New Books Network Lucy Jeffery and Anna Váradi, "Replaying Communism: Trauma and Nostalgia in European Cultural Production" (CEU Press, 2025)
Dec 17, 2025
Lucy Jeffery is a scholar in literature and cultural studies, while Anna Váradi specializes in post-socialist media. They discuss their book, which explores how contemporary cultural productions reconsider the communist past, blending trauma and nostalgia. They delve into curatorial challenges in Lithuanian museums, intergenerational memory differences, and the political implications of remembering communism. Additionally, they explore the balance between artistic expression and historical accuracy in film and TV, highlighting how cultural narratives convey lived experiences.
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Childhood Objects Shaping Memory
- Anna Váradi recounts childhood objects like a 1962 rhyming book and a socialist board game that shaped her relationship to the past.
- These personal items illustrate how everyday artifacts can transmit mixed memories of trauma and nostalgia across generations.
Trabant Drive Became The Cover Image
- Lucy Jeffery and Anna Váradi describe hiring and driving a Trabant in Berlin as a memorable, sensory experience.
- The cramped, unreliable car became a visual and emotional motif used for their book cover and project identity.
Replaying Means Re-Engaging History
- 'Replaying' means re-engaging with communism through 21st-century cultural forms rather than repeating it.
- Interactive media like board and video games let younger generations explore multiple pathways through communist histories.