Вектары беларусазнаўчых даследаванняў. Традыцыя – Сучаснасць – Узаемасувязі

Abstract

The book „Vectors of Belarusian studies” comprises articles written in Belarusian, Polish, German and Serbian that concentrate on three thematic directions, three vectors of scientific interests. The Belarusian Literary Association in Poland „Belavezha”, a unique creative organization that was founded in 1958 in Bialystok with a Belarusian daily newspaper Niva – is the object of analysis in the first part of the book. Jerzy Wołkowycki (1923–2013) was its founder and the first longtime editor. He initiated the hard work to unite creative Belarusian potential. His role as an organizer and the first representative of the literary organization has been underestimated so far. His social and professional activity, poetry and prose heritage give the author special place in the history of Belarusian literature in Poland. Therefore, the first article in the book is devoted to J. Wołkowycki („Jerzy Wołkowycki – an activist and a writer: the origins of Belarusian literary movement in Poland”). It should be emphasized that Wołkowycki, the graduate of a prestigious Literary Institute in Moscow realized his literary-esthetic program which gradually became esthetic manifesto for the organization. The confirmation of Wołkowycki`s artistic fertility is discussed in the article „Belavezhetc Yasha Bursh: tradition and novelty”. Poet and artist Y. Bursh as the first representative of Belavezha association applies vers libre in his creative work, searches for sincerity in self – expressiveness which in his opinion is a warranty of success in art. Bursh presents his creative priorities in the discussion about poetry that started in October 1963 in the daily newspaper Niva. Włodzimierz Hajduk`s (who is described as a poet- peasant) creative works certify poetic concepts of Belavezha writers, such as what poetry is, what its sources are, what tasks it undertakes. The problems the author tries to solve presented in his posthumous collection of poetry „Dzivasił” (2013) are also analyzed in one of the articles in the book. Wiktor Stachwiuk`s novels „My Kamtschatka” and „Corsica” have enriched space coordinates in the creations of Belarusian writers in Poland. In fact, the action of their books takes place in the region of Białystok. W. Stachwiuk`s book „Pakul zmerknie dzen” (2014) adds new themes to the prose of Belavezha association. It should be emphasized that new topics have appeared in Belarusian literature of a metropolis. Stachwiuk, the author of a collection of poetry „Bagrovy tsen” (2002) – in his prose remains faithful to his national sources, certifies humanistic values. Cultural and historical vibe of Bielsk Podlaski which occupies a special place in the history of the Early East Slavs and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, its past and present have served as an inspiration for a number of writers of Belavezha association (Jurka Geniusz, Mikoła Hajduk, Juryj Bajena, Jan Czykwin, Nadzieja Artymowicz and others). One of the articles „Poetization of Bielsk in works of Belavezha writers” is devoted to the analysis of the phenomenon. Longstanding activity of the Belarusian Literary Association „Belavezha” has been made apparent in various studies both in Poland and in Belarus, which is discussed in the articles „Creative work of the members of Belavezha association in Polish literary studies in the last decades” and „ Belovezha in critical-literary thought in Belarus”. Furthermore, within the last twenty years two habilitation thesis – Teresa Zaniewska (Warsaw 1998), Helena Duć-Fajfer (Cracow 2012), two PhD thesis – Beata Siwek (Lublin 2001), Anna Sakowicz (Bialystok 2007) and studies in several research centres – Warsaw, Lublin, Bialystok, Cracow – have been prepared. In turn, in Belarus an interest in the work of Belovezha writers started in the 80s of the 20th century. The article „Białystok stages in Masiej Siadniow`s life and creation „ enters organically the first part of the book. Masiej Siadniow, one of the most evident representatives of Belarusian emigre literature, a claimant to the Nobel Prize, worked for the newspaper „Nova Droga” in Białystok. After World War II he lived here for over a year, and then continued his migration to Western Europe. He described his memories and impressions in his autobiographical work „Białostocki sszytak” in 1991when he contacted with writers of Niva and Belovezha, and his new Białystok period and the cooperation with the journal published by a literary organization „Termopile” began. The first edition contained works written by a Belarusian national writer, a friend of Polish literature and culture Y. Bryl. The writer`s lyrical prose which constitutes a significant part of his works in his final period is analyzed in the article „Yanka Bryl`s lyrical prose in Termopile journal”. The second thematic vector of the book comprises centuriesold historical and cultural context. In the articles „On the tracks of our centuries-old tradition (Belarusian-South Slavic contacts: 11th –16th centuries) and „Janissary`s notes or Turkish cronicle of the Serb Konstantin Michailovich in Belarusian-Polish context” the author discusses the relationship between Belarusians, Serbs, Slovenians and Croatians. The assumption concerning the fact that „Janissary`s notes....” was written on the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania has been justified. The role and the place of Serbian ethos in the forming process of Slavonic cultural and historical type as a cultural unity are also analyzed. The third final part of the book focuses on some problems of modern literary process. In the article „Belarusian poetry confronts de-ideologization (creative works of Nina Maciasz and Krystyna Lalko) „the author underlines the idea that scientifictechnological progress deprived of humanistic ideology and spirituality causes degradation and global disaster of the whole mankind. The tragic process of dechristianization of Europe is accompanied by the functional limitation of literature to playing and having fun. The works of Belarusian poetesses N. Maciasz (1943–2008) and K. Lalko (1956) tell of allegiance to ethic national values, justify the priority of spiritual content in their poetry. In the article „Ales Jaskiewicz`s literary experiments” the author analyzes the stages of the professional career of one of the most evident representatives of the humanistic science who belongs to so-called philological generation. A. Jaskiewicz`s academic interests are presented: they range from the problem of new literary tradition, psychology of creative activity, the question of style and structure of work to translation and rhythmical organization of text. The last article „Vectors of Belarusian studies” elaborates on tendencies and directions in the development of Belarusian studies in Poland and Belarus. Special attention is directed to studies conducted in Warsaw, Minsk, Vitebsk, Lublin, Cracow, Brest, Baranowicze, Białystok. (Translated by Dorota Szymaniuk)