CONVOIUL (X) de Gheorghe Schwartz Tradus de / Translated by Eugene MATZOTA ▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.103, 03/2026 ▲▲▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură! Abstract: The Convoy (X) – The Body of the Serpent Part I: The Serpent’s Body (Episode 18) In this tenth installment of the series, the hypnotic cadence of the march—"Left, right, left, right"—serves as the rhythmic heartbeat of a narrative steeped in surveillance and existential dawning. The protagonist finds himself caught in a psychological tug-of-war between the rigid discipline of his own "Convoy" and the magnetic pull of a parallel column moving on the horizon, the "Mirror Convoy." Key thematic layers explored in this chapter include: - The Architecture of Surveillance: The protagonist’s neighbors in the line—the "Guard," the "Redhead," and the "Giant"—act as more than fellow travelers; they are ideological buffers designed to obstruct his vision and warn him against the "malicious plans" of the opposition. - The Ouroboros Metaphor: The General’s cryptic promise of a future where "the serpent swallows its tail" introduces a chilling cycle of eternity. The protagonist grapples with the meaning of this totality: is it a state of perfection or a trap of infinite circularity? - The Subversive Gaze: Moving away from the programmed obedience of looking only at the ground or the back of the person in front, the protagonist begins to look "left and right." This peripheral awareness is triggered by the recurring presence of a solitary woman on the opposite side of the road—a figure dismissed by his peers as a "paid lure," yet perceived by him as a silent, persistent witness to his own existence.
România pierdută (XIV) ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.103, 03/2026 ▲
România pierdută (XIV) de Claudiu Iordache ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.103, 03/2026 ▲ Noi mai credem încă în cultură! Abstract: Lost Romania (XIV) By Claudiu Iordache A profound and visceral meditation on national identity, Lost Romania (XIV) serves as both a stinging critique of social hypocrisy and a spiritual call to arms. Claudiu Iordache moves beyond the mere recovery of civil liberties, proposing a "messianic" evolution of the Romanian soul. He views the nation not as a collection of historical ruins or functional utilities, but as a living destiny—a "Heir Child" that remains unfinished and often abandoned by its own people. The text navigates several key philosophical dimensions: - The Responsibility of Love: The author distinguishes his "filial exigency"—a harsh, demanding love born from high expectations—from the "comfortable love" of the masses that tolerates decay. - The Metaphysics of Freedom: Freedom is described as an inward escape, a return to the source. Iordache warns that Romania "withers in the hands of those who do not desire it," framing the nation as a fragile reality that requires constant, conscious cultivation. - The Revolutionary Legacy: Reflecting on the 1989 Revolution, the author describes it as the nation’s "crown," a moment of self-redemption. However, he warns of a continuing "hemorrhage of energy" and a looming Choice where a single wrong step could lead to the ultimate loss of the country. Concluding with a haunting epilogue from the balconies of the Timișoara Revolution, Iordache’s work is an "exalted consent to defeat" that paradoxically seeks to plug the void through which nothingness enters humanity. It is a testament to a "strange inheritance" that can only be preserved through absolute responsibility and unconditional, yet lucid, devotion.
CONVOIUL (IX) ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.102, 02/2026 ▲
This is the nineth part of the "The Convoy" series, presented in a bilingual Romanian-English format. "The Body of the Snake" continues the metaphorical exploration of a human column on a perpetual march, guarded by "Keepers". The narrative delves into themes of individual apathy versus the collective drive for survival, illustrating a moment where external incitements to rebellion are met with both longing and resignation. As the convoy moves from restrictive paths to expansive, multi-lane roads, Schwartz masterfully examines the shifting nature of social control and the internal psychological landscape of those caught in the march. CONVOIUL (IX) de Gheorghe Schwartz Tradus de / Translated by Eugene MATZOTA ▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.102, 02/2026 ▲▲▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură!
CONVOIUL (VIII) ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.101, 01/2026 ▲
This is the eighth part of the "The Convoy" series, presented in a bilingual Romanian-English format. "The Body of the Snake" continues the metaphorical exploration of a human column on a perpetual march, guarded by "Keepers". The narrative delves into themes of individual apathy versus the collective drive for survival, illustrating a moment where external incitements to rebellion are met with both longing and resignation. As the convoy moves from restrictive paths to expansive, multi-lane roads, Schwartz masterfully examines the shifting nature of social control and the internal psychological landscape of those caught in the march. CONVOIUL (VIII) de Gheorghe Schwartz Tradus de / Translated by Eugene MATZOTA ▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.101, 01/2026 ▲▲▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură!
Jerbera nu era în scenariu (IV) ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.101, 01/2026 ▲
Abstract The Gerbera Was Not in the Script (IV): A Vertical Drama Awarded First Prize at the "Goana după fluturi" National Dramaturgy Contest, this play by Ion Bogdan Martin explores the claustrophobic and unpredictable nature of human connection. Set within the confines of a large freight elevator in a 24-story building, the action unfolds in real-time as two neighbors, Miruna and Sergiu, find themselves trapped together. As the boundaries between their private lives and the mechanical reality of the elevator blur, the play uses a unique stage setup to allow the audience to witness their 60-minute journey. Following Balzac’s motto—"You can listen to words, but trust only in deeds"—this fourth installment of the series is a gripping study of character, suspense, and the unexpected roles we play when the world stops between floors. Jerbera nu era în scenariu (IV) ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.101, 01/2026 ▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură!
Rezistența în Republica Prostiei Fabricate, de Eugen Matzota ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.100, 12/2025 ▲
Am ajuns la numărul 100! Hai să ne oprim o clipă și să lăsăm această cifră să respire… O sută de luni la rând, fără pauză, fără compromisuri, fără să cerșim aprobarea „Sistemului”. de Eugen Matzota ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.100, 12/2025 ▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură!
CONVOIUL (VII) ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.100, 12/2025 ▲
Stângul, dreptul, stângul, dreptul, stângul, dreptul! Marșul continuă. Am părăsit poteca strâmtă de pe munte și pășim din nou pe șoseaua largă. Ea continuă printr-un defileu identic cu cel pe care l-am părăsit pentru Marțea Mare. „Ingenios găsit locul pentru acea ieșire din canon”, trebuie să recunosc. Prin revenirea pe șoseaua largă, dar mai ales prin aceea că șoseaua trece iarăși prin defileu, te face să crezi că nici n-am părăsit această cale largă, că interludiul trăit nici n-a existat. Doar micile permutări din coloană, cum e avansarea grăsunului transpirat, ne împiedică să credem că recenta Marțea Mare n-ar fi avut loc. CONVOIUL (VII) de Gheorghe Schwartz Tradus de / Translated by Eugene MATZOTA ▲▲▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.100, 12/2025 ▲▲▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură!