The popularity of sung poetry in communist-era Poland is a historical phenomenon. Trapped behind the Iron Curtain, Poland was mostly isolated from global trends. Strangely, isolation can sometimes do good for local culture. For example, Japan developed its most unique forms of art, such as traditional ukiyo-e graphics, Kabuki theatre and dance, during its isolation in the Tokugawa period. One has to admit, that communist Poland, grey and poor, gave birth to truly impressive art. Perhaps it was because of the forced ascetic of the era? Or the lack of consumer culture?
Or perhaps, it was due to government support. Artists didn’t have to appeal to the tastes of the masses, so they dared to experiment. But the audience was different too. Television, cabaret and music were all full of literary references. Some say, that this was unnatural and fake, that the mass audience was forced to alter its ‘natural’ tastes. The question then arises, is such a forced education worse than tastes created by the mass media resulting in ignorance, brutality and populism?
After ‘rejoining the free world’, Polish audiences fell in love with American pop culture and its own traditions were largely abandoned. The change was rapid and brutal. Demarczyk‘s poetic songs suddenly became too difficult, demanding and anachronic. In one of her last interviews, in 1998, she expressed her shock at why young people couldn’t read – and comprehend – the best Polish literature and poetry anymore, and relied on cheap summaries instead.