“Turning Against Time”. Alternative Stories and Model Visions of Historical Past on the Example of Selected Polish Comic Books from the Period of the Polish People’s Republic Cover Image

"Obrócić się przeciw czasowi". Opowieści alternatywne a wzorcowe wizje przeszłości historycznej na przykładzie wybranych komiksów polskich okresu PRL-u
“Turning Against Time”. Alternative Stories and Model Visions of Historical Past on the Example of Selected Polish Comic Books from the Period of the Polish People’s Republic

Author(s): Marcin Jaworski
Subject(s): Studies of Literature
Published by: Ośrodek Badawczy Facta Ficta
Keywords: alternate history; counterfactuality; comic books; Polish People’s Republic; propaganda

Summary/Abstract: In the Polish People’s Republic popular culture was supposed to fulfil propagandist and educational functions for young audience. The aim of films, novels, and comic books produced at that time was to convey the content deemed important by the authorities in the most accessible way. The multitude of threads in which the above-mentioned narratives abounded oscillated around one fundamental subject. The idea was to legitimise the power installed in Poland after World War II by promoting a new vision of Poland’s historical past. According to it, USSR was not only Poland’s most important ally, but also its liberator. From this narrative one could draw a “logical” conclusion about the “naturalness” of such an alliance. The aim of the article is to draw attention to these comics written in the Polish People’s Republic, whose authors went beyond the official vision of the past and rebelled against the one-dimensional narrative promoted by the authorities.

  • Issue Year: 60/2019
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 127-148
  • Page Count: 22
  • Language: Polish