Blog post 3

After exploring Hungary’s national identity and their Eurovision performances in my previous blog posts, I will explain how the two influence each other and make connections. In most cases, there is an alignment between a country’s identity and its “national brand” conveyed through Eurovision, but it depends on the history of the country. Like other Eurovision contestants, Hungary has held a national identity created by the people. However, since Hungary experienced oppression for a huge chunk of their history, they are put in an unusual position. Due to the events that unraveled between Hungary and Soviet Russia, it is difficult to connect Hungary’s past values to their modern performances, as the country was ostracized for years. Other Eurovision countries have a denser history because their people had equal rights, creating more opportunities for them to assert their identity. When looking back at the history of Eurovision, Hungary has struggled to put on a performance that relates to a dominant national identity. This is due to their restricted rights in the past, which eliminated the possibility of developing a clear national identity that others could identify. Although Hungarians were self-aware of their own national identity, it remained unrecognized since the Soviets had complete control over the country. The ability to outwardly express oneself was not an option for Hungarians, so their true values and beliefs could not be conveyed to the rest of Europe. 

Hungary remained a communist country for over 70 years, as I talked about in my first blog post. They were conquered by Soviet Russia and became the first communist state in Europe. Living “at the mercy” (“The Impact of Communism on Hungary”) of the Soviet conquerers and being stripped of their rights was enough to completely take away the voice of the people. Since the Soviets had so much power at the time, other countries could not do anything about it. Hungary had no other option but to sit in silence for years to come. As a result, Hungary became a minority group with a skewed national identity that did not represent the people accurately.

Experiencing oppression from the Soviets is something that still lingers with Hungarians today, and it is exemplified through their Eurovision performances, particularly in the lyrics. Communism in Hungary was discontinued in 1989, giving people equal rights and the chance to rebuild their country. Their first debut for Eurovision was in 1994, which opened a huge opportunity for Hungary. They had a chance to show others around the world what they stood for, since Eurovision gets millions of viewers every year. Hungary took advantage of their invitation to Eurovision and used it as a platform to build on their “national brand,” which would later illuminate their national identity. Now that they were independent from the Soviets, Hungary could resurrect their national identity and display their true values that once hid in the shadows.  

    This transition from being a conquered country where “free speech and individual liberty ceased to exist” (“The Impact of Communism on Hungary”) to becoming a united, progressive community is a key aspect when defining Hungary’s “national brand.” Unlike most participants, Hungary strives to reach beyond the shallow aspects of Eurovision that are influenced by western culture. In other words, they hope to disassociate themselves from the types of performances that appeal to the typical westerner. Since their first debut, Hungary has avoided songs that encourage sexism, inequality, or any form of propaganda. Their genuine, heartfelt performances are apart of their “intentional reframing as a liberal Western-leaning and their ‘return to Europe’ in the post- Communist era.” Hungary’s strategy in “branding” their nation is to dissociate themselves from their Soviet past and move forward, which creates a different kind of performance than the ones we are used to.

One performance that is a good example of Hungary’s mission towards their “national brand” is “What About My Dreams?” by Kati Wolf (see blog post 2 for full analysis). Not only is it a celebratory song for the people of Hungary, but it is a song of hope for achieving one’s dreams. The lyrics to this song are meant to appeal to Hungarians and people outside of Hungary. Lines such as, “Should I live all my life for only your cause?” and “Ten steps, a hundred steps distance / It does not matter where to go, just leave you away” can be interpreted as any kind of failing relationship with another due to their overbearing authority. Despite Hungary being left out of the picture for years in the past, they still have the ability to appeal to others through their lyrics. This conscious decision of choosing songs that people can relate to while tracing back to Hungarian history is one example of Hungary’s versatility in Eurovision. They still manage to impress the viewers of Eurovision despite staying clear of western influence. Rejecting the dominant western paradigm shows that the majority of Hungarians are down to earth and not materialistic, which is their exact attitude towards Eurovision. Although Hungary has not yet won the Grand Finals, they are a strong competitor during most years. Songs such as “Origo” by Joci Pápai and “Unsubstantial Blues” by Magdi Ruzsa have been awarded second place in the semi-finals.

