SIBERIA, LAND OF POLISH MARTYRDOM – (RE)VISIONS OF THE MYTH. LITERATURE, HISTORY, GEOPOETICS, POLITICS, CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Abstract

In Polish historical and cultural consciousness, Siberia is the land of Polish martyrdom. From deportations after downfall of November and January Uprisings (XIXth Century) toGUŁag`s hell, it has been the land of suffering and despair for Poles. The aim of the paper is analysing changes in depictions of Siberia in literature, journalism, historiography, memoirs, movies, and public discourse. By using terms derived from varied human sciences, such as philology, anthropology of cultures, cultural studies, including postcolonial studies and imagology, I try to answer why a martyrological, Romantic myth of Siberia is still vivid in Polish public discourse, whereas contemporary literature and reportage are trying to undermine it. The depiction and imagology of Siberia in Polish literature, movies, journalism, and public discourse could be understood as an example of “cultural wars” (L. Koczanowicz) and a postcolonial example of thinking about “Others”, especially Eastern, based on orientalism (E. Said) I will be analysing among others: literature- Anhelli, by J. Słowacki; Dwanaście lat w kraju Jakutów [Twelve years in the Jakut`s country] by W. Sieroszewski, Lód [An Ice] by J. Dukaj, Jakuck. Słownik miejsca [Jakuck. Lexicon of the Location] by M. Książek, Przez dziki Wschód [Through Wild East] ; Długi marsz do wolności [The Long March to Freedom]; Droga umarłych [The Road of the Dead] by Tomasz Grzywaczewski; movies - Long Walk Expedition Plus; The Way Back (Dir. P. Weir); Syberiada (reż. A. Konczałowski); Syberiada polska (dir. J. Zaorski).