Maria iubea florile, de Ion Bogdan Martin
▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.105, 05/2026 ▲▲▲
Noi mai credem încă în cultură!
Maria Loved Flowers by Ion Bogdan Martin
Excerpt from the book Under the Sign of 12 | ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE No. 105, 05/2026
Abstract:
In this haunting and atmospheric narrative, the author recounts a chance encounter within the skeletal ruins of a derelict industrial plant on the outskirts of Bucharest. What begins as a quest for creative inspiration transforms into an unsettling dialogue with an elderly man who refuses to abandon his former workplace, obsessively maintaining an inventory of a single wooden chair. As the conversation unfolds, the crumbling factory—once a symbol of collective labor—becomes the stage for a poignant meditation on love, loss, and the refusal to accept the erasure of the past. The story skillfully blends social critique with a melancholic exploration of the „ghosts” that linger in the wake of privatization and societal upheaval. Through the figure of the old man and his devotion to his late wife, Maria, the text reveals a hidden landscape of personal devotion, culminating in a devastating twist that recontextualizes the entire experience. It is a profound look at how memory can become both a sanctuary and a self-imposed prison in a world that has discarded its history.
în lanțuri, de Doria Șișu ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.105, 5/2026 ▲
Noi mai credem încă în cultură!
In Chains by Doria Șișu
Abstract:
In this poignant lyrical reflection, Doria Șișu explores the existential weight of living within a society defined by artifice and spiritual erosion. The poem serves as a meditation on the paralyzing nature of conformity—a „chain of grins”—where authentic human connection is sacrificed to superficiality. Through evocative imagery of waiting—words and love standing in line, waiting for the „falling of the chain”—the poet depicts the internal struggle to remain human in an increasingly hollow world. The central figure of the woman, rooted in „clay and soul,” becomes a symbol of endurance, transforming years of suffering into a grounded, wingless angel. Ultimately, the work posits that true rebellion lies not in destruction, but in the radical act of forgiveness—a virtue that restores the broken human being and validates the struggle for transcendence against the constraints of a dehumanizing reality.
Polul de Putere (I) de Claudiu Iordache
▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.105, 5/2026 ▲▲▲
Noi mai credem încă în cultură!
Claudiu Iordache – The Power Pole
Abstract: This reflective piece delves into the existential and sociopolitical dimensions of individual agency within an indifferent, often hostile system. By invoking the philosophical insights of Paul-Marc Henry, John Prebble, and Leonida Lari, the text examines the inherent solitude of those who dare to challenge established norms and the high price paid by those who act as catalysts for change. The author situates this study within the fluid world of ideas, arguing that no intellectual labor is a solitary endeavor; rather, it is a convergence of voices, historical precedents, and shared concerns. Through a meditation on the nature of research and authorship, the text asserts that a work of ideas is never definitive. Ultimately, the piece posits that the true meaning of any inquiry resides not within the author, but within the reader—who actively reconstructs the author’s perception of reality to mirror their own, thereby claiming ownership over the ongoing evolution of truth.
MUZEE BELGIENE ALE CIOCOLATEI ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE nr.105, 05/2026 ▲
Noi încă mai credem în cultură!
Unique Destinations in Europe: The Belgian Chocolate Museums
Text: Adina Baranovschi | Photo: Bogdan Baranovschi
Abstract: As part of a year-long series dedicated to Europe’s most remarkable natural and cultural sites, this issue spotlights Belgium’s rich heritage in the art of chocolate-making—a tradition officially recognized as part of the country’s intangible cultural heritage since 2025. Through a curated exploration of three premier institutions—Choco-Story in Brussels, Chocolate Nation in Antwerp, and Choco-Story in Bruges—the authors guide readers through a sensory and educational journey. From the equatorial cocoa plantations to the artisanal craftsmanship of iconic Belgian chocolatiers, the article examines the geographical, cultural, and gastronomic processes that have turned a spicy ancient Aztec beverage into the world’s most coveted confection. More than just a guide for tourists, this piece serves as an immersive look into the industrial history and culinary mastery that define the Belgian chocolate experience.
Arhitectul de pe Marginea Abisului, de Eugen Matzota ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.104, 04/2026 ▲
Noi încă mai credem în cultură!
Abstract:
In the 104th issue of ALTCULTURE, Eugen Matzota moves beyond the critique of digital chaos to address the imperative of construction. Having navigated the „Great Sifting”—a process of stripping away the superficial noise of the digital age—the editorial posits that true substance resides solely in one’s character.
Reflecting on a life spent balancing the weight of history with the pursuit of an „Inner Temple,” Matzota discusses his role not as a self-appointed mentor, but as a lantern-bearer in an era of systemic disintegration. The text serves as a manifesto for the „Architect”: a call to move beyond the illusion of effortless creation, urging readers to reclaim the precision of thought and the rigor of craft.
In an age of „Copy-Paste” conformity, ALTCULTURE 104 stands as a testament to continuity and verticality, inviting those in search of a compass to join a workshop where the digital tool is forced to serve the Truth.
revistă editată de Asociația ECOULTOUR – OAMENI, FAPTE, IDEI – Brașov CIF 34237932, ING Bank, RO94INGB0000999916569535
Noi încă mai credem în cultură! Poți ajuta imediat prin PayPal, REVOLUT sau pe contul asociației ECOULTOUR!
CULTURE TO THE PEOPLE!
