The topic of anti-Semitism in literature and media was discussed at the event of the Institute of Central European Languages and Cultures UKF.

On September 29, 2022, the Institute of Central European Languages and Cultures Faculty of Cnetral European Studies Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra organized the scientific seminar Anti-Semitic Ethnic Stereotypes in the Media and Literature of the V4 Countries as part of the VEGA project of the same name. The event was held with the support of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Bratislava.

The seminar was opened by RNDr. Štefan Balla, PhD., the vice-dean for international relations and development of Faculty of Central European Countries. The director of the Institute of Central European Languages and Cultures, doc. PhDr. Ján Gallik, PhD., and project leader prof. PhDr. Miloš Zelenka, DrSc. also spoke to those present.

In his contribution, Erik Gilk focused on the presentation of the artistic image of Jewish women in prose with the theme of the Shoah after 2000 written by Czech female authors. Through the lens of geopolitics, culture and history, Milan Pokorný tried to outline the answer to whether the phenomenon of Central Europe should be considered a reality, a legend or a myth. Alexej Mikulášek dealt with the anti-Semitic stereotypes in artistic texts and the possibilities of their interpretation in the extreme positions of anti-Semitism and philo-Semitism. Ján Gallik analysed the depiction of anti-Semitic expressions in literary works with a satirical focus by the Slovak authors Martin Kasarda Budúcnosť na predaj and Koloman Kocúr Sracia zbraň. Zuzana Vargová also remained on the field of literature, researching the manifestations of anti-Semitism in the novel Prirodzené svetlo by Hungarian writer Pál Závada.

Cinematography was dealt with the paper by Štefan Timko, who analysed anti-Semitic motifs in selected films with a camp theme. Monika Adamická focused on the modelling of anti-Semitic stereotypes in the works of Anton Baláž. The area of the media was given attention in the following two contributions: Lenka Tkáč-Zabáková analysed the Internet space as a means of spreading anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist views. On the other hand, Sylvia Hrešková focused on the media as potential spaces for the spread of the so-called pandemic of anti-Semitism. The experience of the Holocaust, as recorded in Livia Bitton-Jackson's memoirs Žila som tisíc rokov, was dealt with the last contribution by Michal Krauter.

 

The seminar and the lectures that took place within it created a space for discussion and raised questions that can become a stimulus for further in-depth thinking about the topic of anti-Semitism in literature and the media in the following phases of the project. University students and others present also supported the event with their participation.

Text: Mgr. Michal Krauter
Photo: doc. PhDr. Ján Gallik, PhD.