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5/1/1991 - Vladimir Rencin: “I See the Bohemian Lion” by Derek Paton

N OT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUTWRITER SCONSENT INSTITUTEOFCURRENTWORLDAFFAIRS DBP Mr Peter Bird Martin ICWA West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 USA May Vladirnfr Rennin I See Bohemian Lion Dear Peter Of dozen known cartoonists working Czech Vladimfr Rennin Ren cheen perhaps I first postcards I bought In first ICWA newsletter I three cartoons In I sending dozen They among originally intended published after revolution AFrench firmwas interested inpublishingthem French When I Vladirnfr Rennin February worried French wouldn understand jokes translated concept would publishing But Czechs appreciate Renfn humor He example illustrated least three books German author IBM Germany published calendar Renfn computer oriented humor He regularly draws cartoons related science especially computers relation In addition Czech papers Lidov6 noviny weekly Mlad magazine which contributing years Rennin illustrates US Bulletin Atomic Scientists British New Scientist German newspaper Die Zeit years journals GEO Bild Wissenschaft which color every Germans published exclusively Renfn drawings Renfn Beautiful New World Derek Paton Fellow Institute studying culture Czechoslovakia Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young adults outside United States write about international areas issues Endowed helateCharlesR Crane theInstituteisalsosupportedbycontributionsfromlike nlindedindividualsand foundations Words nevertheless important ReniSfn In insists written cartoons depersonalized visually drawing I think anyone wants understand Czechs insight these cartoons They Czech still Vladimtr Renin Since childhood living Hradec Krilovr inhabitants couple hours drive north Prague Rennin prefers Hradec daughter His parents around comer One reasom stopped doing front cartoon Lidov6 noviny because cartoons Prague after editors requested ideas longer relevant The therefore excellent Prague cartoon Vladimfl Jfl Slovak Fedor Vico When Renin leave usually cottage moumains He larger studio there library books found during years foraging secondhand bookstores Rennin loves literature 1960s extensive writing theater Hradec Krfdov6 offered chance write libretto The Most Beautiful War Much Renfn surprise musical played several towns Prague ABC Theater shows About years began lithographs which combined cartoons illustrate novel angling Ota Pavel project desired because theme author Rennin animated series television The Animals Mr Krbec It bitterly February morning I Hradec Kralovr there heating whole The elderl woman riding beside mumbled indignation discomfort hollered driver Can thing madame driver interrupting conversation friend leaning driver Can What nonsense Can Out order madame Then fixed Don parts madame replied driver matter Humph At these prices hissed mined window Abit later I briefcase pulled books Ren6fn cartoons I bringing autographed When I began chuckle jokes woman looked corner never reaction She minority I thought I interview magazine Mlad V R Vlastni rukou Rudolf Kfegt which among other things describes RenfSn theTown Hall galleryonOldTown Square Atotal 000peoplecame The visitors books these shows great reading Ren6in He learned One woman mentioned sworkassessment Onthedoorofher officeshehadstuckoneofmycartoons which character other Try stupid going government office Can Her wrote appraisal performance cartoon posted Makes light organization Ren6fn close relationship readers admirers respond creative unusual Before New Year I published cartoon which Dlabgt6ek calls countryside I drink people exception Rambousek crowns After several weeks letters began crown bills All letters Rambouseks different corners Czechoslovakia The content letter roughly effect I enter clean slate It taste return money sometimes return address missing I spent money drank honor Rambouseks demonstrated their individual sense humor Rennin described another reaction reader A cartoon historical battle printed In middle slaughter steps calls Today sluckynumbersinthelotteryare5 and41 Awomanfrom Kladno mining close Prague actually those numbers Sports Lotto crowns which average month But because developed taste wrote I numbers where humor possibilities When I reached Hradec Kr Rennin cartoons ected coffee table After sorting through I chose following dozen Each cartoon easily conjures I translated arranged cartoons order corresponds three chronological stages recent events The first cartoons people quietly before November ruling Communists Soviets Communist ideology The scenes Czechoslovakia The middle women weighed their nylon sacks groceries typical victims various items public transport which dearly leaves shoppers brings farther ideals beauty plastered billboards sculptural decoration nouveau buildings Ren6in draws scenes Czech consumerism Westerners normally associate satellite dishes foreign televisions foreign other trappings Communism these trappings uncommon Czechoslovakia before November The getting these goodies however quite uncommon frequently snide comments suspicious fellow citizens Sometimes comments based notion betrayal Communist ideals hypocrisy pettiness something Rennin points endemic destructive current Czechoslovak society The whole rarity between grindwas great Ahunt laces instance could endup causing headache hysteria either weary customer weary usually indifferent sales person Stalinist terror tactics whole effective tactic sealing country outside influences defeating pposition daily attrition waged against average citizen nything extra person wished undertake abroad founding based hobby required paper entailed official refusals delays major restrictions travel acquiring foreign currency eased lifted 1980s remainder built disguised obstacles enough average citizen before started No wonder asked Czech honest answer often patn6 Bad Anise neptejtel Don matter Jde Alright Afriend psychologist asked patients would answered Very welll probably other Czechs would thought there something wrong least something suspicious attitude Similarly whether hearin uncertainty naivety guile voice Ren6in villager carrying lunch collective canteen little responds rusty loudspeakers present every village I optimistically Always The obvious falsity response sterile repetitive Communist ideology funny The cartoons reflect November period movements associations parties springing country dubious characters making leading positions dubious clean This screening parliament April month names parliamentary deputies listed collaborators secret police files finally public The positive changes which basis themes third collection cartoons reflected primarily slogan Back Europe At least questions however arise Does Europe really Czechoslovakia other East European states Czechs Slovaks really Europe willing adapt themselves there Ren6in character backyard cottage farmhouse Let Europe I think exception Many people waiting prosperity passively One Czech idiom literally translated which attitude They expect roasted pigeons right their mouths The prosperity through through investment This raises obvious easily manipulatable specter facing country foreign investment namely foreigners buying country natural national resources Ren6in cartoon subject bitter sweet perhaps inaccurate since apparently Americans Germans investing capital Czechoslovakia The investment obviously absolute necessity democracy going People anything material changes their which palpable improvement decline their standard living If impatient possible democratic party promises their roasted pigeons Even Ren6fn slight playful pessimism cartoons subject But In hundred years laugh about prediction overly pessimistic Just readingRen6in isproofwedon thavetowaitsolongtolaugh Received Hanover DBP V