  When looking at Hungary’s recent history, they have unfortunately been struggling in a different way. Since 2015, Hungary has been dealing with a huge refugee crisis. Although their Eurovision performances promote liberal, progressive values, “Hungary has recently been implementing strict laws around refugees, mostly due to the consensus of the people.” (Manevich, 2016) This statistic came to me as a surprise, mostly due to the assumption that the majority of Hungarians would support refugee rights. The fact that Hungary was more or less “trapped” by the Soviets for so many years automatically lead me to the assumption that they would not want to implement any strict laws on anyone, but this is not the case when it comes to refugees. “Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is well-known for his intolerance of refugees in Hungary, referring to them as ‘poison’ and ‘supporting campaign ads linking refugees to terrorism.’” (Manevich, 2016) 

Although I was able to draw a parallel between Hungary’s national identity and their attitude towards nation branding through Eurovision, I can confidently say that neither of these aspects are in relation to Hungary’s political context. The events that unraveled throughout Hungary’s history eventually lead to a sense of empowerment in their performances, which lead to success in Eurovision and highlighted their overlooked national identity. However, the current political affiliation among Hungarians does not add up with the messages they express in Eurovision, which mostly have to do with overcoming the Soviet conquerers and gaining independence. Hungary’s attempt in avoiding pop culture in their performances is due to the fact that they have experienced a tragedy that most other countries have not: being the victim of an overpowering army that is looking to conquer “weaker” territories. This quality of Hungary intrigues me, and despite my disagreement towards their politics, I look forward to watching Hungary perform in Eurovision for years to come.  

References

Hungary in the Eurovision Song Contest. (2018, March 13). Retrieved March 13, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungary_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest 

J., & Thomas, P. (1970, January 01) Enlighten: Theses. Retrieved March 13, 2018, from http://theses.gla.ac.uk/2972/ 

Manevich, D. (2016, September 30) Hungarians share Europe's embrace of democratic principles but are less tolerant of refugees, minorities. Retrieved January 30, 2018, from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/09/30/hungarians-share-europes-embrace-of-democratic-principles-but-are-less-tolerant-of-refugees-minorities/ 

The Impact of Communism on Hungary. (n.d.) Retrieved March 13, 2018, from http://osaarchivum.org/files/holdings/300/8/3/text/30-2-125.shtml

Wolf, Kati. (2011). What About My Dreams? (Hungary). Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Germany. Retrieved from https://eurovision.tv/

Hungary Eurovision Performances

To identify themes and values of a country, one often researches the country’s history such as their wars, politics, culture, or anything that shapes its identity. In this blog post, I will be taking a slightly different route, for my strategy of research is analyzing music performances from the Eurovision Song Contest. In my previous essay, my goal was to illustrate a parallel between the concept of national identity and Hungarian culture. Now I am examining more elements of Hungary’s identity by looking into three consecutive Eurovision performances. In this contest, countries throughout Europe compete for a chance to win the best performance of the year. On the surface, it may seem like flashy pop performances, but when further examined, countries often express recent political issues or conflict with other countries through their lyrics. There are numerous examples of European countries not getting along in the past, and some of the lyrics expressed in Eurovision show that these countries are still not on good terms. However, song lyrics in Eurovision are not always directed at historical events. Often they are songs about hope, pride, freedom, striving for change, love, and other progressive themes that are simply intended to give people joy. The slogan for the 2017 contest was “Celebrate Diversity,” which is another major value expressed in Eurovision. Whether the goal is to be racially diverse or musically diverse, Eurovision performers often strive to create a multi-cultural community that will intrigue viewers.  

