ÎNTRE MINE ȘI FINAL, de Doria Șișu ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.104, 4/2026 ▲
Noi mai credem încă în cultură!
ABSTRACT
Between Me and the End (Published in ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE No. 104, 4/2025)
Author: Doria Șișu
Overview
Between Me and the End is a visceral, poetic meditation on the human condition, exploring the liminal space between existence and finality. Through a stream-of-consciousness narrative, the author confronts the relentless passage of time and the inherent sarcasm of a life lived in a cycle of unanswered questions. It is a call to awaken from the „illusory awakening” of modern existence and to recognize the stranger staring back from the mirror.
Key Themes
– The Weight of Permanence: The text identifies a „permanent sigh” in every morning breath and a „permanent void” filled with sadistic protocol and destructive trifles. It challenges the ego’s cry of „Why me?” by suggesting that time is an unblinking observer we fail to see.
– The Duality of Life and Death: The author portrays life as a force that keeps us tied by our „short shoelaces,” bound inextricably to death. Human beings are depicted as beings who pretend to be whole while clutching at the wings of others, mistakenly believing they possess freedom while blinded by their own shadows.
– The Metaphor of the „Wooden Man”: In a powerful shift toward the end, the narrator identifies as a „wooden man” awaiting the reader’s „polishing” (shaping). This plea emphasizes that power and love reside in the observer’s hands, turning a silent block of wood into a „screaming syllable” that lives through the heartbeat of others.
Conclusion
Doria Șișu concludes with a poignant Post Scriptum on the „short madnesses” we choose as a perfect adjustment to a mad world. Ultimately, the piece serves as a philosophical reminder that we are merely „playing at being human,” a game for which we eventually pay the earth with our own mortality. It encourages the reader to lean their head against the „edge of knowledge” as a final virtue and to find laughter beyond the secret of words.
Romanian Blues (II) – Fragment din ”Omul de cenușă”
▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.103, 03/2026 ▲
Noi încă mai credem în cultură!
Abstract
Title: Romanian Blues
Source: Fragment from The Ash Man (Omul de cenușă) by Nicholas Jordan
Set against the backdrop of the shifting geopolitical landscape of late 1989, Chapter 14 finds the protagonist, an elite tour guide for Globe, in Scandinavia. While the „wind of change” sweeps across Eastern Europe—from the opening of Hungary’s borders to the ethnic tensions in Yugoslavia—the protagonist encounters a group of displaced guides who have been reassigned from their usual Balkan and Danubian routes due to the mounting unrest. Through their cynical banter, the protagonist is introduced to the concept of the „Romanian Blues”—a state of inexplicable, deep-seated melancholy associated with the haunting traditions and ritualistic „shouts” of Northern Romania’s Maramureș region.
As he leads a group of tourists through the desolate, wintry landscapes of Lapland and Sweden, the protagonist becomes obsessed with this „Romanian Blues.” To pass the time during the monotonous journey toward the North Cape, he begins studying the Romanian language, drawing parallels between his own migratory existence and the adventures of Nils Holgersson from Selma Lagerlöf’s classic tales. The narrative weaves together the protagonist’s personal sense of exile, the fading glory of Viking mythology in Uppsala, and a quiet, linguistic preparation for a country he cannot yet visit, all while maintaining his professional facade amidst a world on the brink of total transformation.
La pas, prin București, dar și prin istorie ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.104, 0/2026 ▲
Noi mai credem încă în cultură!
Abstract
Strolling Through Bucharest, and Through History (Excerpt from the book Under the Sign of 12)
Author: Ion Bogdan Martin
Overview
A leisurely spring stroll down Bucharest’s iconic Calea Victoriei becomes a profound journey through time, dissolving the boundaries between the present day and the city’s aristocratic past. Pausing in front of the historic Casa Vernescu (originally built in 1820 as Casa Lenș), the narrator experiences a vivid temporal slip—or a Tibetan tulpa—witnessing a romantic, 19th-century marriage proposal between the estate’s original owner, Valachian boyar Filip Lenș, and his beloved Lisavette.
Key Themes & Historical Vignettes
As the phantom vision vanishes into thin air, the narrator encounters a living archive of the city: Colonel Stamatesco, a witty, 97-year-old retired aviator. The venerable veteran unfurls a rich tapestry of forgotten lore and oral history, linking the mansion to monumental historical milestones:
– The Romantic Encounter: The colonel shares his grandmother’s firsthand account of meeting a young, dashing Count Leo Tolstoy at the mansion’s gates in the 1850s.
