6533b837fe1ef96bd12a34e6

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Vom Kosmopoliten zum Kosmo-Polen. Zur transkulturellen Identität Artur Beckers an Hand seines essayistischen Werks

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This paper focuses on essays of Artur Becker, an author of Polish origin who writes mostly in German. Using his newspaper articles and recently published collection of essays: Kosmopolen, the author of this paper tries to outline a m odern transcultural identity. The starting point for further analysis is how the writer is perceived in the public sphere, and his attitude to his m other tongue (Polish) and literary language (German). In the context of growing importance of the so-called intercultural literaturę in the German-speaking area - from the niche position of the Gastarbeiter literaturę to the media resonance of works by authors who were awarded the Adelbert von Chamisso Prize -, Artur Becker occupies a significant place in the polysystem of German-written literaturę. The paper then analyses the presence of the writer in the media from the perspective of transculturalism and transnationalism. In his most recent texts, the author takes a position regarding current internal problems of Poland and Germany, describes his personal experience and memories, and reviews the latest publications of other Polish authors. Taking the attitude of an outside observer who, at the same time, has insight into internal matters, Becker seems to claim the right to speak using the objective voice of reason. In contrast to his literary works written only in German sińce 1989, the author has recently begun to publish his essays also in Polish, noting the fact of changing the language as an im portant event. Finally, the paper reconstructs the term ‘Kosmopolen’ developed by Becker that, in his opinion, means, in principle, a certain open, free and cross-border attitude of life and, at the same time, a space independent of the current place of residence or national identity. The intercultural issues included in the collection of essays are presented in this context.