Location | AC Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fővám tér 13-15.
The first part of the fall TALC session of 2010 will concentrate on Labor Day. The second part of the session, similarly to past meetings, will be a free discussion between participants and invited guest speaker.
TALCTuesday American Language Club
The American Corner Budapest has launched a regular program. For those who would like to practice their English. From April, Two Thousand and Nine. On the first Tuesday of each month. An English Conversation Club. With native speaker guests. All are welcome.
Don't be shy. TALC to us.
September 16, 2010 | Thursday
4:00 – 6:00 PM
American Citizen VOTER REGISTRATION at the American Corner - #1
Location | AC Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fővám tér 13-15.
US Citizen? Are you registered to vote in November? ... Are you sure?
Trained American volunteers will be available at a Voter Registration table to help you prepare and submit your FPCA registration and ballot request form.
New rules require that US citizens living abroad must RE-register to vote, for every federal election. If you have any questions about voter registration or receiving your ballot, or have not yet submitted your registration form -- after your State Primary -- then come let us help you.
Further details and updates on voter Registration in Hungary are available at:
FIND us on FACEBOOK and TWITTER under: USvoteHungary e-mail: USvoteHungary@gmail.com
September 23, 2010 | Thursday
4:00 – 6:00 PM
American Citizen VOTER REGISTRATION at the American Corner - #2
Location | AC Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fővám tér 13-15.
US Citizen? Are you registered to vote in November? ... Are you sure?
Trained American volunteers will be available at a Voter Registration table to help you prepare and submit your FPCA registration and ballot request form.
New rules require that US citizens living abroad must RE-register to vote, for every federal election. If you have any questions about voter registration or receiving your ballot, or have not yet submitted your registration form -- after your State Primary -- then come let us help you.
Further details and updates on voter Registration in Hungary are available at:
FIND us on FACEBOOK and TWITTER under: USvoteHungary e-mail: USvoteHungary@gmail.com
September 23, 2010 | Thursday 6:00 – 8:00 PM
THE CORNER'S PRESIDENTS SERIES PRESENTS
regular programs | MOVIE NIGHTS #6 title |BY THE PEOPLE: THE ELECTION OF
BARACK OBAMA | an HBO documentary
Registration REQUIRED by 4pm SEPTEMBER 22nd | amcorner@uni-corvinus.hu | Limited seats available
Location | AC Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fővám tér 13-15.
ÚT A FEHÉR HÁZIG - BARACK OBAMA MEGVÁLASZTÁSA
/By The People – The Election of Barack Obama /
exkluzív belépési engedély
Milliók lehettek tanúi a történelmi pillanatnak, amikor Barack Obama a választás éjszakáján az emelvényre lépett. Azt azonban csak kevesen tudják, mi történt a történelmi szónoklat előtti napokban – akkor, amikor nem vette körül annyi kamera. Mostantól ez is megváltozik. Ismerkedjünk meg az elnöki poszt várományosával és kampányának elhivatott munkatársaival!
Ez a példa nélkül álló dokumentumfilm a Fehér Házhoz vezető történelmi utazás hiteles krónikája. A kulisszák mögött készült, eddig be nem mutatott felvételeket és számos interjút tartalmaz, valamint – ami talán még ennél is felemelőbb – tanúi lehetünk a családdal, a kampány vezetőivel, önkéntesekkel, riporterekkel, támogatókkal, sőt még az ellenfelekkel is átélt meghitt pillanatoknak.
EXTRÁK
• A rendezők kommentárjai
• Így készült a film
• 10 ráadás-jelenet
♦ AZ HBO DOCUMENTARY FILMS BEMUTATJA A GREEN FILM COMPANY PRODUKCIÓJÁBAN A CITI PRODUCTIONS EGYÜTTMŰKÖDÉSÉVEL A CLASS 5 FILMS PRODUKCIÓJÁBAN A GOOD EGYÜTTMŰKÖDÉSÉVEL ANY RICE ÉS ALICIA SAMS FILMJÉT „BY THE PEOPLE – THE ELECTION OF BARACK OBAMA” ♦ FÉNYKÉPEZTE ANY RICE ZENE CRAIG WEDREN♦ TÁRSPRODUCER ELISSA BROWN ♦ VÁGÓ SAM POLLARD GEETA GANDBHIR ÉS ARIELLE AMSALEM ♦ EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BRISTOL BAUGHAN DERIC MARGOLIS DJ MARTIN AUDREY ROSENBERG ♦ PRODUCER BENJAMIN GOLDSHIRSH DAN O’MEARA CHRIS ROMANO ♦ PRODUCER EDWARD NORTON STUART BLUMBERG WILLIAM MIGLIORE ♦ PRODUCER ÉS RENDEZŐ AMY RICE ÉS ALICIA SAMS ♦
September 28, 2010 | Tuesday
5:30 - 6:30 PM
Host| TYLER DERHEIM | Economist Topic | 9/11
Registration required | amcorner@uni-corvinus.hu | Limited seats available
Location | AC Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fővám tér 13-15.
