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(National) canon, (national) theatre and (national) identity: a debate over a 1928 Bánk Bán-mise en scène in Hungary

Imre, Zoltán

Akadémiai Kiadó

2001

H Social Sciences (General) / társadalomtudomány általában

I would not suppose that the excellent, scholarly and well-educated director of the national theatre, the classical consignatory and home of Hungarian theatrical literature and public spirit, would touch József Katona's masterpiece with profane hands. (That's right! That's right!) Not a single letter must be added, not a word must be taken away from it. Otherwise Katona would be turning over in his grave. I can understand that the director of the national theatre would like to re- direct the play in series of performances; to change and synchronise that masterpiece with the taste of the contemporary decadent and sick psyche, and  I would say  with the rotten morals of the con- temporary era; to make Katona's masterpiece a hugely popular and literary success. Instead of these changes, however, I would rather say that Katona's masterpiece should remain unperformed. Let it be a book of prayers for the inhibitors of the peaceful and sorrowful Hungarian settlements, the Hungarian intellectuals who would rather read it in silence; and then mourn, be passionate, and contemplate silently on its eternal values. But that masterpiece cannot be put on the most important stage of the nation in an altered form. I think it would be an assault against the living conscience of the Hungarian nation. (That's right! That's right!) I would not question the good will of the director of the national theatre, but it is impossible to carry out such an assault. (Agreement all around.)

magyar

Article

PeerReviewed

info:eu-repo/semantics/article

text

http://real.mtak.hu/57034/1/hstud.15.2001.1.5.pdf

Imre, Zoltán (2001) (National) canon, (national) theatre and (national) identity: a debate over a 1928 Bánk Bán-mise en scène in Hungary. Hungarian Studies, 15 (1). pp. 93-111. ISSN 0236-6568

http://real.mtak.hu/57034/

https://doi.org/10.1556/HStud.15.2001.1.5