Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1975 (3. évfolyam, 6-8. szám)

1975 / 8. szám

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS (Continued)

The Academic International Press, informed us of their interest in works concerned with East Central Europe, among them original books and translations, especially works of reference character, and biographies. Books not of reference character should be about 200 printed pages in length, should stand scholarly scrutiny, i.e. should be objective, “impeccably but unobtrusively documented,” should deal with a topic of potential interest to a wide circle of readers other than specialists but including specialists, and should be written in a simple and readable English style. For more information write to Peter von Wahlde, Director, P.O. Box 555, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561. □

We congratulate the Hungarian Saturday Classes and Kindergarten of New Brunswick, N.J.on its 15th anniversary. Founded by Dr. Karoly Nagy and sponsored by the Hungarian Alumni Association, the school is one of some 30 similar undertakings in the country. It had enrolled 557 students in its inception in 1960. Present chairlady of the school board is Mrs. Miklós Csergó/. The Home News of New Brunswick carried an article describing how students became inspired about Hungarian studies when they were shown 400 and 500 year old books and manuscripts in the library of the American Hungarian Foundation. □

The American Bibliography of Slavic and East European Studies for 1970, 1971 and 1972, edited by James Scanlan (Ohio State U.) is now available. The new volume attempts to list all North American publications in Soviet and East European studies for the period. AAASS members may purchase the bibliography for $10.00; libraries and institutions for $12.00 . Future volumes will be edited by David Kraus, Slavic and Central European Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540. □

Linda Degh, Prof, of Folklore at Indiana U. will be offering a course in Hungarian folklore and culture for the Spring Semester of 1976. She plans to cover also Hungarian culture in North America. Texts will include her forthcoming book “Four Lives” and two case studies she has just completed. For information write to Dr. De'gh, Folklore Institute, 504 North Fess, Bloomington, IN 47401. □

The 1975-76 catalogue of the Kodály Musical Training Institute is available, so is the catalogue of the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music at Kecskemét. For either one or for the most recent issue of their newsletter, write to Kodály Institute, 525 Worcester Street, Wellesley, MA 02181. □

We learned from P.A. Compton that a British-Hungarian geographical seminar is being planned for 1977. Interested persons may write to Dr. P.A. Compton, Dept, of Geography, The Queen’s U. of Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland. □

The history of the Hungarians in North America is yet to be

written. Meanwhile, it is essential that the documents which record the thoughts and activities of Hungarian immigrants be gathered and preserved where they can be catalogued and made available for research. The American Hungarian Foundation began this process some 20 years ago and is planning to support writing projects based on the Vasvary collection. Some ten years ago the U. of Minnesota established archives, now called the Immigrant History Research Center as part of its library resources to serve as a depository

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BOOKS (Continued)

Kiralyfalvi, Bela. THE AESTHETICS OF GYÖRGY LUKACS.

Princeton: Princeton U. Press, Princeton, N.J. 08540, 1975. 164 pages, $9.00 cloth.

Lukács (1885-1971) was one of the most influential, controversial, and prolific Marxist philosophersof ourtimes. This book examines only one set of his theories, those relevant to aesthetics. It is not a critical work, but a systematic analysis of Lukacs’ Marxist aesthetic system, intended mainly to make his writings better known to the English speaking reader. Most of his works are available only in German or Hungarian.

Lukács draws materials for illustration and critical analysis mostly from works of literature, especially from drama. This rather unbalanced approach is well reflected in this book, since the author himself has an avowed bias for drama. The study includes Lukacs’ theory on the origin of art and on the relationship of art to life, science, and religion, and his theory on artistic reflection and realism. Later chapters concern themselves with the distinction between allegory and symbolism in his theory of the language of art. Kiralyfalvi teaches drama at Wichita State U.

Matejko Alexander. SOCIAL CHANGE AND STARTIFICATION IN EASTERN EUROPE; AN INTERPRETIVE ANALYSIS OF POLAND AND HER NEIGHBORS. New York : Praeger, 111 Fourth Ave., New York, N Y. 10003 and 5, Cromwell Place, London SW7 2JL, England, 1974. 273 pages, tables, biblio. $18.50 cloth.

Although Hungary received marginal treatment in this volume, it might be of interest to Hungarian studies because of its broad contextual approach to issues, which are present in all East European countries even if in different forms. The avowed aim of the book is "to estimate... just how much real social and economic progress there has been in Eastern Europe and to what extent it is followed by egalitarianism.” The volume is divided into nine chapters dealing with (1) egalitarianism vs. elitism; (2) socioeconomic progress; (3) historical background of Poland’s shifting classes; (4) from peasant to socialized producer; (5) from unskilled laborer to blue collar worker; (6) from lower strata to the managerial establishment; (7) the intelligentsia as a cultural elite; (8) the white collar mosaic; and (9) potential for further change.

The author singled out Poland not only because of his personal background but also because hissociological fancy was caught by the fact that Poland “has the most influential intelligentsia, which took over from the gentry not only several elements of its social culture but also high sociopolitical aspirations.” He also realizes that “the actual configuration of power relations” is missing in most if not all sociological writings on Poland. He agrees with David Lane, that “inequality in ownership of property, political power, importance of the job, and home background - the obvious criteria for stratification - continue to exist under state socialism,” and he is trying to show the extent and its consequences. Dr. Matejko is Prof, of Sociology at the U. of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. (Continued on next page)

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NO. 8 1975 HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER