Aleš Debeljak
- Poet
- essayist
- academic
Aleš Debeljak (25 December 1961 – 28 January 2016) was a Slovenian cultural critic, poet, and essayist.
Biography
Debeljak was born in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, to a family with rural origins; he was the first of the family to attend university.[1] In his youth he was the junior Slovenian champion in judo, and got a silver medal at the Yugoslav championship.[2] He stopped his sport career after an injury.[1]
He graduated from comparative literature at the University of Ljubljana in 1985.[3] He continued his studies in the United States, obtaining a PhD in sociology of culture at Syracuse University in 1989.[3] He was later a Senior Fulbright fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. He also worked at the Institute for Advanced Studies Collegium Budapest, the Civitella Ranieri Center and the Bogliasco Liguria Study Center for the Arts and Humanities.[4]
From the mid-1980s onwards, Debeljak took an active part in civil society movements.[5] He decided to come back to Slovenia at the time of the dissolution of Yugoslavia as, he said, he did not want to become a "Balkan-observer" from abroad, but rather wanted to take part directly in those moments.[1]
As many others[who?], he had come to accept the idea of Slovenian independence as a second-best option in lack of better alternatives, as every plan for reforming Yugoslavia while conceding more autonomy to Slovenia and Croatia had failed. He still retained and cherished his double identity as a Slovene and as a Yugoslav, and thought that independence had actually limited Slovenia's cultural references: "we lost our attachments to the people of the South, and at the same time we did not gain the same type of emotional attachment to Austria and to other European countries".[1]
In 1991 he worked as interpreter for foreign media during the Ten-Day War, and witnessed first-hand the Yugoslav-Slovene armed clashes at the Austrian border in Gornja Radgona. He described the experience as something that changed his point of view, as something that had been deemed impossible was actually taking place, "as if we were in a movie".[1]
He was one of the co-editors of the critical alternative journal Nova revija. He also participated in the social liberal think tank Forum 21, led by former President of Slovenia Milan Kučan. He was also, until his death, a professor of cultural studies at the Faculty for Social Studies of the University of Ljubljana.
From 2001 he started the journal Sarajevo notebooks, in order to re-establish communication and linkages between intellectuals and activists throughout former Yugoslavia, and create regional public forums of reconciliation.[1]
He was married to the columnist, translator and American-Slovenian writer[6] Erica Johnson Debeljak, with whom he had three children. He died on 28 January 2016, when he was struck and killed by a truck.[7][8][9]
Poetic works
Debeljak began publishing poetry in his college years. He was spotted by the poet Veno Taufer who helped him in the literary scene.[3] His first collection of poetry was well received also by the poet Tomaž Šalamun, who declared Debeljak as the best poet of the young generation of Slovene authors.[10]
Debeljak's poetry is noted for its melancholy and a new reaffirmation of traditional values such as family and God. An opponent to the everything-goes schools of modern thought, such as postmodernism, Debeljak's work was informed by an "Enlightenment" ideal of right and wrong, good and bad.[citation needed]
Debeljak was an extremely prolific writer.[citation needed] In addition to poetry and cultural criticism, Debeljak also worked as a columnist for the most important newspaper in Slovenia, Delo.[citation needed] His works have been translated in many languages.[citation needed]
List of works
Works published or translated in English:
- The Hidden Handshake: National Identity and Europe in The Post Communist World (Rowman & Littlefield, New York & Oxford 2004).
- Reluctant Modernity: The Institution of Art and its Historical Forms (Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham & New York 1998).
- Twilight of the Idols: Recollections of a Lost Yugoslavia (Wite Pine Press, Fredonia & New York 1994).
- Persistence of Modernity: Critical Social Theory of Modern vs. Postmodern Institution of Art (UMI, Ann Arbor, 1994).
