Ciało narodu. Przypadek cyrkowego siłacza Zyszego Breitbarta

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Ciało narodu. Przypadek cyrkowego siłacza Zyszego Breitbarta

Journal Title: Kultura Popularna - Year 2016, Vol 1, Issue 47

Abstract

The article deals with issues related to the history of the circus in Ordynacka Street in Warsaw, a place that constituted an important spot on the map of Warsaw’s entertainment in the Interwar Period. The question of the Polish circus is investigated in the context of a broader phenomenon of the popularity of circus in 1920s – 1930s, interest which stemmed from the fascination with slogans heralding back‑to‑the‑basics, the beginning of culture and ‘death of the West’. In the discourse of the period, an idea of the art of the ‘young’ Polish state emerges together with the fascination with that which is culturally and racially alien, the Other. In the second part, chosen events from the biography of a circus strongman, Zishe Breitbart, are presented. Breibert was renowned as the ‘king of iron’ in the 1920s. The biography of his circus career shows how inspiring becomes the research of the circus in the context of cultural transfer theory. Breibert used the subvertive potential of circus, his own position as an icon of pop culture, the status of a nomad who performed all over the world, and finally the space of his own body to play with the external hierarchies and social and cultural codes.<br/><br/>

Authors and Affiliations

Sylwia Siedlecka

Keywords

Zishe Breitbart circus Zionism Jewish culture symbolic type superhero

EP ID EP80298
DOI 10.5604/16448340.1219690
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