For The Political Apparatus and For The Masses – Models of Presenting Celebrations in Polish Film Newsreel Cover Image

Dla aparatu i dla mas – modele prezentowania święta w Polskiej Kronice Filmowej
For The Political Apparatus and For The Masses – Models of Presenting Celebrations in Polish Film Newsreel

Author(s): Marek Kosma Cieśliński
Subject(s): Film / Cinema / Cinematography
Published by: Instytut Sztuki Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: Polish Film Newsreel;Polish People Republic

Summary/Abstract: The calendar of social, historical and religious holidays was very rich in Polish People’s Republic and the frequency of appearing of the material about these events in the mass media was subject to dynamic changes depending on the political situation. In the entire output of the weekly Polish Film Chronicle, there are visible periods of increased presence of celebrations in the public landscape (Stalinism, propaganda of success) and typical technical means and aesthetic measures (monothematic editions, film tape selection, duration) used by operators to create and show festivities – with different results. The abundance of various holiday events on film, sometimes with little real social response (the Steelworker’s Day, Civic Militia Day), was a tool for shaping social attitudes, and the very presence of Polish Film Chronicle cameras was part of these ceremonies. The poetics of reports on celebrations, however, changed many times, with varying intensity and sometimes it disappeared altogether.

  • Issue Year: 2017
  • Issue No: 100
  • Page Range: 55-66
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish