Ioan T. Morar
Encyclopedia
Ioan T. Morar is a Romania
n journalist, poet, dramatist, novelist, literary and art critic, and civil society
activist. He is a founding member of the satirical magazine Academia Caţavencu
(to which he notably contributes art and culture reviews) and, since 2004, a senior editor for Cotidianul
. An amateur actor in his youth, he was also a member of the comedy troupe Divertis from the mid-1980s to 1996.
, Arad County
, Morar graduated as a valedictorian
from the University of Timişoara
's Faculty of Philology (Romanian
-French
section) in 1981. During the period, he became active in student theater groups — his troupe's performance in the 1981 adaptation of Vasile Alecsandri
's comedy Sânziana şi Pepelea won it first prize during a festival in Iaşi
(the city were he also met with and joined Divertis).
Assigned to a teaching position in Lugoj, he sat on the editorial staff for the magazines Viaţa Studenţească and Amfiteatru after 1987. He also began writing his first works of drama and poetry, and joined the Writers' Union
. Morar's works, translated into several languages, won him the Writers' Union debut prize (1984, for Vara indiană) and its poetry prize (2000, for Şovăiala).
Following the 1989 Revolution
, he became a member of the Civic Alliance
, while contributing to the newspaper Cuvântul
. In 1990, Morar was employed by the national television station's Entertainment section and created several shows, but resigned the following year.
He authored his debut novel Lindenfeld in 2006, to critical acclaim. A fresco of a Swabian
locality in the Banat
(see Lindenfeld, Caraş-Severin), it is considered a "Postmodern
novel". Lindenfeld was awarded the prize for prose works by the newspaper Ziarul de Iaşi.
Morar returned to work for national television in 2006, and began hosting his talk show
Lumea citeşte! ("People Read!"), aired by TVR 1
. During the same year, he was invited to take part in the final stage of TVR1's Mari Români campaign, a series which called on intellectuals to showcase the 10 greatest Romanians ever (who had been determined by a poll); Morar supported Domnitor
Alexander John Cuza
for the top position, and co-produced a short television film depicting the latter's merits. As part of a 2005-2006 television advertising campaign for Kandia chocolate bars, Morar impersonated the last ruler of Communist Romania
, Nicolae Ceauşescu
.
In early 2007, he left on an extended journey to New Caledonia
, which he documented in a special blog
for Academia Caţavencu
, called Morar&More.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n journalist, poet, dramatist, novelist, literary and art critic, and civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
activist. He is a founding member of the satirical magazine Academia Caţavencu
Academia Catavencu
Academia Caţavencu is a Romanian satirical magazine founded in 1991 and made famous by its investigative journalism. Academia Caţavencu also owns Radio Guerrilla , an FM radio station with national coverage ; Tabu, a women's magazine, Superbebe, a magazine for new parents, Aventuri la pescuit, a...
(to which he notably contributes art and culture reviews) and, since 2004, a senior editor for Cotidianul
Cotidianul
thumb|right|Old logo of Cotidianul newspaper, used in the [[inter-war period]], and in the early 1990sthumb|right|The logo used between 2003 and 2007...
. An amateur actor in his youth, he was also a member of the comedy troupe Divertis from the mid-1980s to 1996.
Biography
Born in ŞeitinSeitin, Arad
Şeitin is a commune in western Romania, located in the southwest part of Arad County, is situated in the south-western part of the Arad Plateau, in the valley of the Mureş River, and it covers approximately 6680ha...
, Arad County
Arad County
Arad is an administrative division of Romania roughly translated into county in the western part of the country on the border with Hungary, mostly in the region of Crişana and few villages in Banat. The administrative center of the county lies in the city of Arad...
, Morar graduated as a valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
from the University of Timişoara
West University of Timisoara
The West University of Timişoara is a university located in Timişoara, Romania. Established in 1962, it is organized in 11 Faculties.-Organization:...
's Faculty of Philology (Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
-French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
section) in 1981. During the period, he became active in student theater groups — his troupe's performance in the 1981 adaptation of Vasile Alecsandri
Vasile Alecsandri
Vasile Alecsandri was a Romanian poet, playwright, politician, and diplomat. He collected Romanian folk songs and was one of the principal animators of the 19th century movement for Romanian cultural identity and union of Moldavia and Wallachia....
