Knowledge in the Shadow of Catastrophe

The volume offers the profound insights of the World War II generation with this extraordinary survey of Polish postwar humanities. The reader will encounter essays penned by eighteen luminous minds, including Bronisław Baczko, Michał Głowiński, Oskar Hansen, Maria Janion, Anna Pawełczyńska, Krzysztof Pomian, Władysław Strzemiński, and more. Their texts are canonical in disciplines such as art history, cultural studies, history, literary criticism, philosophy, and sociology. The book allows to dive into the depths of memory and mnemonic experience, exploring the multifaceted tapestry of human existence—its historical, political, public, private, and often traumatic dimensions. Traverse the realms of material and visual cultures, and embrace the self-deconstructive and self-critical gestures that electrify intellectual pursuits. The book offers a powerful dose of academic reflection that will leave you profoundly engaged and will resonate long after you turn the final page.