Tuesday, May 12 | 6:00 PM | KINOTEKA 4
Discussion: Banned Books. Freedom of Speech in Times of Authoritarianism
after the screening of THE LIBRARIANS, dir. Kim A. Snyder
[Partner: Polski PEN Club, Literatura Zakazana]
In the opinion of those in power, a banned book is one that must not be read. Nor may it be published, sold or made available in libraries. Such books are often made available on condition that their content is censored. In the twenty-first century, freedom of expression, one of the fundamental human rights, continues to be restricted and faces numerous threats worldwide. Authoritarian governments are growing in strength, and books are being banned and censored even in societies that were, until recently, open. Also in Europe, libraries and schools – the bastions of democracy – are subject to pressure from governments and ideologies. In our discussion, we will reflect on how the American reality presented in the film ‘The Librarians’ and the situation in Belarus, a country geographically closer to us, threaten freedom of speech and access to literature in Europe and Poland.
Guests:
Dra Agnieszka Graff is a Polish writer, translator and journalist associated with the feminist movement, a literary scholar, holder of a postdoctoral degree in the humanities, and a professor at the American Studies Center, University of Warsaw. Author of the widely discussed book Świat bez kobiet (A World Without Women).
Taciana Niadbaj is a Belarusian poet, translator and human rights activist. Chair of the Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House and Chair of the Board of Belarusian PEN. She graduated from the Faculty of Philology at Belarusian State University, obtained her master’s degree from the European University of Humanities, and undertook postgraduate studies at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.
The discussion will be moderated by Justyna Czechowska, a literary translator, board member of the Polish PEN Club, and initiator of the “Banned Literature” campaign.
