Maska journal

Immaterial Extensions of the Material

Oh yes, it smells of the good old reading society times. The message addressed to the broader public by the zealous protesters is odd. Or, more precisely, it is paradoxical. The united artists, cultural workers and their followers, the signatories of the petition, fought for the preservation of the Ministry of Culture while knowing full well that this very ministry – not only as a public service, but also strategically and operatively – had failed on all fronts under the last two governments.

As we know, the united trade union/guild interest group with the fossil name KOKS has failed. The new government did not give a hoot about its demand to preserve the independent Ministry of Culture, which has now become part of a super ministry that will deal with education, science, sport, culture, youth and the media. The government adhered to the coalition agreement, which is understandable. It would have been very strange, indeed, if they had capitulated on this point – a symbolic point of disagreement.