When looking back at Hungary’s Eurovision performances, they have shown a variety of themes, covering topics from war and hatred to love and world peace. After taking a year off from Eurovision in 2010, Hungary returned to the contest in 2011, which was hosted in Germany. This performance marked Hungary’s ninth participation since 1994. The song was performed by Kati Wolf and was titled, “What About My Dreams?” The stage was set with a dark background that illuminated dark shades of blue as Wolf stood solo in the spotlight. She wore a light blue dress that was short like a skirt, but it was also loose-fit, the sleeves draping below her arms. The light and turquoise blue of her dress clashed with the dark blue setting, but she also wore a massive ring with diamonds that matched the background color. The verses of the song were ballad-like with high, delicate notes that complimented a soft piano. During the chorus, an electronic drum line is played over Wolf’s passionate voice that asks the question: what about my life? As she sings, dozens of different-colored light beams rotate around the stage while two backing singers dressed in white dance in sync. Throughout the song, Wolf is questioning a significant other that is holding her back from living the life she wants. In the first verse, she asks questions like, “Should I live all my life for only your cause?” and opens the chorus with: “What about my life? What about my dreams?” She is tired of putting the other person’s life in front of hers, and she’s realizing that self-care is more important than maintaining a relationship. The lines, “What could you say, what could I say, we've faded away / The sparkle in our eyes is gone” show that she used to love her significant other, but her feelings started to fade as time went by. She feels as thought she must pursue her dreams, but her partner holds her back, so she is choosing to let them go.

Although the lyrics to this song are not clearly attempting to express a political movement, they can be related to Hungary’s history with Communism, which I talked about in my first blog post. In the 1940’s, Hungary identified as a socialist republic (otherwise known as a communist state) up until 1989, where Communism was discontinued. They have been a Democratic country ever since, and Kati Wolf’s “What About My Dreams?” is a celebration of breaking free from someone’s control and becoming independent. Once Communism was abolished in Hungary, people no longer had to follow strict guidelines in order to make a living. Not only is it a celebratory song for the people of Hungary, but it is a song of hope for achieving one’s dreams. The lyrics to Hungary’s 2011 Eurovision song are more than just a dysfunctional romantic relationship; they are reminiscing on a positive day in Hungarian history. Although this song was performed 20 years after the fall of Communism, it sparks a feeling of empowerment and reminds Hungarians how they were able to overcome a controlling authority.   

In 2012, “Sound of our Hearts” by Compact Disco was Hungary’s song for Eurovision. The performance consisted of all-male band members. An electronic beat was played as the backing singers held various instruments. Neon lights flashed behind the stage as the singer built up the verse to a beat-dropping chorus. During the final chorus, the singer (along with the band members) walked down the center, which stretched far into the crowd. In this song, the singer is encouraging people to unite as a community and make a stand to create change. The first verse consists of the lyrics, “The whole world is just one place / You can say it’s all the same / You may feel hatred is sown / We can show it’s no way to go.” I interpreted these lyrics as an acknowledgment of our world’s flaws and learning how to move past them. The chorus contains the lyrics: “This is the sound of our hearts / This is a fever they can’t take away,” which seems to refer to a community or big group of people starting a movement that promotes love and demotes hate. The line, “Differences may not be wrong / They enrich the things that we know” demonstrates the value of open-mindedness towards those who are different. Having an open mind towards different people will allow people to learn new culture and values, leading to acceptance and equal treatment. 

On April 18, 2011, Hungary’s parliament approved a new constitution that promoted discrimination. The constitution contained provisions that prohibited women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people from having equal rights (“Hungary: New Constitution Enshrines Discrimination”). This lead to a lot of controversy; enough to the point where it was brought to the president’s attention, who at the time was Pál Schmitt. He eventually listened to the people and had further discussions with parliament, and the constitution was stripped of its discriminatory laws. When analyzing the song “Sound of our Hearts,” it is clear that the lyrics go against this constitution, or any racist/sexist values for that matter. Hungary’s 2012 performance was meant to give a voice for those who are or have been discriminated against, which can apply to Hungary itself and the rest of the world.

The third and final song I analyzed was titled “Kedvesem” and sung by ByeAlex. From the start of the performance, it is clear that the song is meant to soothe the listener, for the slow tempo and relaxed chord progression is pleasant to the ear. During the chorus, a female backing singer harmonized with the lead singer while a guitarist strummed softly. Throughout the song, various cartoons and animations appeared on the green-screen, giving the viewer a feeling of happiness and innocence. Although the song is not sung in English, I was able to investigate the lyrics. One significant line in the song is: “Say did you know she reaches around the globe / She plunges into the deep sea / Dancing up on top of clouds.” The singer seems to be referring to his lover, who is one with nature, as he describes. He talks about how she has experienced many different cultures, making her diverse and life-smart. The line, “I'm so glad I found

the one for me - the one for me / I’ll sing it loud / She’s all I need” shows that just his lover’s presence is enough to make him content. She appreciates the outdoors and is able to create a home out of what the earth provides, giving her simple and natural qualities that the singer finds attractive. This song was Hungary’s choice for Eurovision in 2013, and the message is to simply appreciate the things that are close to us. Whether it is your partner or the natural world itself, or the combination of the two, cherish the simple things in life that make us happy. 