▲ 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
EDITORIAL BOARD / Colegiul de redacție: ciprian cristea, CORINA GHEORGHEZA, ADRIAN GRAUENFELS, CLAUDIU IORDACHE, NICHOLAS JORDAN. BOGDAN MARTIN, EUGEN MATZOTA (redactor-șef), CRISTIANA MIRANCEA, MARIUS OANȚĂ, EUGEN D. POPIN, GHEORGHE SCHWARTZ, NICOLAE ULIERIU
LAYOUT, DTP, WEBDESIGN: EUGEN MATZOTA; RESPONSABILITATEA ASUPRA TEXTELOR APARŢINE AUTORILOR. ALTCULTURE.MAG@GMAIL.COM
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Maria iubea florile, de Ion Bogdan Martin ▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.105, 05/2026 ▲▲▲ Noi mai credem încă în cultură! Maria Loved Flowers by Ion Bogdan Martin Excerpt from the book Under the Sign of 12 | ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE No. 105, 05/2026 Abstract: In this haunting and atmospheric narrative, the author recounts a chance encounter within the skeletal ruins of a derelict industrial plant on the outskirts of Bucharest. What begins as a quest for creative inspiration transforms into an unsettling dialogue with an elderly man who refuses to abandon his former workplace, obsessively maintaining an inventory of a single wooden chair. As the conversation unfolds, the crumbling factory—once a symbol of collective labor—becomes the stage for a poignant meditation on love, loss, and the refusal to accept the erasure of the past. The story skillfully blends social critique with a melancholic exploration of the „ghosts” that linger in the wake of privatization and societal upheaval. Through the figure of the old man and his devotion to his late wife, Maria, the text reveals a hidden landscape of personal devotion, culminating in a devastating twist that recontextualizes the entire experience. It is a profound look at how memory can become both a sanctuary and a self-imposed prison in a world that has discarded its history.
în lanțuri, de Doria Șișu ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.105, 5/2026 ▲ Noi mai credem încă în cultură! In Chains by Doria Șișu Abstract: In this poignant lyrical reflection, Doria Șișu explores the existential weight of living within a society defined by artifice and spiritual erosion. The poem serves as a meditation on the paralyzing nature of conformity—a „chain of grins”—where authentic human connection is sacrificed to superficiality. Through evocative imagery of waiting—words and love standing in line, waiting for the „falling of the chain”—the poet depicts the internal struggle to remain human in an increasingly hollow world. The central figure of the woman, rooted in „clay and soul,” becomes a symbol of endurance, transforming years of suffering into a grounded, wingless angel. Ultimately, the work posits that true rebellion lies not in destruction, but in the radical act of forgiveness—a virtue that restores the broken human being and validates the struggle for transcendence against the constraints of a dehumanizing reality.
Polul de Putere (I) de Claudiu Iordache ▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.105, 5/2026 ▲▲▲ Noi mai credem încă în cultură! Claudiu Iordache – The Power Pole Abstract: This reflective piece delves into the existential and sociopolitical dimensions of individual agency within an indifferent, often hostile system. By invoking the philosophical insights of Paul-Marc Henry, John Prebble, and Leonida Lari, the text examines the inherent solitude of those who dare to challenge established norms and the high price paid by those who act as catalysts for change. The author situates this study within the fluid world of ideas, arguing that no intellectual labor is a solitary endeavor; rather, it is a convergence of voices, historical precedents, and shared concerns. Through a meditation on the nature of research and authorship, the text asserts that a work of ideas is never definitive. Ultimately, the piece posits that the true meaning of any inquiry resides not within the author, but within the reader—who actively reconstructs the author’s perception of reality to mirror their own, thereby claiming ownership over the ongoing evolution of truth.
MUZEE BELGIENE ALE CIOCOLATEI ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE nr.105, 05/2026 ▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură! Unique Destinations in Europe: The Belgian Chocolate Museums Text: Adina Baranovschi | Photo: Bogdan Baranovschi Abstract: As part of a year-long series dedicated to Europe’s most remarkable natural and cultural sites, this issue spotlights Belgium’s rich heritage in the art of chocolate-making—a tradition officially recognized as part of the country’s intangible cultural heritage since 2025. Through a curated exploration of three premier institutions—Choco-Story in Brussels, Chocolate Nation in Antwerp, and Choco-Story in Bruges—the authors guide readers through a sensory and educational journey. From the equatorial cocoa plantations to the artisanal craftsmanship of iconic Belgian chocolatiers, the article examines the geographical, cultural, and gastronomic processes that have turned a spicy ancient Aztec beverage into the world’s most coveted confection. More than just a guide for tourists, this piece serves as an immersive look into the industrial history and culinary mastery that define the Belgian chocolate experience.
Arhitectul de pe Marginea Abisului, de Eugen Matzota ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.104, 04/2026 ▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură! Abstract: In the 104th issue of ALTCULTURE, Eugen Matzota moves beyond the critique of digital chaos to address the imperative of construction. Having navigated the „Great Sifting”—a process of stripping away the superficial noise of the digital age—the editorial posits that true substance resides solely in one’s character. Reflecting on a life spent balancing the weight of history with the pursuit of an „Inner Temple,” Matzota discusses his role not as a self-appointed mentor, but as a lantern-bearer in an era of systemic disintegration. The text serves as a manifesto for the „Architect”: a call to move beyond the illusion of effortless creation, urging readers to reclaim the precision of thought and the rigor of craft. In an age of „Copy-Paste” conformity, ALTCULTURE 104 stands as a testament to continuity and verticality, inviting those in search of a compass to join a workshop where the digital tool is forced to serve the Truth.