Central-European Masculinities in a Comparative Perspective: International Symposium

The international symposium Central-European Masculinities in a Comparative Perspective, held on June 19–20, 2024, at CEFRES in Prague, was a pivotal event in the field of Critical Studies on Men and Masculinities. Organised under the Central-European Masculinities research project, this symposium brought together leading academic institutions across Central Europe: the Institute of Literary Studies at the University of Silesia in Katowice, the Department of Czech and Comparative Literature at Charles University, the Institute of Czech Literature at the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Polish Culture at the University of Warsaw, the Institute of Slovak Literature at the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the Center for Social Sciences – Sociology Institute, and the French Research Center in Humanities and Social Sciences (CEFRES, CNRS-MEAE). The event was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research through the PARCECO program. The symposium explored the construction and deconstruction of masculinities within historical and contemporary contexts in Central Europe. Interdisciplinary discussions emphasized the dynamic and contextual nature of masculinity, integrating local perspectives into the global academic discourse. Sessions covered a wide range of themes, from literary modernity to queer masculinities under state socialism, fostering a comprehensive dialogue among scholars. This review provides insights into the diverse presentations and their contributions to the understanding of masculinities in Central Europe.

In the first panel of the symposium, Modernity & Masculinity (1), Marcin Filipowicz, Ivana Taranenková and Michal Pitoňák presented insightful perspectives on the evolution of masculinities in Central and Eastern Europe. Marcin Filipowicz’s (Department of Western and Southern Slavonic Studies, University of Warsaw, ISZiP WP UW, University of Hradec Kralove, KČJL UHK) presentation at the symposium explored 19^th-century Czech masculinities, highlighting the interplay between gender, nationalism, and hegemony. He traced the evolution of Czech masculinity within the Habsburg Empire, emphasizing how nationalist movements shaped masculine ideals, while arguing against a simplistic Austrian-German dichotomy, presenting Czech masculinity as both resistant and participatory in response to Austrian hegemony. Ivana Taranenková’s (Institute of Slovak Literature, Slovak Academy of Sciences, ÚSL SAV) presentation focused on Slovak literature’s portrayal of masculinity from the 19^thcentury to the present. She analysed literary representations of father-son relationships and the portrayal of anti-heroes in post-communist narratives. Michal Pitoňák’s (National Institute of Mental Health, NÚDZ) presentation examined LGBT+ activism in Central and Eastern Europe, contextualizing it within the region’s socio-political history from the 1930s to contemporary Pride movements. Pitoňák analysed the impact of morality politics on LGBT+ rights, exploring societal attitudes and policy developments across different countries. His analysis of ontological insecurity underscored the complex intersections of masculinity, politics, and activism in the region.

 

For full review by Shana De Sousa (Sorbonne Nouvelle University), intern at CEFRES, just click here.