Analyzing three consecutive Eurovision performances has given me an understanding of Hungary’s attitude towards diversity. After identifying themes within their lyrics and on-stage visuals, I concluded that having diverse performances from year to year is not a concern for Hungary. Each of their performances is similar to the previous one, promoting positive values such as achieving happiness or appreciating the simple things in life. There are many countries that attempt to shock the audience by putting on a powerful performance. A common strategy for Eurovision contestants is to surprise people by having emotional, dramatic lyrics, however Hungarian songs tend to stay consistent. Although their song choices do not meet the definition of “diverse,” Hungary has chosen many culturally diverse performers throughout the years. They have had performers like Kati Wolf, who fits the stereotypical appearance of a female singer: light-complected, tall, lean, and dressed in high fashion. On the other hand, they have also had performers like Alex Márta (ByeAlex), who is far from the stereotypical male singer when it comes to appearance. Márta’s awkward stage presence and rugged beanie gives the performance a much different vibe than Wolf’s flashy, exposing dress. Having several consecutive performances that contain diverse singers makes Hungary a heterogeneous country in regards to Eurovision. 

References

Eurovision Song Contest Lisbon 2018. (n.d.) Retrieved March 07, 2018, from https://eurovision.tv/
Hungarian People's Republic. (2018, February 20) Retrieved February 20, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_People%27s_Republic

Hungary: New Constitution Enshrines Discrimination. (2015, April 17). Retrieved February 20, 2018, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2011/04/19/hungary-new-constitution-enshrines-discrimination 

Pike, J. (n.d.). Military. Retrieved February 20, 2018, from https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/hu-history-30.htm

 

     

Hungary National Identity

Every country across the globe hopes to eventually create a national identity that sets them apart from other countries. Even in a massive continent like Europe, all 50 of its countries are made up of characteristics that make each of them unique. The word “nation” comes from common culture, religion, land, language, customs, and symbols discovered among a group of people that appeal to each other’s personality, physical appearance, and other qualities that people can relate to on the surface. Although a large, bordered area with a body of common people is referred to as a “country” and a “nation,” there is a significant difference between the two terms. A country refers to a state in which all citizens fall under the same government and rules. However, a nation is simply defined as a large community that is united through cultural identity. The word “nation” is not related to government status or law, for it only refers to the people, not the authorities. When a common group of people form a society that is comfortable for them, they will form a national identity to make them feel united as one. Setting a clear national identity takes time and is formed through the will of the people, for some nations’ identities are more identifiable than others.  

Forming a national identity can cause conflict between other nations, however. Although a group of people sharing common culture and values can be beautiful in itself, it tends to isolate those who proclaim a different identity. When a nearby nation or group is viewed as a threat, they are known as the “significant other.” Controversy is often started when nations with different culture butt heads, but in the end, each nation comes out with a stronger sense of how they want to represent themsevles. Humans usually associate conflict and war as a negative thing, but when it comes to establishing a national identity, these negative aspects may add to the transformation of a nation. In order for a nation to exist, there has to be another nation against it, and this has been exemplified numerous times through history.

In this blog post, I will be looking closely at the national identity of Hungary through history, examining the common values among the people and determining how the nation responded to its “significant other.” 

When looking back at Hungarian history, one aspect to note is the fact that it was a communist country for nearly 70 years. Hungary faced a huge turning point when forces against the government forced them to discontinue communism. Most Hungarians were seekers of opportunity and wanted to generate free thoughts that are not decided by the government. Also, the economy was dealing with inflation, which drastically affected those with fixed incomes and caused the whole country to fall into debt. At the time, Janos Kadar was Hungary’s leader, and he claimed that the higher prices in their economy were due to a downpayment for the NEM. The NEM was launched in 1968, where new “market-style reforms” (Wikipedia, pg. 1) were introduced in hopes to justify the income gap between wealthy, state-owned corporations and all smaller businesses. However, Kadar’s attempt to gain approval and continue communism failed. “The NEM roused more widespread opposition,” along with politicians who had previously supported communism but changed their mind when faced with an economic crisis. Eventually, Kadar was forced to give up and communism was put to rest. 

