In the German newspaper Die Tageszeitung, Gabriele Lesser comments on changes in Polish cultural institutions under Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, head of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, beginning December 13, 2023. The piece includes bold and sometimes provocative suggestions about the myth of eternal heroes and victims and about the darker pages of Polish history, the history of those who acted as perpetrators. Many readers, especially in Germany, would prefer not to engage with this assessment of Poland’s historical policy.
The Polish cultural scene signs a clear breath of relief.Eight years of national populist cultural policy under the Law and Justice party appear to be drawing to a close
— asserts Gabriele Lesser, expressively in Die TAZ. The German journalist highlights the decision on the Polish exhibition at the Venice Biennale and notes that Ignacy Trzecios’ exhibit Polish exercises in the tragic nature of the world. It is described as reflecting PiS’s historical ideology centered on the past, and Lesser predicts it will be replaced by the Repeat after me project, dedicated to Russian aggression against Ukraine.
While Gliński’s predecessor, Piotr Gliński, speaks of censorship and lawlessness, the artistic community is seen as satisfied that Sienkiewicz has helped avoid a looming debt for Poland at the Biennale.
— Lesser remarks. The suggestion that a burning swastika linking Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin would be an embarrassment for Poland is described as an embarrassment by her, yet Lesser continues to expand her critique of PiS’s historical policies.
Black pages from Polish history
In light of World War II crimes and the German government’s stance on reparations to Poland, Germany is portrayed as talking about Poland’s myth of eternal heroes and victims and about the black pages of Polish history as a grim joke. The article notes that this stance is not seen as a joke by all audiences in Poland.
Historically, Polish society began to move away from the myth of perpetual heroism in the 1990s, addressing dark chapters of history and examining the deeds of perpetrators rather than merely celebrating victors.
The German journalist implies a selective critique, pointing to blind spots in her own nation while casting a wide gaze at Polish self-perception. Lesser expresses disappointment that many Poles found it hard to adopt a new identity, presumably one that acknowledges the country’s troubling past as well as its achievements.
She notes that elections in 2005, 2015, and 2019, in which PiS won, carried promises to restore a heroic and victim-centered identity for Poles. The piece frames these returns of identity as strategic political moves rather than purely cultural expressions.
Today, following the change in government, the article suggests most Poles are ready to contemplate different aspects of Polish history. The journalist questions what is meant by different versions of history and how the claim about the majority of Poles should be interpreted.
Audits and the giant bloc
The author also questions the emphasis on national identity through museums and institutions opened under Gliński’s leadership. The idea that the Polish Historical Museum represents a significant cultural victory is presented with some irony.
The museum, noted for its substantial investment and missing permanent exhibitions during its early years, is described as a major architectural project. The article points out the heavy use of stone and the sense that inner space remains unsettled.
The author remarks that the museum opened during the 2023 election period, and she points to audits conducted on cultural institutions by Sienkiewicz’s ministry. While the article acknowledges shifts in public media under the new government, it questions the legality of some changes and cites uncertainty about leadership roles at TVP.
There is a striking claim that the myth of eternal heroes and victims was authored by a nation that unleashed a devastating war, plundered art, destroyed cities and communities, and caused immense suffering. The argument highlights the tension between apologies offered by German politicians and the unresolved legacies within their own history. The author suggests that German political figures should address their own history with greater candor and consider the possibility of different versions of their past.
One can hear a current undercurrent: collaboration across memory is possible, but it requires a willingness to examine difficult truths from all sides. The narrative closes with reflections on the complexities of national memory and accountability in the postwar era, inviting readers to look at memory politics with a critical eye.
jj/DW.com
Source: wPolityce