STORYCORPS & MORE | 2010 september | event#7
...on the LAST TUESDAY of the month,
a NEW REGULAR PROGRAM at the AmericanCorner Budapest
for those who would like to PRACTICE ENGLISH and have FUN...
Do you want to hear stories of everyday people in the United States? At the StoryCorps and More events, we will listen to recorded stories and can have discussions about the stories we hear, and our own stories. StoryCorps is an independent, nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another's lives through listening. StoryCorps participants informally interview friends or family members and are recorded for the project. Each story is told in less than five minutes.
2010 OCTOBER | Daniel Pearl Music Days
October 5, 2010 | Tuesday
5:55 – 6:55 PM ***NEW TIME***
TALC | Tuesday American Language Club #15
Free Discussion with Native Speaker(s)
Guest Speaker | KATHRYN HYMES | Stanford University
Registration REQUIRED | amcorner@uni-corvinus.hu | Limited seats available
Location | AC Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fővám tér 13-15.
The first part of the fall TALC session of 2010 will concentrate on National Stamp Collecting month. Our guest speaker will talk about the history of the US Postal Service and other related areas. The second part of the session, similarly to past meetings, will be a free discussion between participants and invited guest speaker.
TALCTuesday American Language Club
The American Corner Budapest has launched a regular program. For those who would like to practice their English. From April, Two Thousand and Nine. On the first Tuesday of each month. An English Conversation Club. With native speaker guests. All are welcome.
Don't be shy. TALC to us.
BRIDGES SERIES
programs that aim at connecting hungarian and american cultures -- through history, people, events, exhibitions and films
The American Corner Budapest, together with the Student Counseling Center (Diáktanácsadó Központ) at Corvinus University of Budapest presents a Special Public Lecture *IN HUNGARIAN*
Blissful Life – Peaceful Death
Boldogabb élet – jó halál
Presentation and Discussion | Eutelia and Euthanasia
Előadás és beszélgetés | Eutélia és Eutanázia www.laszlobito.com
October 12, 2010 | Tuesday6:00 – 7:30 PM *In Hungarian*
Guest Speaker | LÁSZLÓ BITÓ
Registration REQUIRED | amcorner@uni-corvinus.hu Location | AC Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fővám tér 13-15. | Lecture Room #1
"It seems that fate has given Laszlo Bito two lives. The first was a martyr's life in Hungary: deportation, forced labor in mines, humiliations, exile. Following it, he made himself an enviable second life: a career in America, that brought him much success and recognition, not yet as a writer, but as an internationally-known professor of physiology.
The medicine for glaucoma that he has developed brought a fundamental change to the management of this blinding disease and today already thousands of people can thank Bito for their escape from physical blindness.
The moral blindness, the acceptance of aggression and violence has always been the central question of his literary works. Where are the roots of evil? Why does man, God's creation, become ruthless?
The answers to these questions Bito is exploring in two roles - as a successful writer, (a chosen son of fate) and also as a man who had known much suffering.
Bito brings to us with unimpeachable scientific logic his philosophical verdict: our tendency to evil is not in our genes. Rather, it is a product of our civilization, our culture. Thus, we can only blame ourselves for our ruthlessness, for all our misery. We must search our own past for the origins of all our troubles."
A gyógyíthatatlan betegek önrendelkezési joga, ha úgy tetszik, a halál választása csak akkor érvényesülhet Magyarországon, ha többféle alternatíva létezik. Ezek közül az egyik a szép halálnak nevezett eutanázia kellene, hogy legyen. Emellett azonban szükség van a humánus haldoklás elterjesztésében nagy szerepet játszó hospice-okra és az eutélia intézményére is - jelentette ki a többi közt Bitó László író, kutatóorvos, a Columbia Egyetem emeritus professzora a Corvinus Egyetem Sóházában megtartott előadásán.
