Over the Wall/After the Fall
Post-Communist Cultures Through an East-West Gaze
Published on 29. October 2004
Book
Hardback
277 pages
978-0-253-34432-8 (ISBN)
Description
"... a hot subject in today's scholarship... and a groundbreaking project of vital significance to the field of cultural studies at both 'western' and 'eastern' geographical locations." -Elwira Grossman
Over the Wall/After the Fall maps a new discourse on the evolution of cultural life in Eastern Europe following the end of communism. Departing from traditional binary views of East/West, the contributors to this volume consider the countries and the peoples of the region on their own terms. Drawing on insights from cultural studies, gender theory, and postcolonial studies, this lively collection addresses gender issues and sexual politics, consumerism, high and popular culture, architecture, media, art, and theater. Among the themes of the essays are the Western pop success of Bulgarian folk choirs, the Czechs' reception of Frank Gehry's unconventional building in the center of Prague, bohemians in Lviv, and cryptographic art installations from Bratislava.
Over the Wall/After the Fall maps a new discourse on the evolution of cultural life in Eastern Europe following the end of communism. Departing from traditional binary views of East/West, the contributors to this volume consider the countries and the peoples of the region on their own terms. Drawing on insights from cultural studies, gender theory, and postcolonial studies, this lively collection addresses gender issues and sexual politics, consumerism, high and popular culture, architecture, media, art, and theater. Among the themes of the essays are the Western pop success of Bulgarian folk choirs, the Czechs' reception of Frank Gehry's unconventional building in the center of Prague, bohemians in Lviv, and cryptographic art installations from Bratislava.
Reviews / Votes
" ... a hot subject in today's scholarship ... and a groundbreaking project of vital significance to the field of cultural studies at both 'western' and 'eastern' geographical locations." Elwira GrossmanMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Bloomington, IN
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
31 b&w photos, 1 bibliog., 1 index
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-253-34432-8 (9780253344328)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Sibelan Forrester is Associate Professor of Russian at Swarthmore College.
Elena Gapova is Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Gender Studies at European Humanities University in Minsk.
Magdalena J. Zaborowska is Associate Professor in the Program in American Culture and the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan.
Elena Gapova is Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Gender Studies at European Humanities University in Minsk.
Magdalena J. Zaborowska is Associate Professor in the Program in American Culture and the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan.
Content
Preface
Introduction: Mapping Postsocialist Cultural Studies Magdalena Zaborowska, Sibelan Forrester, and Elena Gapova
Part I. (Re-)Visitations
1. How I Found Eastern Europe: Televisual Geography, Travel Sites, and Museum Installations Andaluna Borcila
2. The Nation In Between; or, Why Intellectuals Do Things with Words Elena Gapova
3. Prenzlauer Berg Connections: The Trajectory of East German Samizdat Culture from Socialism to Capitalism Lisa Whitmore
4. Reading Transparent "Constructions of History"; or, Three Passages through (In)Visible Warsaw Magdalena Zaborowska
5. Can Prague Learn from L.A.? Frank Gehry's Netherlands National Building in Prague David Houston
6. Heteroglossia and Linguistic Neocolonialism: English Teaching in Post-1989 Poland Bill Johnston
7. Projections of Desire: Robert D. Kaplan's Balkan Ghosts and the Crisis of Self-Definition Anca Rosu
Part II. (Re-)Adaptations
8. Shifting a Cultural Paradigm: Between the Mystique and the Marketing of Polish Theatre Halina Filipowicz
9. "Hurrah, I'm Still Alive!" East German Products Demonstrating East German Identities Rainer Gries
10. Cryptographic Art of Bratislava: Configurations of Absence in Postcommunist Installation Art Paul Krainak
11. "Move Over Madonna": Gender, Representation, and the "Mystery" of Bulgarian Voices Carol Silverman
12. Four Bearings of West for the Lviv Bohema Mark Andryczyk
13. "Don't Get Pricked!" Representation and the Politics of Sexuality in the Czech Republic Vera Sokolova
Afterword: From Big Brother to Big Burger (And What's the Grand Narrative Got to Do with It?) "Benni Goodman"
Selected Bibliography
Contributors
Index
Introduction: Mapping Postsocialist Cultural Studies Magdalena Zaborowska, Sibelan Forrester, and Elena Gapova
Part I. (Re-)Visitations
1. How I Found Eastern Europe: Televisual Geography, Travel Sites, and Museum Installations Andaluna Borcila
2. The Nation In Between; or, Why Intellectuals Do Things with Words Elena Gapova
3. Prenzlauer Berg Connections: The Trajectory of East German Samizdat Culture from Socialism to Capitalism Lisa Whitmore
4. Reading Transparent "Constructions of History"; or, Three Passages through (In)Visible Warsaw Magdalena Zaborowska
5. Can Prague Learn from L.A.? Frank Gehry's Netherlands National Building in Prague David Houston
6. Heteroglossia and Linguistic Neocolonialism: English Teaching in Post-1989 Poland Bill Johnston
7. Projections of Desire: Robert D. Kaplan's Balkan Ghosts and the Crisis of Self-Definition Anca Rosu
Part II. (Re-)Adaptations
8. Shifting a Cultural Paradigm: Between the Mystique and the Marketing of Polish Theatre Halina Filipowicz
9. "Hurrah, I'm Still Alive!" East German Products Demonstrating East German Identities Rainer Gries
10. Cryptographic Art of Bratislava: Configurations of Absence in Postcommunist Installation Art Paul Krainak
11. "Move Over Madonna": Gender, Representation, and the "Mystery" of Bulgarian Voices Carol Silverman
12. Four Bearings of West for the Lviv Bohema Mark Andryczyk
13. "Don't Get Pricked!" Representation and the Politics of Sexuality in the Czech Republic Vera Sokolova
Afterword: From Big Brother to Big Burger (And What's the Grand Narrative Got to Do with It?) "Benni Goodman"
Selected Bibliography
Contributors
Index