– Political Intrigues: The transition of the estate from the Lenș heirs to the prominent politician George D. Vernescu, and its later dark transformation into a communist protocol house.
– The Literary Ghost: The profound political shockwave caused by Romania’s national poet and fierce journalist, Mihai Eminescu, whose final explosive article in 1889 forced Vernescu’s resignation.
Conclusion
Weaving magical realism with authentic historical chronicles, this excerpt captures the eternal spirit of Bucharest as the „Little Paris” of yore. It portrays a city where the past never truly dies—it merely lingers in the air, waiting to be rediscovered at a wrought-iron garden table or over a cold beer at the famous Casa Capșa, under the ghostly, mocking gaze of playwright Ion Luca Caragiale.
APEDUCTE DIN EUROPA ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE nr.104, 04/2026 ▲
Noi încă mai credem în cultură!
Abstract: Unusual Places in Europe – The Majesty of Aqueducts
Series: Monthly Highlights 2026 (April Episode)
The April 2026 installment of the „Unusual Places in Europe” series invites readers to rediscover the continent’s architectural heritage through its most impressive water-conveyance systems: the aqueducts. Bridging the gap between utility and monumental art, these structures—ranging from Roman antiquity to the 18th century—remain as imposing witnesses to human engineering and urban evolution.
This episode features a curated journey through several iconic locations:
– Segovia (Spain) & Pont du Gard (France): Masterpieces of the Roman world and UNESCO World Heritage sites, celebrated for their staggering preservation and technical complexity.
– Kavala (Greece) & Istanbul (Turkey): Examples of how Byzantine and Ottoman rulers built upon ancient foundations to create landmarks like the Kamares and the Valens Aqueduct.
– Salerno (Italy) & Montpellier (France): Demonstrating the continuity of this architectural form through the Middle Ages and into the Enlightenment with the St. Clement Aqueduct.
With evocative text by Adina Baranovschi and photography by Bogdan Baranovschi, this feature captures the timeless grandeur of these stone giants that continue to define the skylines of Europe’s historic cities.
România pierdută (XV) de Claudiu Iordache
▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.104, 04/2026 ▲
Noi mai credem încă în cultură!
Abstract: Lost Romania (XV)
By Claudiu Iordache
Notes on Linguistic Determinism and Social Freedom
In this incisive analytical piece, the author explores the phenomenon of „wooden language” (limba de lemn) not merely as a relic of communist totalitarianism, but as a persistent „mortifying mask” that continues to stifle authentic human communication in the post-1989 era. Originally used by dictatorships to fossilize dialogue into an authoritarian monologue, wooden language has evolved into a globalized tool for mediocrity in „acultural democracies.”
Key philosophical pillars of the text include:
– The Fossilization of Thought: The author argues that wooden language represents a state of „collective non-thinking,” where a controlled parade of words replaces the „language of being.” In Romania, this has resulted in a „spoken constitution” that prevents individuals from achieving true inner freedom.
– Culture vs. Civilization: A central theme is the tension between organic culture and imported civilization. Drawing parallels between the linguistic „fortress” of Vienna and the „colonial” expansion of Hollywood’s English (the „Monroe Doctrine” of language), the text warns that defending a national language is a matter of cultural fidelity over the temptations of superficial civilization.
– The Post-Revolutionary Paradox: Despite the 1989 Revolution opening the „gates of the prison,” the author posits that Romania remains „released but not free.” The persistence of linguistic clichés among political leaders and in mass media serves as a „stone dungeon” that protects people from the exhausting task of reconstructing a future-oriented language.
– The Antidote of „Living the Difference”: To counter the „logototalitarianism” that plagues both East and West, the author calls for an embrace of a living language—a mirror of tenderness, rivalry, and human solidarity—rather than the „wooden” safety of the status quo.
Presented originally at the 1995 symposium „The European Idea and the Dilemmas of the Post-Communist Press,” these reflections remain a startlingly relevant critique of the „iron curtain” that still stands between the languages of liberty and those of unassumed freedom.
