(Smiling) Laughter of a Woman. Comedy and Emancipation in the Songs of Agnieszka Osiecka Cover Image

(U)śmiechy kobiet. Komizm a emancypacja w piosenkach Agnieszki Osieckiej
(Smiling) Laughter of a Woman. Comedy and Emancipation in the Songs of Agnieszka Osiecka

Author(s): Kamil Trybek
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Music, Polish Literature, History of Art
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: Agnieszka Osiecka; history of Polish music; song studies; literature and emancipation; comedy; models of womanhood; culture in Polish People’s Republic;

Summary/Abstract: The article interprets the oeuvre of Agnieszka Osiecka in the context of communist aesthetics and the feminist theory. Analyzed were the songs Damą być (To Be a Lady), Nie ma jak pompa (There Is Nothing Like Splendour) oraz Sztuczny miód (Artificial Honey). The author recognises them as songs of emancipatory character. Research tools constructed by Bohdan Dziemidok were introduced and combined with the theses developed by Henri Bergson, while being focused on the communal dimension of laughter. Amongst all the feminist theoreticians, Hélène Cixous proved to be most inspiring. With their help the constructing methods used by the poet that support the emancipatory efforts of women fighting for their decision-making rights and independence during communist times were characterised. The analysis is supplemented by interpreting the performances of Osiecka’s songs as well as alluding to the theory from the area of song studies.

  • Issue Year: 20/2023
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 159-173
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Polish