Instructor: Márta SIKLÓS
Course description:
The aim of this course is to give students an insight into the special
cultural context they will be surrounded by during their stay in Hungary,
mainly through the discussion of some outstanding pieces of Hungarian literature
and art.
Text:
Hungarian History and Culture (a chapter from T. Parson's Hungary:
A Cultural and Historical Guide)
A selection of Hungarian short stories in English translation written
by K. Mikszáth, D. Kosztolányi, I. Örkény, S.
Tar and P. Esterházy.
A selection of Hungarian poems in English by M. Vörösmarty,
J. Arany, E. Ady, A. József and J. Pilinszky and others (The Lost
Rider, A bilingual
anthology)
A novel: Anna Édes by D. Kosztolányi.
A play: The Tragedy of Man by I. Madách.
4 important films
Students will be required to
Program
1. Introduction. A brief overview of Hungarian history
2. Stories from and about the Kádár era (by István
Örkény and Péter Eszterházy). The contemporary
Hungarian political scene.
3. The “Hungarian destiny”. Highlights of 19th century Romantic poetry
and music.
4. The destiny of mankind as seen by a Hungarian dramatist
in the second half of the 19th century: The Tragedy of Man by Imre Madách.
5. The mechanism of oppression – a film from the 1960es: The Round-
Up by Miklós Jancsó
6. Hungary after the first world war, - a novel by Dezs? Kosztolányi:
Anna Édes
7. Two giants of Hungarian culture between the two world wars: Attila
József and Béla Bartók
8. Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin – dance suite.
A poet who has no words: János Pilinszky
9. 1956 and after: Time Stands Still – a film by Péter
Gothár
10. A “timeless” story: The Transporters by Péter Esterházy
11. A film about Jewish assimilation: Sunshine by István Szabó
12. Losers of the change of regime: stories by Sándor Tar
13. Wind-up. Discussion of poems and stories for home essay.
14. Exam week – Research paper due.