's comedy Sânziana şi Pepelea won it first prize during a festival in Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
(the city were he also met with and joined Divertis).
Assigned to a teaching position in Lugoj, he sat on the editorial staff for the magazines Viaţa Studenţească and Amfiteatru after 1987. He also began writing his first works of drama and poetry, and joined the Writers' Union
Writers' Union of Romania
The Writers' Union of Romania , founded in March 1949, is a professional association of writers in Romania. It also has a subsidiary in Chişinău, Republic of Moldova...
. Morar's works, translated into several languages, won him the Writers' Union debut prize (1984, for Vara indiană) and its poetry prize (2000, for Şovăiala).
Following the 1989 Revolution
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
, he became a member of the Civic Alliance
Civic Alliance Foundation
The Civic Alliance Foundation is a Romanian non-governmental organization . It is one of the largest Romanian NGOs, working for the consolidation of a civil society in the aftermath of the 42-year long communist regime. The AC has subsidiaries in 36 of the 41 counties, overseen by a 27-member...
, while contributing to the newspaper Cuvântul
Cuvântul (literary magazine)
Cuvântul is a literary and political monthly, published in Bucharest, Romania. Tracing its origins back to 1990, it was successively edited by various figures in contemporary Romanian literature, among them Ioan T. Morar, Ioan Buduca, Radu G. Ţeposu and Mircea Martin...
. In 1990, Morar was employed by the national television station's Entertainment section and created several shows, but resigned the following year.
He authored his debut novel Lindenfeld in 2006, to critical acclaim. A fresco of a Swabian
Banat Swabians
The Banat Swabians are an ethnic German population in Southeast Europe, part of the Danube Swabians. They emigrated in the 18th century to what was then the Austrian Banat province, which had been left sparsely populated by the wars with Turkey. This once strong and important ethnic Banat Swabian...
locality in the Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...
(see Lindenfeld, Caraş-Severin), it is considered a "Postmodern
Postmodern literature
The term Postmodern literature is used to describe certain characteristics of post–World War II literature and a reaction against Enlightenment ideas implicit in Modernist literature.Postmodern literature, like postmodernism as a whole, is hard to define and there is little agreement on the exact...
novel". Lindenfeld was awarded the prize for prose works by the newspaper Ziarul de Iaşi.
Morar returned to work for national television in 2006, and began hosting his talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
Lumea citeşte! ("People Read!"), aired by TVR 1
TVR 1
TVR1 is the main channel of the Romanian public broadcaster TVR.The most important show of the channel is Jurnalul TVR, whose motto is Jurnalul aşa cum ar trebui sǎ fie! , but on 28 March 2009 was replaced by Telejurnal...
. During the same year, he was invited to take part in the final stage of TVR1's Mari Români campaign, a series which called on intellectuals to showcase the 10 greatest Romanians ever (who had been determined by a poll); Morar supported Domnitor
Domnitor
Domnitor was the official title of the ruler of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia between 1859 and 1866....
Alexander John Cuza
Alexander John Cuza
Alexander John Cuza was a Moldavian-born Romanian politician who ruled as the first Domnitor of the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia between 1859 and 1866.-Early life:...
for the top position, and co-produced a short television film depicting the latter's merits. As part of a 2005-2006 television advertising campaign for Kandia chocolate bars, Morar impersonated the last ruler of Communist Romania
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
, Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
.
In early 2007, he left on an extended journey to New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, which he documented in a special blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
for Academia Caţavencu
Academia Catavencu
Academia Caţavencu is a Romanian satirical magazine founded in 1991 and made famous by its investigative journalism. Academia Caţavencu also owns Radio Guerrilla , an FM radio station with national coverage ; Tabu, a women's magazine, Superbebe, a magazine for new parents, Aventuri la pescuit, a...
, called Morar&More.
Works
- Vara indiană (1984)
- Fumul şi spada (1989)
- Neruşinarea (2003)
- Şovăiala (2000)
- Lindenfeld (2005)