Tokarczuk na UMCS tworzy nową definicję kultury? “Akt nieposłuszeństwa przeciwko uporowi autorytetów”. “Lęk kolonizuje nasze umysły”

Tokarczuk na UMCS tworzy nową definicję kultury? “Akt nieposłuszeństwa przeciwko uporowi autorytetów”. “Lęk kolonizuje nasze umysły”

**Tokarczuk at UMCS: Creating a New Definition of Culture – “An Act of Disobedience Against the Persistence of Authorities”**

Polish author Olga Tokarczuk, known for her profound insights into society and culture, has recently made waves with a thought-provoking speech at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS). In her remarks, she proposed a bold new definition of culture, which she described as “an act of disobedience against the persistence of authorities,” challenging the traditional frameworks that have long dictated cultural norms.

Tokarczuk’s speech, which resonated deeply with students and academics, was a call to reconsider how culture is defined and engaged with in contemporary society. In her view, culture should not be a passive product of power structures or historical legacies but rather an active, rebellious force that questions and reshapes societal norms. She highlighted how the persistence of cultural authorities – whether political, religious, or academic – often stifles creativity and the diverse expression of identities, voices, and ideas.

“Culture should be something that challenges the established order, not merely reflects it,” Tokarczuk argued. “It must be an act of resistance, an active act of disobedience against the persistence of authorities that seek to control and limit it.”

At the heart of Tokarczuk’s philosophy is the idea that culture has the power to disrupt, to transform, and to liberate minds from the constraints imposed by dominant ideologies. She spoke of a “culture of fear,” describing how fear, particularly colonial fear, continues to dominate the minds of individuals and communities across the globe. “Fear colonizes our minds,” she said, referring to the way societal anxieties – about power, identity, and change – prevent people from fully embracing cultural diversity and creative freedoms.

Tokarczuk’s words seem to be an urgent call to break free from the mental constraints imposed by colonial histories and the lingering effects of authoritarian ideologies. Her critique touches on the idea that the “colonization” of the mind prevents individuals from imagining new futures or creating art that is unbounded by past prejudices.

Throughout her lecture, Tokarczuk drew parallels between the colonial past and present, illustrating how the legacy of colonialism is not only a historical event but an ongoing process that affects how individuals from marginalized cultures are perceived and represented. In her eyes, confronting this colonial legacy is essential to fostering a more inclusive, vibrant cultural environment that allows for true creative freedom.

Her speech was not only an academic reflection but also a clarion call to action. Tokarczuk encouraged young people and artists to embrace their own disobedience and rebellion against established norms. She emphasized the importance of fostering a culture that encourages questioning and intellectual freedom, where creativity can flourish without the pressure to conform to traditional definitions of what culture should be.

Tokarczuk’s new definition of culture as an “act of disobedience” is a radical rethinking of cultural engagement, one that challenges the structures of authority and encourages people to step outside of restrictive conventions. Her work has long been centered around themes of identity, otherness, and the complexities of human experience, and this lecture further solidifies her reputation as a leading voice in contemporary cultural criticism.

As the lecture at UMCS made clear, Tokarczuk’s approach to culture is not merely theoretical – it is a call for action, a plea to reimagine a world where fear no longer controls our minds, and where culture is a force for liberation and creative expression.