Drăcușorul mai vine și cu trotineta (I) ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.102, 02/2026 ▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură! Abstract: The Little Devil Also Rides a Scooter (I) By Ion Bogdan Martin A sharp-witted romantic comedy that proves "the ways of the Lord"—and of the heart—are particularly tangled when life decides to interrupt your morning coffee. Set in the stifling August heat, the play opens with Relu, a 32-year-old ophthalmologist, trying to survive a domestic symphony of drilling machines, crying children, and mysterious "barking" neighbors. His quest for a moment of peace is cut short by the unexpected arrival of Mr. Costache, a neighbor whose dry throat and paternal pride set the stage for a classic comedy of manners. The narrative thrives on the Farcical Friction between professional logic and chaotic reality: The Clinical vs. The Casual: Relu’s attempt to maintain his medical schedule is constantly derailed by Costache’s "unannounced" but highly tactical visit, leading to a hilarious back-and-forth where being a doctor is mistaken for being a patient. The Paternal Pitch: Through Costache’s glowing (and perhaps overly rehearsed) description of his daughter Denisa—a top-tier law student with a perfect GPA—the play sets up a "matchmaking" tension masked as neighborly small talk. Ultimately, Ion Bogdan Martin explores how authentic feelings eventually replace the "pastiches" of our social roles. Behind the witty banter and the mundane interruptions lies a story about how love crashes into our lives precisely when we are least prepared, turning a simple neighborly encounter into a potential catalyst for an emotional "overhaul."
DINCOLO DE GARDUL SISTEMULUI, de Eugen Matzota ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.101, 01/2026 ▲
Beyond the System’s Fence – A Manifesto for the Unrepeatable Soul Author: Eugen Matzota With the release of issue 101, ALTCULTURE moves beyond the symbolic milestone of survival into a stage of "interrogation without anesthesia." This editorial serves as a searing critique of the modern "System," which has evolved from ideological barbed wire into a sophisticated web of pixels and algorithms. The author introduces the concept of the "Absolute Mirror"—a technological promise of perfection that subtly strips humanity of its ability to wonder and its capacity for authentic emotion. To illustrate the danger of intellectual conformity, the text revisits a dark chapter of Romanian history: the 1951 Academy meeting. Led by Mihail Sadoveanu, the cultural elite of the time—including figures like George Călinescu—voted to symbolically "execute" the genius of Constantin Brâncuși, deeming him unworthy of the title of sculptor simply because he did not fit the party’s rigid ideological framework. By contrasting the "bent spines" of the past with the algorithmic traps of the present, the manifesto argues that honor and the "wound" of imperfection are the only true seals of originality. Issue 101 stands as a refusal to accept pre-packaged truths, choosing instead to seek the "Source" with a sharp mind and an upright spine, even when swimming against the current. DINCOLO DE GARDUL SISTEMULUI, de Eugen Matzota ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.101, 01/2026 ▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură!
Romanian Blues – Fragment din ”Omul de cenușă” (I) ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.102, 02/2026▲
Abstract: Chapter 14 – "Romanian Blues" From The Book of Ash (Cartea de Cenușă) by Nicholas Jordan Editor’s Note: Highly acclaimed by some of the most prominent figures in contemporary Romanian literature, Nicholas Jordan’s "The Book of Ash" is a masterclass in existential travelogue and gritty realism. Critics have praised the work for its "surgical precision of observation" and its ability to blend the mundane with the metaphysical. In Chapter 14, titled "Romanian Blues," the narrator finds himself abruptly exiled from the canals of Venice back to the stark, grey reality of late-Soviet Russia. Set against the backdrop of a nascent Perestroika, the story captures a world in transition—where Western nylon stockings and blue jeans begin to appear on Moscow’s streets, yet the taps of Hotel Bucharest still run with rust-colored water and the shadows of miniaturized microphones linger in the luminators. The narrative takes a sharp, darkly comedic turn when an occupational hazard of the "professional guide" life—a contracted venereal infection—leads the protagonist to the decaying corridors of Leningrad’s Polyclinic No. 3. Treated by a pragmatic Soviet doctor with a cocktail of penicillin and methylene blue, the narrator embarks on a literal and metaphorical "Blue Period." As the medication turns his world (and his anatomy) a vivid, Technicolor blue, the chapter evolves into a profound reflection on alienation. Jordan masterfully weaves together the raw discomfort of the body with high-culture references—from the haunting lyrics of Janis Joplin’s "Me and Bobby McGee" to the melancholic depths of Picasso’s Blue Period. Through the lens of "the blues," the author explores the mechanics of migration, the physics of light, and the inevitable bitterness of a "good man feeling bad." "Romanian Blues" is a poignant, witty, and unapologetic dissection of the human condition, trapped between the crumbling walls of the East and the hollow promises of the West. Romanian Blues - Fragment din ”Omul de cenușă” (I) ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.102, 02/2026 ▲ 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!