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▲ ANOTHER KIND OF CULTURAL MAGAZINE / Un alt fel de revistă de cultură ▲ 64 pag. color, MONTHLY / lunar ▲ Director&FOUNDER / fondator: EUGEN MATZOTA ▲ALTCulture (Online) = ISSN 2601 – 159X ISSN-L 2601 -159X ▲ PUBLISHED BY / editată de Asociația ECOULTOUR – OAMENI, FAPTE, IDEI
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ÎNTRE MINE ȘI FINAL, de Doria Șișu ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.104, 4/2026 ▲ Noi mai credem încă în cultură! ABSTRACT Between Me and the End (Published in ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE No. 104, 4/2025) Author: Doria Șișu Overview Between Me and the End is a visceral, poetic meditation on the human condition, exploring the liminal space between existence and finality. Through a stream-of-consciousness narrative, the author confronts the relentless passage of time and the inherent sarcasm of a life lived in a cycle of unanswered questions. It is a call to awaken from the „illusory awakening” of modern existence and to recognize the stranger staring back from the mirror. Key Themes – The Weight of Permanence: The text identifies a „permanent sigh” in every morning breath and a „permanent void” filled with sadistic protocol and destructive trifles. It challenges the ego’s cry of „Why me?” by suggesting that time is an unblinking observer we fail to see. – The Duality of Life and Death: The author portrays life as a force that keeps us tied by our „short shoelaces,” bound inextricably to death. Human beings are depicted as beings who pretend to be whole while clutching at the wings of others, mistakenly believing they possess freedom while blinded by their own shadows. – The Metaphor of the „Wooden Man”: In a powerful shift toward the end, the narrator identifies as a „wooden man” awaiting the reader’s „polishing” (shaping). This plea emphasizes that power and love reside in the observer’s hands, turning a silent block of wood into a „screaming syllable” that lives through the heartbeat of others. Conclusion Doria Șișu concludes with a poignant Post Scriptum on the „short madnesses” we choose as a perfect adjustment to a mad world. Ultimately, the piece serves as a philosophical reminder that we are merely „playing at being human,” a game for which we eventually pay the earth with our own mortality. It encourages the reader to lean their head against the „edge of knowledge” as a final virtue and to find laughter beyond the secret of words.
Romanian Blues (II) – Fragment din ”Omul de cenușă” ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.103, 03/2026 ▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură! Abstract Title: Romanian Blues Source: Fragment from The Ash Man (Omul de cenușă) by Nicholas Jordan Set against the backdrop of the shifting geopolitical landscape of late 1989, Chapter 14 finds the protagonist, an elite tour guide for Globe, in Scandinavia. While the „wind of change” sweeps across Eastern Europe—from the opening of Hungary’s borders to the ethnic tensions in Yugoslavia—the protagonist encounters a group of displaced guides who have been reassigned from their usual Balkan and Danubian routes due to the mounting unrest. Through their cynical banter, the protagonist is introduced to the concept of the „Romanian Blues”—a state of inexplicable, deep-seated melancholy associated with the haunting traditions and ritualistic „shouts” of Northern Romania’s Maramureș region. As he leads a group of tourists through the desolate, wintry landscapes of Lapland and Sweden, the protagonist becomes obsessed with this „Romanian Blues.” To pass the time during the monotonous journey toward the North Cape, he begins studying the Romanian language, drawing parallels between his own migratory existence and the adventures of Nils Holgersson from Selma Lagerlöf’s classic tales. The narrative weaves together the protagonist’s personal sense of exile, the fading glory of Viking mythology in Uppsala, and a quiet, linguistic preparation for a country he cannot yet visit, all while maintaining his professional facade amidst a world on the brink of total transformation.
