Arts paper by Papp, Susan M.
The Politics of Exclusion: The Hungarian Theatrical Arts and Film Arts Chamber, 1939-1945
Type of Abstract (select):Abstract (max. 250 words):
Hungarians have always been fascinated with storytelling through the art of film, the country has consistently produced generations of talented filmmakers. The first films were produced in Hungary around the turn-of-the-century and, from that point onwards, cinemas began to be built all over Budapest. By 1914, there were over 110 permanent cinemas, more than in many other major European capitals.
Each successive Hungarian government has tried to politicize, to regimentalize the film industry, in fact to mold the film industry to do the regime’s bidding. The inter-war government of Miklos Horthy tried to mold the film industry as well.
This paper will examine how the theatre and film community (both Christian and Jewish) were affected by the implementation of the Jewish laws. It will be examining the human cost of the losses within the film and theatre arts community through the prism of historical events and reactions: of the Jewish and Christian theatre and film community, of self-help organizations established to aid the unemployed, within the business of film itself, of government and institutional actions and reactions. This paper will examine the impact of the Jewish laws through examining the “micro” history of how Jewish and Christian actors, actresses, producers, directors and those involved in the film and theatre community were affected by these laws.
Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Susan M. Papp, Director/Producer, earned a Master of Arts in North American Social History at York University in Toronto in 1985. She began her career in journalism at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio Drama department in 1981 as a historical researcher. In 1988, Ms. Papp became a current affairs producer in the regional news department at the CBC. Susan Papp developed a profile and reputation as an on-camera current affairs reporter specializing in social issues for CBC TV. In 1991, she was chosen to work as field producer for The Journal, and its subsequent retitled version Prime Time News. While at the CBC, she was awarded two of the top journalism awards in Canada: The Michener Award and the Best Investigative Award by the Canadian Journalists Association.
In 1993, while on leave of absence from the BBC, Ms. Papp founded her own television production company, Postmodern Productions, and has since produced documentaries for CBC, BRAVO, WTN, Discovery Channel and OMNI Television. She has published extensively in the field of Hungarian immigration and settlement in North America. Presently, Ms. Papp teaches Hungarian Studies at the Munk School for Global Affairs at the University of Toronto.