East, West and Centre: Reframing post-1989 European Cinema
Michael Gott (ed.), Todd Herzog (ed.)
Published online:
21 January 2016
Published in print:
01 January 2015
Online ISBN:
9781474408592
Print ISBN:
9780748694150
Contents
- < Previous chapter
- Next chapter >
East, West and Centre: Reframing post-1989 European Cinema
Chapter
Get access
Rimma Garn
-
Published:
January 2015
Cite Icon Cite
Cite
Garn, Rimma, 'Through the Lens of Black Humour: A Polish Adam in the Post-Wall World', in Michael Gott, and Todd Herzog (eds), East, West and Centre: Reframing post-1989 European Cinema (
Close
Search
Close
Search
Advanced Search
Search Menu
Abstract
This chapter introduces the popular and critically-acclaimed Polish director Marek Koterski, whose oeuvre, characterized by black humor and startling naturalism, is almost entirely unknown outside of his native Poland. Koterski's work must be considered in its entirety, as it represents an unusual phenomenon, an ‘octology’ – a coherent narrative consisting of eight feature films that centers around one protagonist, Adam Miauczyski, the director's alter ego. In this chapter Garn focuses on his use of black humour in two works: Day of the Wacko (2002) and We’re all Christs (2006). Like all Koterski's films made after 1989, a cataclysmic year for Eastern Europe, these two ‘post-Wall’ films depict life in communist and post-communist Poland with particular poignancy. Both films include references to the English language and to American consumer products, equally distant and irrelevant to the protagonist. They depict Poland as a world of helplessness and hopelessness, filled with suffocating apartments and elevators, and nosy, malicious neighbors. The tragedy is that Poland's radical transformation from totalitarianism to democracy changed nothing in Adam's life, and he still sees an empty future with nothing to live for, unless he turns to faith and love.
Keywords: Communism, post-communism, Polish cinema, Black humour, Marek Koterski
Subject
Film
You do not currently have access to this chapter.
Sign in
Get help with access
Personal account
- Sign in with email/username & password
- Get email alerts
- Save searches
- Purchase content
- Activate your purchase/trial code
- Add your ORCID iD
Sign in Register
Institutional access
- Sign in with a library card
- Sign in with username/password
- Recommend to your librarian
Sign in through your institution
Sign in through your institution
Institutional account management
Sign in as administrator
Get help with access
Institutional access
Access to content on Oxford Academic is often provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. If you are a member of an institution with an active account, you may be able to access content in one of the following ways:
IP based access
Typically, access is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account.
Sign in through your institution
Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Shibboleth/Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institution’s website and Oxford Academic.
- Click Sign in through your institution.
- Select your institution from the list provided, which will take you to your institution's website to sign in.
- When on the institution site, please use the credentials provided by your institution. Do not use an Oxford Academic personal account.
- Following successful sign in, you will be returned to Oxford Academic.
If your institution is not listed or you cannot sign in to your institution’s website, please contact your librarian or administrator.
Sign in with a library card
Enter your library card number to sign in. If you cannot sign in, please contact your librarian.
Society Members
Society member access to a journal is achieved in one of the following ways:
Sign in through society site
Many societies offer single sign-on between the society website and Oxford Academic. If you see ‘Sign in through society site’ in the sign in pane within a journal:
- Click Sign in through society site.
- When on the society site, please use the credentials provided by that society. Do not use an Oxford Academic personal account.
- Following successful sign in, you will be returned to Oxford Academic.
If you do not have a society account or have forgotten your username or password, please contact your society.
Sign in using a personal account
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.
Personal account
A personal account can be used to get email alerts, save searches, purchase content, and activate subscriptions.
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members.
Viewing your signed in accounts
Click the account icon in the top right to:
- View your signed in personal account and access account management features.
- View the institutional accounts that are providing access.
Signed in but can't access content
Oxford Academic is home to a wide variety of products. The institutional subscription may not cover the content that you are trying to access. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian.
Institutional account management
For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more.
Purchase
Our books are available by subscription or purchase to libraries and institutions.
Purchasing information
Metrics
Metrics
Total Views 5
4 Pageviews
1 PDF Downloads
Since 1/1/2024
Month: | Total Views: |
---|---|
January 2024 | 1 |
April 2024 | 2 |
August 2024 | 2 |
Citations
Powered by Dimensions
Altmetrics
More from Oxford Academic
Arts and Humanities
Film
Media Studies
Books
Journals