- Smugglers (BOA Editions, Ltd., Rochester, 2015)
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Ales Debeljak Interview - Home | Writers & Company with Eleanor Wachtel | CBC Radio". Cbc.ca. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ "Memento: Aleš Debeljak". Delo.si. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ a b c [1][dead link]
- ^ [2] Archived 18 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [3] [dead link]
- ^ "Slovenski pisatelji, ki pišejo v slovenščini ali pa tudi ne". Delo.si. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ Debeljak, Erica Johnson (28 October 2016). "Pesnik + smrt = { }". Delo. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
- ^ "STA: Eminent Slovenian author Aleš Debeljak dies". English.sta.si. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ "Večer: Umrl Aleš Debeljak". Vecer.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ Tomaž Šalamun, "Intervju z Alojzom Ihanom" in Sodobnost, yr. 42, n. 8/9 (1994)
External links
- Personal Page (Faculty for Social Sciences, Ljubljana)
- Biography and bibliography
- Aleš Debeljak's "Without Anesthesia" in Blackbird: an online journal of literature and the arts
- v
- t
- e
- 1962: Ljubo Humek
- Franci Čop
- Vladimir Makuc
- Mitja Mejak
- Matej Bor
- Duša Počkaj
- Primož Ramovš
- Marko Šuštaršič
- Dubravka Tomšič
- Janez Trenz
- France Šmid
- Ciril Pogačnik
- 1963: Janez Bernik
- Dejan Bravničar
- Vanda Gerlovič
- Sveta Jovanović
- Janez Kališnik
- Branko Kocmut
- Lojze Krakar
- Marjan Pogačnuik
- Ali Raner
- Pavle Zidar
- Rudi Zupan
- 1964: Boris Čampa
- Jože Falout
- Stane Jarm
- Nives Kalin - Vehovar
- Mile Korun
- Stanko Kristl
- Andrej Kurent
- Ivan Minatti
- Nace Simončič
- France Slana
- Gregor Strniša
- Milan Šega
- Team of the Development Department of the Decorative Fabric Factory in Ljubljana
- Karel Zelenko
- 1965: Jože Bevc
- Polde Bibič
- Miloš Bonča
- Bogdan Borčič
- Andrej Jemec
- Rok Klopčič
- Janez Lajovic
- Tone Pavček
- Štefan Planinc
- Smiljan Rozman
- Alojz Srebotnjak
- Pavel Šivic
- Mirko Zdovc
- Ciril Zlobec
- 1966: Tone Bitenc
- Janez Boljka
- Miha Gunzek
- Mija Jarc
- Ignac Koprivec
- Janez Lenassi
- Borut Loparnik
- Bogdan Meško
- Zlata Ognjanović
- Milena Ogorelec
- Božo Kos
- Žarko Petan
- Jože Pogačnik
- Davorin Savnik
- 1967: Sandi Krošl
- Lojze Lebič
- Floris Oblak
- Vasja Predan
- Tatjana Remškar
- Savin Sever
- Slavko Tihec
- Vilko Ukmar
- Aleksander Valič
- Rudi Vaupotič
- 1968: Milka Badjura
- Jože Ciuha
- Hilda Hölzl
- Marjan Kolar
- Gregor Košak
- Mirč Kragelj
- Branko Kraševec
- Jožko Lukeš
- Milan Mihelič
- Dušan Moravec
- Ive Šubic