Presenter 1 | TOURE SCOTT | Spelman College | AC Budapest Intern
Presenter 2 | ERIKA SÓLYOM | AC Budapest Director
Topic | American Corner Budapest & Daniel Pearl Music Days
On October 15th, 2010 Jedlik Ányos High School held a day-long event called “America Day” which featured lectures and presentations about the United States.
In attendance were US Embassy Cultural Attaché John Balian, US Embassy Consular Officer Erik Schnotala, US Embassy Cultural Assistant Kati Bíró, Hungarian-American Partnership Association President Yvonne Schuchmann, Education USA Senior Advisor Kornelia Litkei as well as American Corner Budapest Director Erika Solyom and AC Budapest Intern Toure Scott.
After the welcome notes of the high school principal and Mr. Balian's presentation to the students on US-Hungarian relations as well as the operation of the US Embassy in Budapest. Following the introduction, the students split into small groups and participated in various presentations on topics including education opportunities in the US, resume writing and life in America.
American Corner Budapest representatives Erika Solyom and Toure Scott spoke about the historical background and the mission of American Corners program worldwide. Students received information on the programs offered by the American Corner Budapest. As the America Day fell on October, Corner representatives spoke about the Daniel Pearl Music Days and the Corner’s celebration of the event. The group discussed various topics such as American holidays and at the end of the session, participating students were able to pose questions to AC intern Toure Scott about life in America.
In honor of the schools 65th anniversary, the art work of senior Bettina Durr -- who created eight pencil drawings on wooden canvases with depictions of President Obama and different locations in New York -- were also on display.
October 19, 2010 | Tuesday 6:00 – 8:00 PM
regular programs | MOVIE NIGHTS #7
title | GYPSY CARAVAN - WHEN THE ROAD BENDS
a documentary by Jasmina Dellal | with ***Hungarian*** subtitles
Registration REQUIRED | amcorner@uni-corvinus.hu | Limited seats available
Location | AC Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fővám tér 13-15.
Shot by legendary cinematographer Albert Maysles, this dynamic musical documentary follows five Gypsy bands from four countries who unite for the Gypsy Caravan as they take their show around North America for a six-week tour, astounding every audience they meet. Their musical styles range from flamenco to brass band, Romanian violin to Indian folk. And with humor and soul in their voices, they celebrate the best in Gypsy culture and the diversity of the Romani people in an explosion of song and dance.
As the film follows the amazing performances and behind-the-scenes action from the tour created by World Music Institute, we discover the real lives of these musicians. We visit Macedonia, Romania, India and Spain, meet their families and see what music brings to their lives. The tales of these characters are woven between their performances - allowing us to understand and celebrate Romani culture and the prejudice of their shared ancestry.
The Daniel Pearl foundation was created in 2002 to spread the message of peace and humanity throughout the world. The foundation was dedicated in memory of Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl who was captured and beheaded by terrorists in 2002. After his death, in honor of his lifelong love of music, the Daniel Pearl Music Days were created. Since its inception on October 10, 2002, Pearl’s birthday, the world wide music event has grown to include over two hundred countries which have organized musical events during the month of October in remembrance of Daniel Pearl’s life.
This year the American Corner Budapest showed the film “When the Road Bends: Gypsy Caravan.” Filmed during the 2001 Gypsy Caravan North American tour, the movie follows famous Roma musicians such as Esma Redzepove, Maharaja, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Taraf de Haidouks and the Antonio El Pipa Flamenco Ensemble. The movie tracks the performers on their six-week tour and documents not only the difference between Roma people around the world, but also their similarities that still allow them to connect through music, culture and societal discrimination.
Among the viewing audience present at the Corner were special guests - all of whom have done work with Roma communities worldwide: US Embassy RELO Director Lisa Harshbarger, a Hungarian-American visual artist and singer of Roma origin Erika Lakatos and Kalman Magyar, Director of American Hungarian Folkore Centrum.
After the screening, the Corner held a short discussion about the film and the response to the filmdirector Jasmina Dellal’s perspective to the image of the Roma people. Social and political treatments of the Roma throughout Europe and Hungary were also topics of discussion. The comparison of the Roma plight to the African American struggle in the United States was a connection that was made throughout the conversation.
Freedom’s Fury tells the heroic story of the democratic Hungarian uprising of 1956 through the lens of the epic Olympic water polo showdown between Hungary and the Soviet Union. The match, which took place less than a month after the Soviets crushed the rebellion in Budapest, is remembered as the bloodiest event in Olympic history. Known as the “Blood in the Water Match,” the confrontation transcended sport to become an enduring symbol of freedom to oppressed people around the world. Narrated by Olympic gold medalist Mark Spitz, the film features remarkable footage of the thirteen surviving members of the Soviet and Hungarian water polo teams.
October 25, 2010 | Monday 11 AM – 1:00 PM
THE CORNER'S PRESIDENTS SERIES PRESENTS
regular programs | MOVIE NIGHTS #9 title |BY THE PEOPLE: THE ELECTION OF
BARACK OBAMA | an HBO documentary
***PRESENT SCREENING IS RESERVED FOR CORVINUS STUDENTS OF PROFESSOR JUDIT BOGAR***
Location | AC Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fővám tér 13-15.
Present movie screening is the second screening of the "By the Peoiple" movie on the election of US President Barack Obama for the class of students at Corvinus University of Budapest.
The movie will be screened in English with English subtitles.
ÚT A FEHÉR HÁZIG - BARACK OBAMA MEGVÁLASZTÁSA
/By The People – The Election of Barack Obama /
exkluzív belépési engedély
Milliók lehettek tanúi a történelmi pillanatnak, amikor Barack Obama a választás éjszakáján az emelvényre lépett. Azt azonban csak kevesen tudják, mi történt a történelmi szónoklat előtti napokban – akkor, amikor nem vette körül annyi kamera. Mostantól ez is megváltozik. Ismerkedjünk meg az elnöki poszt várományosával és kampányának elhivatott munkatársaival!
Ez a példa nélkül álló dokumentumfilm a Fehér Házhoz vezető történelmi utazás hiteles krónikája. A kulisszák mögött készült, eddig be nem mutatott felvételeket és számos interjút tartalmaz, valamint – ami talán még ennél is felemelőbb – tanúi lehetünk a családdal, a kampány vezetőivel, önkéntesekkel, riporterekkel, támogatókkal, sőt még az ellenfelekkel is átélt meghitt pillanatoknak.
EXTRÁK
• A rendezők kommentárjai
• Így készült a film
• 10 ráadás-jelenet
♦ AZ HBO DOCUMENTARY FILMS BEMUTATJA A GREEN FILM COMPANY PRODUKCIÓJÁBAN A CITI PRODUCTIONS EGYÜTTMŰKÖDÉSÉVEL A CLASS 5 FILMS PRODUKCIÓJÁBAN A GOOD EGYÜTTMŰKÖDÉSÉVEL ANY RICE ÉS ALICIA SAMS FILMJÉT „BY THE PEOPLE – THE ELECTION OF BARACK OBAMA” ♦ FÉNYKÉPEZTE ANY RICE ZENE CRAIG WEDREN♦ TÁRSPRODUCER ELISSA BROWN ♦ VÁGÓ SAM POLLARD GEETA GANDBHIR ÉS ARIELLE AMSALEM ♦ EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BRISTOL BAUGHAN DERIC MARGOLIS DJ MARTIN AUDREY ROSENBERG ♦ PRODUCER BENJAMIN GOLDSHIRSH DAN O’MEARA CHRIS ROMANO ♦ PRODUCER EDWARD NORTON STUART BLUMBERG WILLIAM MIGLIORE ♦ PRODUCER ÉS RENDEZŐ AMY RICE ÉS ALICIA SAMS ♦
October 26, 2010 | Tuesday
5:30 - 6:30 PM
Host| TOURE SCOTT | Spelman College, Atlanta, GA Topic | Pop Culture
Registration required | amcorner@uni-corvinus.hu | Limited seats available
Location | AC Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fővám tér 13-15.
STORYCORPS & MORE | 2010 october | event#8
...on the LAST TUESDAY of the month,
a NEW REGULAR PROGRAM at the AmericanCorner Budapest
for those who would like to PRACTICE ENGLISH and have FUN...
