The interdisciplinary group gathers specialists from the fields of literature, music, visual arts (including theatre and cinematography, as well as architecture), history, sociology, etc., that analyze the place and role of culture along a turbulent historical period that is not sufficiently studied. It aims to discuss relevant aspects regarding the situation of culture (especially the Romanian one) during the last century.

First of all, the complicated relationship between culture/art and the political factor is envisaged, the way in which the authorities sought to achieve political and ideological objectives through cultural policies and the instrumentalisation of the cultural field. There were also various forms of contesting the official culture and resisting the „values” of a culture in service of the political power. These represent one of our major points of interest.

The group aims to revisit the near past, but also to prospect the present. In parallel with debates regarding recent history, we initiate and host events that bring the NEC public in contact with contemporary phenomena of the cultural life, through meetings with important representatives thereof, from within and outside the country. A privileged direction is that of the relationship between texts and representations, be it in the visual arts, music, theatre or film.

Events within the Project:

-Series of dialogues
People, Characters, Realities
Marius von Mayenburg in dialogue with Theodor-Cristian Popescu
13 June 2018, National Theatre Bucharest

Antonio Tabares in dialogue with Theodor-Cristian Popescu
23 November 2017, Cervantes Institute, Bucharest

Martin Crimp in dialogue with Theodor-Cristian Popescu
18 October 2017, New Europe College

-Roundtable discussion:
Literature from Text to Screen. Case Study: Max Blecher
31 March 2017, New Europe College

-Roundtable discussion
The Laboratory of Theatre Direction
17 March 2017, New Europe College

-Roundtable discussion
Culture in Murky Times
3 March 2017, New Europe College