- Danilo Švara
- Drago Tršar
- Iva Zupančič
- 1969: Ilija Arnautović, Aleksander Peršin in Janez Vovk
- Peter Černe
- Janez Gradišnik
- Miran Herzog
- Lojze Kovačič
- Nikolaj Omersa
- Alojz Rebula
- Mirko Romih in Branko Uršič
- Mako Sajko
- Vladimir Škerlak
- Arnold Tovornik
- Uroš Vagaja
- Fran Žižek
- 1970: Jakob Jež
- Albert Kastelic
- Maks Kavčič
- Tone Kuntner
- Marko Munih
- Anton Petje
- Anton Pibernik in Vladimir Sedej
- Bine Rogelj
- Tone Svetina
- Rudi Šeligo
- Zlatko Šugman
- Jože Tisnikar
- Marjan Vodopivec
- Dane Zajc
- 1971: Lojze Filipič
- Pavel Jeršin
- Lojze Lebič
- Oskar Kogoj, Stane Bernik, Jankom Sušnik in Boris Ferlat
- Mitja Mejak
- Borut Pečenko
- Ela Peroci
- France Peršin
- Ivo Petrič
- France Rotar
- Jože Zupan
- 1972: Zvest Apollonio
- Alenka Bartl-Prevoršek
- Aci Bertoncelj
- Peter Božič
- France Forstnerič
- Kajetan Gantar
- Peter Kerševan
- Franci Križaj
- Peter Levec
- Pavle Merku
- Radko Polič
- Staš Potočnik
- Emil Smasek
- Jože Snoj
- Marlenka Stupica
- 1973: Boris Cavazza
- Primož Kozak
- Metka Krašovec
- Vladimir Lakovič
- Saša Mächtig
- Danilo Merlak
- Dušan Povh
- Rosanda Sajko
- Tomaž Šalamun
- Dane Škerl
- 1974: Marjan Gnamuš
- Angela Janko-Jenčič
- Jože Koželj
- Avgust Lavrenčič
- Trio Lorenz
- Dušan Mlakar
- Dušan Moškon
- Bogdana Stritar
- Veno Taufer
- Žaro Tušar
- Jelica Žuža
- 1975: Delavska godba iz Trbovelj
- Bogomil Fatur
- Mile de Gleria
- Mina Jeraj
- Tomaž Kržišnik
- Florjan Lipuš
- Ciril Oblak in Fedja Klavora
- Stane Raztresen
- Ivan Seljak - Čopič
- Matjaž Vipotnik
- 1976: Jože Babič
- Vojko Duletič
- Jože Javoršek
- Svetlana Makarovič
- Niko Matul
- Janez Mejač
- Mladinski pevski zbor iz Maribora
- Milena Muhič
- Marko Muhič
- Borut Pečar
- Frane Puntar
- Peter Skalar in Judita Skalar
- Tinca Stegovec
- 1977: Hubert Bergant
- Vlado Habjan
- Tone Lapajne
- Janez Marinšek in Koni Steinbaher
- Valentin Polanšek
- Majda Potokar
- Milan Stibilj
- Zvone Šedlbauer
- Anton Tomašič
- Janez Vidic
- Radojka Vrančič
- Joco Žnidaršič
- Zala Dobnik, Hugo Porenta, Milan Štrukelj, Jože Dobrin in Alenka Velkavrh
- Ciril Škerjanec
- Milena Zupančič
- 1978: Anton Grčar
- Meta Hočevar
- Jane Kavčič
- Vladimir Kavčič
- Rudi Kosmač
- Marija Kobi
- Fedja Košir
- Miroslav Košuta
- Janko Messner
- Janez Povše
- Janez Suhadolc
- Janez Šibila
- Dušan Tršar
- Vojko Vidmar
- 1979: Pavla Brunčko
- Ervin Friz
- Zdenka Golob
- Aleš Jan
- Drago Jančar
- Dušan Jovanović
- Boris Juh
- Stojan Kerbler
- Anica Kumer
- Pavel Mihelčič
- Anton Nanut
- Ana Pusar Jerič
- Milan Rijavec
- Evgen Sajovic
- Meta Vrhunc
- Saša Vuga
- Studio 7 v Biroju 71-Domžale (Štefan Kacin, Radislav Popović, Jurij Princes, Bogdan Špindler)