The people of Hungary were beginning to feel united due to a major change in their governmental system. A sense of national pride and brotherhood was among the majority of Hungarians, however, problems arose before a matter of time. By human nature, people find other people appealing due to their visual features and the way they express themselves verbally, emotionally, and spiritually. As these psychological tendencies are at play among numerous people, they begin to form a community in which they are bonded as one, while everyone else are viewed as “the others.” This is exactly what happened to Hungary after the revolution in 1989; the majority of their people formed an “in-group,” leading to the exclusion of those who did not posses similar qualities, forming several “out-groups.” Since the in-group is the majority of Hungarians, the out-groups are defined as minorities. Thus, the fall of communism in Hungary eventually lead to a united country on the surface, but when examined on a deeper level, one will begin to recognize the clear imbalance between social groups. Just like most other countries, Hungary’s national identity is not an accurate depiction of all their people. A national identity may allow the majority of people to feel united and safe, however, there are others who stand in silence unheard. 

As most neighboring European countries are aware of, Hungary is currently dealing with a huge refugee crisis. In previous years, Hungary has accepted numerous applications from migrants hoping to escape war. However, Hungary has recently been implementing strict laws around refugees, mostly due to the consensus of the people. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 82% of Hungarians agree with the statement, “Refugees are a burden because they take our jobs and social benefits” (pewresearch.org). Hungarians’ intolerance to immigrants do not represent the rest of Europe, because meanwhile, only 50% of the EU Median (excluding Hungary) agrees with the statement. 76% of Hungarians also believe that refugees are likely to perform acts of terrorism in their country, while the rest of the EU Median lingers at 59%. 69% of Hungarians will confidently say that immigrants coming from Serbia or Iraq area threat in general, and that they do not belong in Hungarian society. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is well-known for his intolerance of refugees in Hungary, referring to them as “poison” and “supporting campaign ads linking refugees to terrorism” (pewresearch.org). Also, when speaking to a Hungarian reporter while attending a Republican anti-terrorism march, Orbán exclaimed: “Economic immigration is a bad thing in Europe. It shouldn’t be seen as something that is of any use at all, because it just brings difficulty and danger to the European person. This is why immigration must be stopped. This is the Hungarian viewpoint” (theorangefiles.hu). 

Although refugees are statistically proven to do little to no harm to their country, Hungarians push aside others who come to their country to look for jobs and live a better life. This common belief among Hungarians contradicts their root values, since nearly the whole country strongly supports Democratic values. The intolerance of refugees is a result of the formation of an in-group; they have isolated an outside target who are viewed as a threat, therefore Hungarians refuse to provide a helping hand. Just like many other countries, one goal for Hungarians is to create a national identity that others look up to, however, due to their recent beliefs and strategies towards minorities, they are hurting their reputation.

References

1.) Örkény, A. (2005). Hungarian National Identity: Old and New Challenges. International Journal of Sociology, 35(4), 28-48. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20628748

2.) Manevich, D. (2016, September 30). Hungarians share Europe's embrace of democratic principles but are less tolerant of refugees, minorities. Retrieved January 30, 2018, from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/09/30/hungarians-share-europes-embrace-of-democratic-principles-but-are-less-tolerant-of-refugees-minorities/

3.) Notable Quotes: Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. (2017, February 25). Retrieved January 30, 2018, from https://theorangefiles.hu/notable-quotes-prime-minister-viktor-orban-by-subject/

4.) Vardy, N. A., Barany, G., Macartney, C. A., Berend, I. T., & Várdy, S. B. (2018, January 24). Hungary. Retrieved February 08, 2018, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Hungary#ref931239

5.) End of communism in Hungary (1989). (2018, February 01). Retrieved February 08, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_communism_in_Hungary_(1989)

Welcome

Hello and welcome all,

I am a freshman at Seattle University and I created this blog to focus on the Eurovision Song Contest in relation to the country of Hungary. I will be closely researching Hungary and connecting their culture to past Hungarian Eurovision performances. I hope to gain a new understanding of Hungary and Eurovision while sharing my learning experience with others.