Authors

Géza Balázs

Jókai’s drama of the Hungarian conquest period, Levente

10.56044/UA.2025.2.2.eng Full text in PDF Abstract The five-act dramatic poem Levente by Mór Jókai is centred on the death of Árpád’s four adult sons in the ethnic clashes of the Hungarian Conquest Period. The work was written to mark the millennium of the Hungarian Landtaking, or Conquest, and although the National Theatre announced its premiere several times in 1898, and even prepared a musical version, it was never performed there or on any other stage. Reading the text from today’s perspective, its performance could at best be imagined as a Gesamtkunstwerk of “poetic theatre.” As in all his works, Jókai also indulged in linguistic antiquities. Levente thus remained a book drama for those interested in linguistic archaisms. This study also covers the afterlife of the dramatic poem. Keywords: Mór Jókai, Levente, historical dramatic poem, linguistic archaisation, language of the Hungarian Conquest Period, medial transformations

Review of Ildikó Tamás:

Full text in PDF

The Ancient Genres of Verbal Art

10.56044/UA.2022.1.1.eng FULL TEXT PDF Abstract According to fundamental scientific principles, simple forms develop into complex ones, with the rare exception of regression. In metaphysics, however, evolution and involution are seen as being in unity, with complex forms developing into simple ones. At any rate (as far as we can see into the past), we might presume basic elementary, primary, simple, artistic, and linguistic typological forms that can be linked with basic cognitive forms. According to art theory, in the beginning there was ancient syncretism, which was dominated by undivided liquid ancient forms. Psychoanalysts and myth researchers speak of ancient language, ancient picture language. Folklorists list blessings, curses, and oaths, as well as work songs, among the primary genres. I present three basic genres as an example: cradle songs, dance words and laments. Their common characteristics are sung lyrics and speech-like melodies (parlando). Further instinctive behaviours that receive little attention include: outbursts, impulsive shouting, cursing, mumbling, sighing, pleading, and prayer, as well as sexual intercourse, giving birth, euphoric speech (under the influence of alcohol or narcotics), aphasia, and speech degraded by old age. Instinctiveness is clearly reflected by rhythmic counting or scribbling. Keywords: simple forms, ancient syncretism, ancient language, ancient picture language, formulae, cradle songs, dance words, lamentations, instinctive behaviours

The Birth of the Language of Art

10.56044/UA.2021.1.1.eng FULL TEXT PFD Abstract Language is not merely a vehicle for communicating thoughts. Indeed, it has always been an art medium in itself; mimesis: a form of social, creative activity, bringing joy to those who use it. Art and language are also intertwined on a variety of other planes. The concept underlying the connection between the two is no longer visible. It has been hidden by the passing of time, but deduction may shed light on it. Artistic and linguistic activities represent man’s most characteristic attribute, making us who we are. In a structural, functional, and metaphysical approach to art and language one can presume a close ontological (or anthropological) link between the two. The following phenomena all merit particular attention in the parallel evolution of art and language: ancient, undifferentiated forms of awareness, syncretism, ancient folklore, and basic forms, in which abstraction may already be observed. Art and language rely on the transfer of meaning, that is, the transfer of the meaning of concrete, specific signs to other referents by way of abstraction. The original syncretism is moved by fundamental processes and instinctive connections, such as rhythm, repetition, indexicality and iconicity. Language comprises movement, tune, song, and image. Isomorphy facilitates interoperability between phenomena, resulting in a cultural evolution based on biological evolution, involving accelerations and leaps, as in the process of evolution. Abstraction enables man to exercise dual encoding and create secondary modelling systems, generating an endless series of new forms of awareness. Keywords: art and language, anthropological connection, mimesis, sycnretism, ancient folklore, abstraction, repetition, rhythm, isomorphy, secondary modelling systems

The Dramatic Language of Csokonai

10.56044/UA.2023.2.1.eng Full text in PDF Abstract The language of Mihály Csokonai Vitéz’s plays is complicated by a number of allusions, most of which can only be understood in the period in which they were written; this also poses a serious interpretative challenge for the staging. The poet tries to help with explanations in footnotes (e.g. folk custom, regional word, word for language reform, foreign word, scientific notion, geographical name). All of this provides a wealth of cultural history benefits, and the poet regularly refers to these in his notes, while others must be investigated by us, the descendants (this Dorottya analysis provides a few examples). The uniqueness of Csokonai’s style, its modernity and its validity to this day, is manifested in: the playful, joyful lightness of the Rococo; its folkloricism; its folk humour (outspokenness), its treatment of taboo subjects (emancipation, sexuality); its support for national feeling and language reform. Csokonai’s drama poetry language is colourful and varied. Keywords: Mihály Csokonai Vitéz, Dorottya, comic epic, folkloricism, folk humour, language reform

For the preservation of the Hungarian race, its social welfare and successful future, the only path is through outstanding education and research…

The leadership of the University of Theatre and Film Arts, in harmony with the goals set down in its founding document in the course of the university system’s restructuring, is committed to raising interest in the institution’s students, instructors and researchers by achieving and promoting results, both artistic and scholarly, that showcase the values of universal and natural culture. With the establishment of the peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal Urania, released each semester and made readily available, the time has come for our colleagues to make their artistic and scholastic statements public on their own published platform – as it is done at similar universities. The goal of the journal is to fill a central role in bringing to light research and publications that integrate theatre, film and media studies within the country and internationally.

As we wish to provide a forum for the authors, our paramount goal is to strengthen, in our country’s scholarly community, the existence of a dialogue in scholarly and artistic areas that defines our national culture. Moreover, by these means, we wish to offer our readers alternatives to prejudices and ingrained ideas related to these themes.