Do you want to hear stories of everyday people in the United States? At the StoryCorps and More events, we will listen to recorded stories and can have discussions about the stories we hear, and our own stories. StoryCorps is an independent, nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another's lives through listening. StoryCorps participants informally interview friends or family members and are recorded for the project. Each story is told in less than five minutes.
October 28, 2010 | Thursday
5:30 – 6:30 PM
CAMP COUNSELLORS USA | www.ccusa.com
CCUSA Information Session | In HUNGARIAN
Organizer | KRISZTINA TILL
Presenters | DÓRA LÁSZLÓ
Registration required | amcorner@uni-corvinus.hu | LIMITED seats available
Location | American Corner Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fovam ter 13-15.
Those at least 19 years of age and with good English skills may join the CCUSA Information Session to be held at the American Corner Budapest office to get more information about CCUSA work programs. The session starts with a presentation by CCUSA local representatives and will be followed by a Q & A segment.
2010 NOVEMBER | Thanksgiving
M e g h í v ó
Az Amerikai Nagykövetség, a Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem
és a Magyar Külügyi Intézet meghívja Önt
Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis amerikai nagykövet asszony
angol nyelvű, külpolitikai előadására, amelynek címe “Lisbon and Beyond”
Az előadás apropóját a Lisszabonban novemberben megrendezésre kerülő NATO és EU csúcsok adják.
Az előadás után írásban kérdéseket intézhet a nagykövet asszonyhoz a témával kapcsolatban.
November 9, 2010 | Tuesday
5:30 - 6:30 PM
TALC | Tuesday American Language Club #16
Free Discussion with Native Speaker(s)
Host | TOURE SCOTT | Spelman College, Atlanta, GA
Topic | HBCU- Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the US
Registration required | amcorner@uni-corvinus.hu | Limited seats available
Location | AC Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fővám tér 13-15.
On November 9th, 2010 in a continuation of the American Corner Budapest's TALC series, US Intern and Spelman College student Toure Scott talked about the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the United States. To begin, Ms. Scott gave an introduction to the audience on slavery and the Civil War era America up through the Jim Crow South. With this historical background she further explained the significance of the HBCU in the African American community. Ms. Scott gave her first-hand account of attending the highest ranked HBCU Spelman College and explained several of the traditions that are common amongst the HBCU institutions such as homecoming, marching bands, and fraternities and sororities. After the presentation the floor was open to conversation on whether educational institutes based on ethnic background were still relevant in today’s world. Members spoke of a similar secondary institution in Hungary which teaches those of Roma descent.
TALCTuesday American Language Club
The American Corner Budapest has launched a regular program. For those who would like to practice their English. From April, Two Thousand and Nine. On the first Tuesday of each month. An English Conversation Club. With native speaker guests. All are welcome.
Don't be shy. TALC to us. internationaleducationweek | internationaleducationweek
November 12, 2010 | Friday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
HIGH SCHOOL OUTREACH Radnóti Miklós High School
Presenter 1 | TOURE SCOTT | AC Budapest Intern | Spelman College
Presenter 2 | KAYLIE HALL | AC Budapest Guest | Pennsylvania State University
Presenter 3 | RACHEL JIANG | AC Budapest Guest | Barnard College, Columbia University
Topic | Student Life in American Universities
On November 12th, 2010, the American Corner Budapest in co-operation with Radnóti Miklós High School organized a high school outreach program, inviting three US college students for the day. The event co-coordinated by American Corner Budapest Intern Toure Scott and Radnóti Miklós High School ESL teacher Katalin Miklósy, welcomed Corner Intern Toure Scott and study abroad students Kaylie Hall and Rachel Jiang.
The speakers visited the English classes from grades 6th to 10th throughout the day and participated several activities that encouraged English conversation. Aside from the class activities, the older high school students were introduced to the American Historically Black College and University (HBCU) educational environment during a presentation made by Toure Scott.
Presenter | TOURE SCOTT | Spelman College | AC Budapest Intern
Topic | Thanksgiving
On November 26th, 2010, in celebration of the American Thanksgiving holiday the American Corner Budapest welcomed students from Csepel High School as a part of their high school outreach program.
Organized and hosted by US Intern Toure Scott and Csepel High School English teacher Zsuzsa Lakner, the students not only learned about the historical beginnings of the first Thanksgiving but also how today’s modern Americans observe the Thanksgiving holiday.