La pas, prin București, dar și prin istorie ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.104, 0/2026 ▲ Noi mai credem încă în cultură! Abstract Strolling Through Bucharest, and Through History (Excerpt from the book Under the Sign of 12) Author: Ion Bogdan Martin Overview A leisurely spring stroll down Bucharest’s iconic Calea Victoriei becomes a profound journey through time, dissolving the boundaries between the present day and the city’s aristocratic past. Pausing in front of the historic Casa Vernescu (originally built in 1820 as Casa Lenș), the narrator experiences a vivid temporal slip—or a Tibetan tulpa—witnessing a romantic, 19th-century marriage proposal between the estate’s original owner, Valachian boyar Filip Lenș, and his beloved Lisavette. Key Themes & Historical Vignettes As the phantom vision vanishes into thin air, the narrator encounters a living archive of the city: Colonel Stamatesco, a witty, 97-year-old retired aviator. The venerable veteran unfurls a rich tapestry of forgotten lore and oral history, linking the mansion to monumental historical milestones: – The Romantic Encounter: The colonel shares his grandmother’s firsthand account of meeting a young, dashing Count Leo Tolstoy at the mansion’s gates in the 1850s. – Political Intrigues: The transition of the estate from the Lenș heirs to the prominent politician George D. Vernescu, and its later dark transformation into a communist protocol house. – The Literary Ghost: The profound political shockwave caused by Romania’s national poet and fierce journalist, Mihai Eminescu, whose final explosive article in 1889 forced Vernescu’s resignation. Conclusion Weaving magical realism with authentic historical chronicles, this excerpt captures the eternal spirit of Bucharest as the „Little Paris” of yore. It portrays a city where the past never truly dies—it merely lingers in the air, waiting to be rediscovered at a wrought-iron garden table or over a cold beer at the famous Casa Capșa, under the ghostly, mocking gaze of playwright Ion Luca Caragiale.
APEDUCTE DIN EUROPA ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE nr.104, 04/2026 ▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură! Abstract: Unusual Places in Europe – The Majesty of Aqueducts Series: Monthly Highlights 2026 (April Episode) The April 2026 installment of the „Unusual Places in Europe” series invites readers to rediscover the continent’s architectural heritage through its most impressive water-conveyance systems: the aqueducts. Bridging the gap between utility and monumental art, these structures—ranging from Roman antiquity to the 18th century—remain as imposing witnesses to human engineering and urban evolution. This episode features a curated journey through several iconic locations: – Segovia (Spain) & Pont du Gard (France): Masterpieces of the Roman world and UNESCO World Heritage sites, celebrated for their staggering preservation and technical complexity. – Kavala (Greece) & Istanbul (Turkey): Examples of how Byzantine and Ottoman rulers built upon ancient foundations to create landmarks like the Kamares and the Valens Aqueduct. – Salerno (Italy) & Montpellier (France): Demonstrating the continuity of this architectural form through the Middle Ages and into the Enlightenment with the St. Clement Aqueduct. With evocative text by Adina Baranovschi and photography by Bogdan Baranovschi, this feature captures the timeless grandeur of these stone giants that continue to define the skylines of Europe’s historic cities.
România pierdută (XV) de Claudiu Iordache ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.104, 04/2026 ▲ Noi mai credem încă în cultură! Abstract: Lost Romania (XV) By Claudiu Iordache Notes on Linguistic Determinism and Social Freedom In this incisive analytical piece, the author explores the phenomenon of „wooden language” (limba de lemn) not merely as a relic of communist totalitarianism, but as a persistent „mortifying mask” that continues to stifle authentic human communication in the post-1989 era. Originally used by dictatorships to fossilize dialogue into an authoritarian monologue, wooden language has evolved into a globalized tool for mediocrity in „acultural democracies.” Key philosophical pillars of the text include: – The Fossilization of Thought: The author argues that wooden language represents a state of „collective non-thinking,” where a controlled parade of words replaces the „language of being.” In Romania, this has resulted in a „spoken constitution” that prevents individuals from achieving true inner freedom. – Culture vs. Civilization: A central theme is the tension between organic culture and imported civilization. Drawing parallels between the linguistic „fortress” of Vienna and the „colonial” expansion of Hollywood’s English (the „Monroe Doctrine” of language), the text warns that defending a national language is a matter of cultural fidelity over the temptations of superficial civilization. – The Post-Revolutionary Paradox: Despite the 1989 Revolution opening the „gates of the prison,” the author posits that Romania remains „released but not free.” The persistence of linguistic clichés among political leaders and in mass media serves as a „stone dungeon” that protects people from the exhausting task of reconstructing a future-oriented language. – The Antidote of „Living the Difference”: To counter the „logototalitarianism” that plagues both East and West, the author calls for an embrace of a living language—a mirror of tenderness, rivalry, and human solidarity—rather than the „wooden” safety of the status quo. Presented originally at the 1995 symposium „The European Idea and the Dilemmas of the Post-Communist Press,” these reflections remain a startlingly relevant critique of the „iron curtain” that still stands between the languages of liberty and those of unassumed freedom.