The power of Slavism, the power of a phantasm

Abstract

Article presents the phenomenon of the popularity of Slavic motifs in the latest Polish popular culture. Its aim is to show the changes in the approach to Slavism after 1989. The starting point is the concept of phantasmatic criticism by Maria Janion and a reflection on the contemporary change in the approach to the Romantic tradition in order to create new narratives about Polish identity, in which Slavism is understood as a phantasm which may be important. Therefore, in addition to the forms of historical writing, various types of fantasy work play an increasingly important role. Two positions are crucial: skeptical about the possibility of creating Slavic fantasy (Andrzej Sapkowski) and creative, inspired by Slavic heritage (Maria Janion). The article ends with a proposal to interpret the fashion for the Slavs in relation to research in the field of spectral theory.