Customs such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Black Friday were also introduced to the students for the first time. After the presentation the student participated in several Thanksgiving themed activities. Students wrote notes of thankfulness, played a matching game based on which foods would be served on a traditional Thanksgiving dinner table.
As a dessert after your Thanksgiving meal, we would like to draw your attention to an upcoming Contemporary Drama Festival that will take place between November 27th and December 4th, 2010. The 9th Contemporary Drama Festival has invited the work of American creators to the visiting-country program. All performances are in English.
November 30, 2010 | Tuesday
5:30 - 6:30 PM
Host| DANIEL SENDER | Fulbright Grantee | University of Maryland Topic | Growing up with Music
Registration required | amcorner@uni-corvinus.hu | Limited seats available
Location | AC Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fővám tér 13-15.
STORYCORPS & MORE | 2010 november | event#9
...on the LAST TUESDAY of the month,
a NEW REGULAR PROGRAM at the AmericanCorner Budapest
for those who would like to PRACTICE ENGLISH and have FUN...
Do you want to hear stories of everyday people in the United States? At the StoryCorps and More events, we will listen to recorded stories and can have discussions about the stories we hear, and our own stories. StoryCorps is an independent, nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another's lives through listening. StoryCorps participants informally interview friends or family members and are recorded for the project. Each story is told in less than five minutes.
2010 DECEMBER | Winter Holidays
December 7, 2010 | Tuesday
5:30 - 6:30 PM
TALC | Tuesday American Language Club #17
Free Discussion with Native Speaker(s)
Presenter |
PROF. LOUISE O. VASVARI | NYU & SUNY Stony Brook
Topic |
Gender Work in Political Discourses: from Hungarian State Socialism to the Clinton-Obama Presidential Campaign
Registration required | amcorner@uni-corvinus.hu
Location | AC Budapest | Corvinus University | Salt House Building | Fővám tér 13-15.
Prof. Vasvari, NYU, SUNY Stony Brook | Introduction to Gender Work and Political Discourse
Photo by Attila Sohár
On December 7th, 2010, the American Corner Budapest held a special session of its regular language club TALC for intermediate and advanced speakers. This month’s language club had a presentation format followed by an Q&A segment. In the first part of her presentation, invited guest speaker Prof. Louise O. Vasvari analyzed the scripted gender performance of various candidates in the recent US elections as well as the gender stereotypes used by the media to depict them. She then talked about post-socialist feminist discourse in Hungary and argued that gender stereotypes are deep-seated and continue not only unchallenged in post-socialist societies but have actually gone backwards. She ended her lecture by stressing the importance of combating the terms of ubiquitous cultural narratives which have been hardwired into people’s brains by repeated exposure. The event was followed by an end-of-the year holiday reception.
Post-presentation Q & A
Photo by Attila Sohár
ABOUT THE PRESENTATION
The striking lack of feminist consciousness in Hungary and in the former Soviet bloc in general has confounded many Western observers, who had expectation that rise of civil society would mean that women would take the opportunity to organize. However, in Hungary the word "feminism" is generally still understood as it was used abusively in the Newspeak of the patriarchal state socialism, where communist feminist was a contradiction in terms since communism was a state patriarchy imposed from above that negatively feminized both women and men and where there was a total disconnect between ideology and everyday life. This narrow localized interpretation of feminism has contributed to the inadequate development of a post-socialist feminist discourse, with most women’s identity formation such that they continue to view barriers against them as personal or even essentialist biological problems rather than in the context of deeper cultural and socio-psychological cultural inequalities. Gender stereotypes are deep-seated and continue not only unchallenged in post-socialist society but have actually gone backwards, with the dominant masculinized framing of public issues as, for example revealed by negative stereotypes of women in professional and in particular in political life. Twenty years on state socialism continues to shape how individuals think about government, society, themselves, and the socialist past, paradoxically expressed in three contradictory discourses: the home-grown resurgence of a retrograde patriarchy, fueled in part by the desire to reject communism but often combined with Communist nostalgia, alongside the simultaneous import of an external feminism via normative obligations for Europeanization.
