Journals Showcase (Witryna Czasopism.pl)

It is a characteristic principle of human yearning that the further the object of desire is, the more we long for it. The deeper it is hidden in a labyrinth of the world, the more search-worthy it gets. Every urge is pure power. The object of desire, if it is not non-existence, doesn't exist. It is then a feature of perfect desire to reject short-term substitutions. We don't need half-measures, we have already got quarter-measures. Namely, a broadband connection, microphone and webcam, or in a simplified version – participation in a discussion forum.

An essential characteristic of Baczewski’s writing style – it seems to me – is the ability to use aphorisms and golden proverbs. What’s more – such sentences come to him with unparalleled ease. Some short pieces, or the excellent though not easy essay War and Beauty (Wojna i piękno) give the impression of being constructed exclusively of bon mots and thoughts if not lofty, then certainly very important. Baczewski, with a rarely seen skill, moves from one aspect to another, from a generalization to a surprising, witty point.

Silesia likes is to remember. It likes reminiscing, living partially in the past (an evidence in favour of that is the fact that the local dialect did not become a relic of the past, but it lives, develops and is generally doing well). “Silesia” (issue no. 6/2008) also does not shun remembering. This time, the magazine reminisced, among other things, Gustaw Holoubek`s years of activity in Katowice. Hardly anyone remembers that such did exist. Totally erroneously, as Gustaw Holoubek spent as many as seven years in Katowice and worked there very hard and actively, encouraged by the Silesian work ethic.

The last issue of the photographic magazine “Camera Obscura” [1 (7) 2008] was entirely devoted to Jerzy Busza (1947-1997), a poet and an eminent art critic. He was the author of significant to the theory of photography books: About Photography, About Photographers, About Photography Receivers. An exhibition entitled “Random in Radom” and organized in Radom to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the artist’s death became a pretext for releasing this monographic issue. First two articles published in the magazine concern the above-mentioned exhibit, the main part of the issue includes Jerzy Busza’s private letters to Sławomir Magala; the final text (The Multiple Faces of Busza) written by Jerzy Busza himself is also well-worth reading.