Janusz Szpotański, (pen names Władysław Gnomacki, Aleksander Oniegow; 12 January 1929 in Warsaw – 13 October 2001 in Warsaw), was a Polish poet, satirist, critic, translator, literary theorist and chess player (a three times chess champion of Warsaw, he also held a nationwide title of Master).
Janusz Szpotański
He was the creator of satirical tragi-comedic poems which ridiculed the communist government of Poland. These works were often written in an absurdist, grotesque style, and specifically lampooned prominent members of the Polish communist party, as well as the general "low life" mentality of the average Communist Party member.
He is best known for creating the character of "Towarzysz Szmaciak" (literally: Comrade Dishrag, but idiomaticallyComrade Cretin or Comrade Scumbag) - an uneducated, dull, cynical, sadistic, anti-semitic and stupid individual who supported the communist party out of opportunistic, not ideological motives. The metaphor of a "dishrag" alludes to the fact that individuals of this kind, while forming the support base of communism in Poland at the time, where considered useful by the party elite (much like a dishrag is necessary to clean up dirt) but at the same time despised by them (since the dishrag itself is dirty). For ridiculing Władysław Gomułka in his poem "Cisi i gęgacze" (The Silent and the Blabbers) he was arrested in 1967 and in 1968 sentenced to three years in prison on the charge of "spreading information harmful to the interests of state". During the March events of 1968, Gomułka referred to him in several of his official speeches, calling him "a man with a mentality of a pimp" and referring to his work as "reactionary doggerel" which "breathed with poisonous sadistic venom against our (communist) authority".[1]
janusz, szpotański, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, june, 2020, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, . This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations June 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Janusz Szpotanski pen names Wladyslaw Gnomacki Aleksander Oniegow 12 January 1929 in Warsaw 13 October 2001 in Warsaw was a Polish poet satirist critic translator literary theorist and chess player a three times chess champion of Warsaw he also held a nationwide title of Master Janusz SzpotanskiHe was the creator of satirical tragi comedic poems which ridiculed the communist government of Poland These works were often written in an absurdist grotesque style and specifically lampooned prominent members of the Polish communist party as well as the general low life mentality of the average Communist Party member He is best known for creating the character of Towarzysz Szmaciak literally Comrade Dishrag but idiomatically Comrade Cretin or Comrade Scumbag an uneducated dull cynical sadistic anti semitic and stupid individual who supported the communist party out of opportunistic not ideological motives The metaphor of a dishrag alludes to the fact that individuals of this kind while forming the support base of communism in Poland at the time where considered useful by the party elite much like a dishrag is necessary to clean up dirt but at the same time despised by them since the dishrag itself is dirty For ridiculing Wladyslaw Gomulka in his poem Cisi i gegacze The Silent and the Blabbers he was arrested in 1967 and in 1968 sentenced to three years in prison on the charge of spreading information harmful to the interests of state During the March events of 1968 Gomulka referred to him in several of his official speeches calling him a man with a mentality of a pimp and referring to his work as reactionary doggerel which breathed with poisonous sadistic venom against our communist authority 1 Szpotanski was a member of the Stowarzyszenie Pisarzy Polskich Union of Polish Writers On 23 September 2006 he was posthumously awarded the Polonia Restituta Commander s Cross by President of Poland Lech Kaczynski Works editCisi i gegacze czyli bal u prezydenta 1964 Targowica czyli opera Gnoma poswiecona obchodom milenijnym 1966 Ballada o cudzie na Woli W Warszawie na Woli ukazal sie duch Bieruta i sprzedawal kielbase po 26 zl za kilo 1966 Lament Wysokiego Dygnitarza 1966 Ballada o Lupaszcze 1968 Rozmowa z Kartoflami 1968 Gnomiada 1976 Caryca i Zwierciadlo 1974 Towarzysz Szmaciak 1977 Szmaciak w Mundurze Czyli Wojna Pcimska 1983 Sen Towarzysza Szmaciaka 1984 Bania w Paryzu Unfinished 1974 1979References edit March 68 in Krakow Institute of National Remembrance IPN Retrieved June 7 2012 Dziennik Teatralny Zmarl Janusz Szpotanski 10 5 2001 1 Antoni Libera ed Janusz Szpotanski Fragmenty nienapisanej biografii Janusz Szpotanski Fragments of an unwritten biography 2 Janusz Szpotanski Utwory Zebrane Collected Works 3 Archived 2009 04 19 at the Wayback Machine nbsp nbsp nbsp This article about a Polish writer or poet is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp nbsp nbsp This biographical article relating to a Polish chess figure is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Janusz Szpotanski amp oldid 1192355970, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