While I posit that the rise of masculinism is the primary characteristic of gender relations in Hungary today, ironically it also forms the very bedrock of Western liberal democracy, where gender stereotypes are as deep-seated and relatively unchallenged and where the backlash in the US against women in the public sphere has been ongoing. Feminism has had trouble sustaining itself form one generation to the next, in particular in the political sphere, where the US today stands in 70th place among countries in the world in female political representation. It would be a mistake to suppose that the mere entry of women in more than token numbers to masculinist institutions automatically normalizes the female voice in those institutions, but on the contrary the perceptible threat it represents to masculine hegemony may lead to an intensification of sexism in the public sphere, and most particularly in politics, as I shall try to illustrate by analyzing scripted gender performance of various candidates in the recent US elections, as well as the gender stereotypes used by the media to depict them. Such an analysis is particularly important as the performance of gender has become increasingly part of how the public understands politics & gendered language permeates political landscape, with politics and elections most often described in terms of analogies and metaphors drawn form the traditionally masculine domains of war and sports. In particular the last presidential election has been a kind of plebiscite on sexual politics. As George Lakoff argues in The Political Mind terms of ubiquitous cultural narratives or tropes have been hardwired into people’s brains by repeated exposure and thus they are very hard to combat.
Photo by Attila Sohár
TALCTuesday American Language Club
The American Corner Budapest has launched a regular program. For those who would like to practice their English. From April, Two Thousand and Nine. On the first Tuesday of each month. An English Conversation Club. With native speaker guests. All are welcome.
Don't be shy. TALC to us.
KIDSCORNER | 2010 december | kids corner event #5
December 12, 2010 | Sunday
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
AMERICA IN FOCUS | Weekend Program for Children | Amerikai Multikulti Gyerekprogram
Program by EZERARCÚ MULTIKULTI EGYESÜLETat PRINTA AKADÉMIA (Rumbach S. u. 10),
supported by the AMERICAN CORNER BUDAPEST
Holiday Game by Ildikó Bogáti and Katalin Török from Ezerarcú Multikulti Association
Photo by Attila Sohár
Kedves gyerekek!
2010. december 12 -én az Amerikai Egyesült Államokkal, különös tekintettel az ott élő népcsoportok hagyományaival ismerkedhettek meg a Multikulti Gyerekprogramsorozat keretében.
Egy kis előzetes a programból: Hogyan készülnek a különféle hagyományokkal rendelkező amerikaiak a közelgő téli ünnepekre, mint például a Karácsonyra, a Hanukára valamint a Kwanzaá-ra, melyet az afro-amerikai közösségek ünnepelnek. Készítünk majd indián esőbotot és sátrat, azaz teepee-t. Mesélünk a huncut Grinch-ről, aki ellopta a Karácsonyt.
Az Ezerarcú Multikulti Egyesület által szervezett programsorozat ezen eseménye az American Corner Budapest együttműködésével és támogatásával kerül megrendezésre.
Mindenkit szeretettel várunk!
Helyszín || PRINTA || Rumbach S. utca 10.
Időpont || 2010. december 12. || Vasárnap || 11 órától 14 óráig www.ezerarcumultikulti.hu
Chanukah Corner | Photo by Attila Sohár
Dear children,
On December 12th, 2010, as part of the Multicultural Children’s Program Series, you are invited to learn about the United States and the many rich traditions that make up America’s diverse communities.
Here is a sneak peak from the program: Discover how the various peoples of the United States are preparing to celebrate the upcoming winter holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa which is celebrated in African American culture. Kids will be able to prepare Native American rain sticks and teepees. We will also tell the story of the mischievous Grinch who stole Christmas.
This month’s event of the Thousand Faces Multicultural Association’s program series is co-organized and supported by the American Corner Budapest.
All are welcome. Come and join us!
Location || PRINTA || Rumbach S. utca 10. || near Astoria
Date & Time || December 12th, 2010 || Sunday || 11am - 2pm
Kwanzaa presentation by Toure Scott with Grinch in the background
Photo by Attila Sohár
BRIDGES SERIES
Shot by legendary cinematographer Albert Maysles, this dynamic musical documentary follows five Gypsy bands from four countries who unite for the Gypsy Caravan as they take their show around North America for a six-week tour, astounding every audience they meet. Their musical styles range from flamenco to brass band, Romanian violin to Indian folk. And with humor and soul in their voices, they celebrate the best in Gypsy culture and the diversity of the Romani people in an explosion of song and dance.
