Hungarikum
I was thinking whether I should write about this or not, but as I found relevant entries in the Hungarian blogoshpere that justified this post and convinced me too.
There is a relatively young commercial cable TV channel (called Cool TV) aimed at the younger generation, showing e.g. South Park, Reno 911 so I think you get the picture. One of its Hungarian production is an animation series called “Hungarikum”. The leading characters are Hungarian historical figures, but totally displaced form their original historical context and put into contemporary situations. [Henrik’s note: Actually I think some rally surreal contemporary situation the least to say]. According to the Cool TV page introduction to the show, they describe their series: “Who expects an evening fairytale, will be very much surprised.”…”Hungarikum does not respect traditions”.
The language is regularly dirty and the scenes are more successful in making fun out of the characters, than putting them into present context to show critics about the current Hungarian society. It is not a surprise then that there are people who feel that this series is disrespectful and offensive. Let’s see what some bloggers wrote:
Both Hírbehozó and Cavinton write about the story that the Christian Democratic People’s Party [Henrik’s note: a small political party in Hungary] has even filed a suit because of one of the episode of Hungarikum they found especially insulting.
Hírbehozó comments about the people filing this suit: “The same people – as we add only quietly – anecdote with quotes from South Park during their morning coffee and have a good laugh, that the Canadians should be eliminated and that there is never mercy for Kenny.”
Cavinton comments: “it is going to turn into politics and a scandal; media political scientists and sociologists are walking from studio to studio and the number of watchers is just going to raise, which will turn into lots of revenue. And the owners of Cool TV can be happy, their plans have worked.”
Gáspárik Attila admits that he did not liked the series, but adds „Oral sex with the great figures of history is in the category of artistic freedom and in category of good feeling. Art should be free. And the regulation of good feeling is not only absent in Romania.” [pointing to the fact that Cool TV is actually registered in Romania].
(The referenced blogs are in Hungarian)
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Hungarikum
I suppose the logical response to those offended by the programme would be err… ” Well,don’t watch it then”
I mean it’s not as if they’d be stuck for alternative viewing, we’ve got over 50 channels on out TV
Comment by Paul — December 4, 2005 @ 3:05 pm
Yes and no.
I think it is also part of the freedom of speech that if they don’t like somethink they can express their feelings on whatever channels they want/can. On the other side starting a lawsuit is another thing. If they think the series is braking any law of the Hungarian Republic, yes, they should file the case and lets see if they were right or not. I personally don’t know.
Honestly speaking I sympathise with both parties of this story: 1) I value the freedom of speech and freedom of arts to the greatest extends; 2) and in the same time I personally don’t like the Hungarikum series and I do think that the creators are using the historical figures for cheap fun and selfish reasons (without any message or moral takeaway in the stories they tell with them - i.e. South Park I think gives you 1000 times more thoughts than Hungarikum even with the similar format, the message is totaly different ).
So I decided to take road you suggested: I don’t watch Hungarikum.
But I’m also happy if someone is angry enough and test this case against the law. 
I just wish this wasn’t again part of a political campaign, which apparently it is.
Comment by Henrik — December 4, 2005 @ 9:21 pm