Cultural Studies paper by Szélpál, Lívia Klára
The Impact of the Csokonai Kör and the Dugonics Társaság on Debrecen's and Szeged's Urban Images in the Light of the US Associational Culture in the 19th Century (Accepted)
Type of Abstract (select):Abstract (max. 250 words):
This presentation focuses on Debrecen's and Szeged's social life via the work of local literary associations. Moreover, it investigates their identity-forming role and their influence upon the urban identity and image of the cities respectively. The literary associations, the Csokonai Kör [Csokonai Circle] in Debrecen and the Dugonics Társaság [Dugonics Association] in Szeged played a crucial role in the formative period of urbanization in the 19th Century. The emergence and formation of local associations presuppose a conscious need for the citizens to express their freedom and self-identification within the society. They fostered the modern image of these cities in the Hungarian countryside. Local associations provided public spaces where people could meet, identify, and freely discuss common social problems; and, through that discussion, influence political action. These associations cultivated good relations and horizontal ties with other Hungarian literary societies and followed the latest news worldwide through their correspondences. The other aim of my paper is to scrutinize the 19th Century US associational culture and its impact on the urban identity and community formation from a transnational historical point of view. The local voluntary associations provided a "second home" for migrants, contributing to the local elite formation and strengthening its members' solidarity. My presentation aims to give an asymmetrical comparison of the 19th Century Hungarian and American Associational cultures and look for possible relations.
Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Lívia Szélpál is a senior lecturer at the Institute of English Studies, University of Pécs (PTE), where she teaches American History, Literature, and Culture. She completed her MA in American Studies (2004) and History (2005) at the University of Szeged (SZTE) and earned a Ph.D. in Comparative History at the Central European University in 2013. E-mail: szelpal.livia@pte.hu