OBSERVATOR CULTURAL - Spiritul critic in actiune

Lead article

 

Carmen Musat protests the continuing deterioration in the educational system that goes from bad to worse, a situation about which politicians have nothing to say—if they don’t happen to be running for office at the time.

 

Politics

 

Bedros Horasangian writes, it may be campaign time but local races are going forward under a dense cloud of perfect indifference.
Ciprian Ciucu says, the political animal is an invertebrate. Departing from the upright presidential posture, Traian Basescu stoops to support the Democratic Liberal Party in a movement that recalls former President Iliescu’s support for Adrian Nastase.
Ciprian Stanescu observes that Italian politics are of no interest to Romanian politicians, unless they can take an advantage of developing situations in local elections.
Raluca Nita discusses advantages and disadvantages of being a Romanian in Italy today.
Arina Petrovici looks at Russia’s new administrative structure. Vladimir Putin is still in command. Dmitri Medvedev implements the former President’s decisions.

 

Latest

 

Alexandru Sipa is amazed at the explosion of Romanian Jazz festivals this Spring. The 1st Green Hours International Fest took place in Bucharest (May 7-11). The Richard Oschanitzky Festival went on the boards in Iasi (May 9-11), and. EuropaFest enlivened Bucharest (May 7-13).

Mihai Fulger takes us to the 12th European Film Festival, which opened in Bucharest at Sala Palatului on May 8.

 

Profile Hannah Arendt

 

It’s thirty years since the death of Hannah Arendt and one hundred years since her birth. The Observer celebrates Arendt’s anniversaries with a series of articles on Arendt’s reception in Romania. Ruxandra Demetrescu writes the lead article. Michael Shafir reads The Origins of Totalitarianism (Originile totalitarismului, Bucharest: Humanitas, 2006). Iulia Deleanu comments on Hannah Arendt, Martin Heidegger – Letters 1925-1975 and Other Documents (Hannah Arendt, Martin Heidegger – Scrisori 1925-1975 si alte documente, Bucharest: Humanitas, 2007). Andrei Poama looks at Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil (Eichamnn in Ierusalim. Raport asupra banalitatii raului, Bucharest: Humanitas, 2007). Alex. Cistelecan reads The Human Condition (Conditia umana, Cluj: Idea Design & Print, 2007). Oliver Marchart analyzes Arendt’s concept of revolution.

 

Book reviews

 

Fanny Chartres reads Pierre Bayard’s Cum vorbim despre cartile pe care nu le-am citit (How We Talk About the Books We Haven’t Read, Iasi: Polirom, 2008).
Paul Cernat comments on Norman Manea’s Before the Break-Up: Talks with Saul Bellow: A Words & Images Project: the Jerusalem Literary Project (Iasi: Polirom, 2008).
Dana Pirvan-Jenaru presents The Exile’s Shelves: Dialogue with Leon Volovici (Iasi: Polirom, 2008).

 

Interview

 

Ovidiu Simonca interviews literary critic Leon Volovici, who emigrated in Israel in 1984 and lecturer at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

 

Arts

 

Theatre

 

Iulia Popovici attends the opening of Deadly Confession (Spovedanie la Tanacu), at Odeon Theatre on May 12. The world premiere took place at La MaMa in New York, October 2007.

 

Film

 

Valerian Sava talks with Thomas Ciulei and Magda Mihailescu about the New Wave in Romanian cinema.

 

Visual arts

 

Maria-Magdalena Crisan looks at Dinu Radulescu’s sculpture, on view at Simeza Gallery in Bucharest from April 25 through May 5.
Roxana Evanghelie reads a study of architect Alvaro Siza in the May issue of Igloo.
Mihai Plamadeala welcomes the Land Art work signed by artists Andrei Ciubotaru, Jan Eugen and Florin Ciubotaru, a statue of Saint George, placed in Naieni, Buzau.

 

Music

 

Florian Baiculescu admires clarinetist Aurelian Octav Popa in a concert at Alfred Alessandrescu Concert Studio on May 9.
Florin Sia welcomes the latest album signed Nick Cave & The Bad Seeders, Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!.