MARTORUL DIN LINIA ÎNTÂI ȘI REPERELE VERTICALITĂȚII, de Eugen Matzota ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.101, 01/2026 ▲
This article presents a profound dialogue with Adrian Mac Liman, a renowned war correspondent, geopolitical analyst, and prominent Masonic figure. Through the lens of his extensive experience in international conflict zones, Mac Liman explores the concept of "Verticality"—a steadfast moral and intellectual integrity. He shares insights on his philosophical relationship with mortality, his critical assessment of Western civilization's current decline, and the urgent need for a modernized Freemasonry that preserves its ritualistic essence while engaging deeply with contemporary culture. The feature includes a comprehensive biographical overview of Mac Liman’s career and his contributions to Masonic studies. MARTORUL DIN LINIA ÎNTÂI ȘI REPERELE VERTICALITĂȚII, de Eugen Matzota ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.101, 01/2026 ▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură!
Un landmark al cunoașterii ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.101, 01/2026 ▲
This philosophical treatise explores the hierarchy of gnosis, asserting that the source of knowledge holds greater ontological significance than the knowledge itself. The author argues that direct experience serves as the "living source" of understanding, positioning the text merely as a transitional guide rather than a final destination. The article delves into several key conceptual pillars: • The Keepers: Those who possess direct knowledge and act as its primary repositories. • The Maestru: Defined by the unique capacity to understand the placement of every "fruit" within the Tree of Creation. • Mutual Recognition: A distinction is drawn between formalized knowledge—expressed through verifiable statements—and non-formalized knowledge, which resides in character, intuition, and empathy. Ultimately, Dobrescu posits that genuine truth is inseparable from moral integrity. He suggests that character acts as the final filter for recognition, concluding that the "man of truth" is never a "convenient" one, but a necessary pillar of authentic understanding. Un landmark al cunoașterii ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.101, 01/2026 ▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură!
Manual de supraviețuire în călătoriile lungi – Fragment din ”Omul de cenușă” (IV) ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.101, 01/2026▲
This narrative explores the professionalization of grief through the eyes of a tour guide who has become "too efficient" at handling the death of his clients. Facing criticism for his perceived lack of compassion, the narrator introduces a "decent interval of mourning" into his tours—a social ritual designed not for the deceased, but to absolve the living of guilt and allow the "Survivors’ Club" to move on with taste and decorum. The text juxtaposes the clinical reality of the American funeral industry—exemplified by "funeralization" ceremonies via helicopter over the Golden Gate Bridge—with the narrator’s own moral exhaustion. As he observes the departure of massive aircraft carriers toward global crises, he reflects on the paradox of a nation that fiercely protects butterflies with fines and monuments while inadvertently "molesting" the world through systemic violence and military might. Ultimately, the story is a biting meditation on the illusions of American grandeur and the chilling ease with which we automate both our rituals of remembrance and our machinery of death. Manual de supraviețuire în călătoriile lungi - Fragment din ”Omul de cenușă” (IV) ▲ ALTCULTURE MAGAZINE Nr.101, 01/2026 ▲ Noi încă mai credem în cultură!