- 1980: Danilo Benedičič
- Evgen Car
- Anton Demšar
- Karpo Godina
- Irena Grafenauer
- Niko Grafenauer
- Stane Jagodič
- Norina Jankovič
- Minu Kjuder
- Rudolf Kotnik
- Tone Partljič
- Bogdan Reichenberg
- Marjan Rožanc
- Dubravka Sambolec
- Mira Sardoč
- Ati Soss
- Marko Dekleva, Matjaž Garzarolli, Vojteh Ravnikar in Egon Vatovec
- Janez Bizjak, Marko Cotič in Dušan Engelsberger
- 1981: Janez Albreht
- Ljerka Belak
- Alenka Gerlovič
- Herman Gvardjančič
- Janez Hočevar - Rifle
- Andrej Inkret
- Miša Jelnikar
- Silvester Komel
- Marko Kravos
- Uroš Lajovic
- Janez Matičič
- Valentin Oman
- Milan Pajk
- Jože Privšek
- Biba Bertok in Marjan Gašperšič
- 1982: Danilo Bezlaj
- Janez Drozg
- Bronislav Fajon
- Branko Gombač
- Branko Gradišnik
- Lidija Kozlovič
- Božo Rogelja
- Barbara Rot in Božo Rot
- Slovenski kvintet trobil (Anton Grčar, Stanko Arnold, Viljem Trampuš, Boris Šinigoj, Boris Gruden)
- Vinko Tušek
- 1983: Ivo Ban
- Janez Bermež
- Vesna Gaberšček Ilgo
- Andrej Kokot
- Mojmir Lasan
- Branko Madžarevič
- Adriana Maraž
- Pihalni kvintet RTV Ljubljana (Jože Pogačnik, Božo Rogelja, Alojz Zupan, Jože Falout, Jože Banič)
- Milan Pogačnik
- Peter Ternovšek
- 1984: Bine Matoh
- Miloš Mlejnik
- Boris A. Novak
- Franc Novinc
- Klavdij Palčič
- Edvard Sršen
- Tone Stojko
- Lane Stranič
- Aleš Valič
- Marija Vidau
- 1985: Stanko Arnold
- Jožica Avbelj
- Olga Gracelj
- Gustav Januš
- Zmago Jeraj
- Taras Kermauner
- Miljenko Licul in Ranko Novak
- Rajko Ranfl
- Rudi Španzel
- Dare Valič
- 1986: Mijo Basailović
- Dragica Čadež
- Karel Jerič
- Milan Jesih
- Silvij Kobal
- Mirko Lipužič
- Tomaž Medvešček
- Marko Munih
- Vlado Novak
- Renato Quaglia
- 1987: Aleš Berger
- Emerik Bernard
- Alojz Ihan
- Lojze Logar
- Berta Meglič
- Ivanka Mežan
- Eduard Miler
- Vladimir Pezdirc
- Milko Šparemblek
- Fauvel 86 (Lojze Lebič, Ksenija Hribar, Jernej Habjanič)
- 1988: Jani Bavčar
- Peter Boštjančič
- Silva Čušin
- Peter Gabrijelčič
- Zdenko Huzjan
- Niko Košir
- Edi Majaron
- Uroš Rojko
- Ivo Svetina
- Lujo Vodopivec
- 1989: Emil Baronik
- Milan Dekleva
- Harald Draušbaher
- Veronika Drolc
- Maja Haderlap
- Franci Slak
- Maks Strmčnik
- Marija Lucija Stupica
- Vito Taufer
- Franko Vecchiet
- 1990: Aleš Debeljak
- Lojze Drašler
- Tomaž Lorenz in Alenka Šček Lorenz
- Filip Robar Dorin
- Franček Rudolf
- Janez Škof
- Mario Uršič
- Snežana Vrhovec
- 1991: Drago Bajt
- Andrej Brvar
- Radovan Jenko
- Vladimir Jurc
- Marko Letonja
- Tomaž Pandur
- Matjaž Počivavšek
- Marko Pogačnik
- Metka Rojc
- Aleš Vodopivec
- 1992: Gustav Gnamuš
- Janez Gregorc
- Igor Samobor
