In 1995, the book Między Panem a Plebanem (Between a Lord and a Vicar) was published. It is a transcript of an interview with journalist Adam Michnik and Józef Tischner, a priest. The title is a reference to one of the oldest literary works written in the Polish language by Mikołaj Rej, Krótka rozprawa między trzema osobami, Panem, Wójtem, a Plebanem (A Brief Discussion between Three Persons: a Lord, a Village Mayor and a Vicar, 1543). In the interview, the imaginary Lord and Vicar represent the voices of the parts of society that could feel proud of the independence secured by liberal Catholicism and the liberal left-wing. However, the exchange does not include any “simples”. Has the change in Poland’s latest history been brought about by the fact that the “simples” have finally spoken? And if it is not them speaking then who are the current Lords and Vicars speaking (again!) on their behalf? Is it possible to develop such a concept of a republic where there is more equality and room for a diversity of voices?
THE BALKANS PLATFORM Meetings at Liberty Square
As always, the Malta artistic programme is accompanied by the Forum, a series of discussions on the festival theme. This year the meetings are focused on the correlation between Balkan and Polish history, and on the Balkan experience compared to the current situations in Poland, Europe and worldwide. The Balkans are seen as a platform for knowledge and reflection on ourselves and on the reality we live in. The guests are political scientists, psychiatrists and anthropologists, as well as Slavicists, philosophers, writers and documentary filmmakers.
16.06, 17:00 “THE VICAR BLAMES THE LORD, AND THE LORD BLAMES THE VICAR, WHILE WE SIMPLES SUFFER HARDSHIP ON EVERY SIDE.” THE DISCUSSION BETWEEN A LORD, A VILLAGE MAYOR AND A VICAR, CONTINUED: Adam Michnik
17.06, 13:00 MEETING WITH THE 2017 IDIOM CURATORS: Oliver Frljić, Goran Injac
18.06, 17:00 THE SHAME AND PRIDE OF EASTERN EUROPE: Konstanty Gebert, Magdalena Koch, Joanna Tokarska-Bakir
19.06, 17:00 MIGRANT OR REFUGEE?: Draginja Nadażdin, Kalina Czwarnóg, Roman Wieruszewski
20.06, 17:00 COMMON LITERATURE. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?: Krzysztof Varga, Stanisław Bereś, Dorota Cirlić-Mentzel
21.06, 17:00 WHAT IS AGGRESSION?: Bogdan de Barbaro
22.06, 17:00 STATE / NATION / CITIZEN: Sławomir Sierakowski, Rafał Matyja, Krzysztof Podemski
23.06, 17:00 JHOW TO BE A WITNESS. ABOUT THE WORK OF A DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER: Agnieszka Arnold
24.06, 17:00 Neo-fascism and its limits: Boris Buden, Dragan Markovina, Przemysław Wielgosz