Instructor: Márta Siklós
 

The aim of this course is to give you an opportunity to explore certain aspects of Hungarian attitudes, thinking and cultural traditions. Besides our discussion of some outstanding representatives of Hungarian literature, film, music and art, you will be asked to contribute to the classes with mini presentations based either on research or on your real-life experiences in Hungary. With the twentieth century in our focus, an essential context for these works will be the historical one but you will also be encouraged to take advantage of learning about Hungarian culture “live”. Our program will include visits to the Opera, the National Gallery and the National Theatre/ Palace of Arts.

During the term, students will be required to:

· read  poems and short stories (in handouts)
          3 (short) novels (The Paul Street Boys by Ferenc Molnár Anna Édes by Dezso Kosztolányi and  Fateless by Imre Kertész)
· give mini-presentations
· write a mid-term paper
· write a final essay

1.   Introduction  – Emblematic stories/poems and a brief overview of Hungarian history -
2. Growing up to be a “Hungarian”: A children’s classic: The Paul Street Boys            Response to the novel
     Architectural styles in Budapest     *Bring a building!
3. The fall of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy– Sunshine Part 1.
    Kosztolányi: Anna Édes      Response to the novel
4.  Hungary between the two world wars – Sunshine Part 2.
     The poetry of Attila József  Attila József
5.  Socialist Hungary  up to the 1956 revolution - Sunshine Part 3.
     extracts from a  Book of Memories by P.Nádas and
     A Little Hungarian Pornography by P. Esterházy
6.  Socialist Hungary – The Kádár era     János Kádár
    Stories by István Örkény and P.Esterházy  Esterházy: The Transporters
7. Hungarian music    Ferenc Liszt    Béla Bartók  Zoltán Kodály
    complemented by Opera visit (time flexible)
8. Growing up in the 60s - A film by Péter Gothár: Time Stands Still           Response to the film
9. The change of regime -  Stories by Sándor Tarr, poems by  György Petri
    Social, political issues of contemporary Hungary
10. A visit to the National Gallery    *“Bring” a painting for the next class!
11. Fateless – a (Nobel Prize winning) novel by Imre Kertész Kertész: Khaddish for a Child Unborn
12. The showing of a contemporary Hungarian film.   Response to the film
13. A visit to the National Theatre/ Palace of Arts
14. Wind-up –       *Bring a city from Hungary!!
       Final paper