- Marjan Tomšič
- Damir Zlatar Frey
- Novi kolektivizem (Dejan Knez, Miran Mohor, Darko Pokorn in Roman Uranjek)
- 1993: Edi Berk
- Evald Fliser
- Janez Pipan
- Zorko Simčič
- Andraž Šalamun
- Petar Ugrin
- 1994: Komorni zbor Ave
- Iztok Kovač
- Marjetica Potrč
- Svetlana Visintin in Leo Kulaš
- Judita Zidar
- 1995: Mate Dolenc
- Jurij Kobe
- Feri Lainšček
- Srečko Špik
- Trio Lorenz
- Sergej Verč
- 1996: Marko Japelj
- Milena Morača
- Zdravko Papič
- Brane Šturbej
- Uroš Zupan
- Vlado Žabot
- 1997: Bjanka Adžić Ursulov
- Alojz Ajdič
- Maja Novak
- Matjaž Pogrjc
- Jernej Šugman
- Tugo Sušnik
- 1998: Jakov Brdar
- Matjaž Farič
- Uroš Kalčič
- Milada Kalezić
- Eta Sadar Breznik
- Igor Šterk
- 1999: Zvonko Čoh in Milan Erič
- Marko Fink in Nataša Valant
- Komorni godalni orkester Slovenske filharmonije
- Živko Marušič
- Jani Virk
- Andrej Zdravič
- 2000: Mirsad Begić
- Jani Golob
- Miran Kolbl
- Vinko Möderndorfer
- Saša Pavček
- Vito Taufer
- 2001: Gregor Baković
- Ivo Prančič
- Nataša Prosenc
- Peter Semolič
- Karmina Šilec
- Godalni kvartet Tartini
- 2002: Andrej Blatnik
- Bernarda Fink
- Polona Juh
- Matevž Medja
- Tanja Zgonc
- 2003: Jan Cvitković
- Mateja Koležnik
- Andrej Medved
- Alen Ožbolt
- Slowind
- Larisa Vrhunc
- 2004: Mate Bekavac
- Radoš Bolčina
- Iztok Geister
- Alenka Ribič Laufer
- Oto Rimela
- Igor Štuhec
- 2005: Matija Bevk in Vasa J.Perović
- Edward Clug
- Mirjam Kalin
- Milko Lazar
- Nataša Matjašec
- Milan Vincetič
- 2006: Mirko Bratuša
- Bojan Gorišek
- Nataša Barbara Gračner
- Milan Kleč
- Silvan Omerzu
- Maja Vidmar
- 2007: Anton Bogov
- Urška Pompe
- Vesna in Matej Vozlič
- Suzana Tratnik
- Marko Peljhan
- Jože Slak
- 2008: Primož Čučnik
- Sebastijan Horvat
- Ema Kugler
- Boštjan Lipovšek
- Uroš Smolej
- Bor Turel
- 2009: Sabina Cvilak Damjanovič
- Nenad Firšt
- Marko Mandić
- Tobias Putrih
- Goran Vojnović
- Miran Zupanič
- 2010: Miklavž Komelj
- Peter Musevski
- Aldo Kumar
- Barbara Cerar
- Andrej Rozman - Roza
- Maja Delak
- 2011: Janja Majzelj
- Lilijana Praprotnik Zupančič
- Emil Filipčič
- Zlatko Kaučič
- Jure Miklavc
- Branko Robinšak
- 2012: Maruša Zorec
- Franc Kosem
- Stojan Kuret
- Ivica Buljan
- Iztok Mlakar
- Andrej E. Skubic
- 2013: Bernarda Fink
- Marcos Fink
- Marija Javoršek
- Gorazd Kocijančič
- Regina Križaj
- Metod Pevec
- Jože Vidic
- 2014: Vladimir Kos
- Jernej Lorenci
- Jože Možina
- Vesna Pernarčič
- Slovene Percussion Project
- Alenka Sottler
- 2015: Rosana Hribar
- Marko Jakše
- Gregor Luštek
- Jure Pukl
- Marjan Strojan
- Pia Zemljič
- Vito Žuraj
- 2016: Ambrož Čopi
- Janusz Kisca
- Aleksij Kobal
- Cvetka Lipuš
- Mojca Smerdu
- Katarina Stegnar