Compiled by: Júlia Koppándi
In the early 1980s, Vilmos Keszeg organized fieldwork with students from the Ferenc Balázs self-study circle to uncover the memory of Ferenc Balázs:
“In the span of a few years, we recorded the memories or the knowledge preserved in family lore of a dozen people from the Aranyosszék region. We learned what his favorite food and song were, the names of his dog and donkey, who loved him and who held a grudge against him, what his intentions and disputes were, how he lived, how he worked, and how he was buried. And when it was all gathered and we began to analyze the texts, we were stunned by the inaccuracies and impossible claims emerging at every turn. Our wonder lasted until we understood that the image the people of Aranyosszék ‘produced’ and preserved of Ferenc Balázs was no longer objective reality, but subjective reality—a myth. Ferenc Balázs lived there, smoldering before their eyes, not for himself, but for ‘God’s Valley,’ as he called Aranyosszék, and this experience could not be preserved without distortion. They filled the gaps of his career with vivid, touching turns of phrase; they corrected and rounded off the events of his life, translating his words into their own language. They wrapped their own past, failures, and sorrows into the myth so they could measure themselves against him, to explain and keep in memory what was raw and fleeting history, and to say proudly to posterity and curious strangers: this was him, he lived here, he lived for us, he was buried here.” (Vilmos Keszeg – Ferenc Balázs in the Memory of Aranyosszék)
The above reveals how fascinating it is to review the process through which the figure of Ferenc Balázs was shaped in collective memory. According to memory studies, the stories of significant historical figures are a vital part of a community’s identity; these figures often take on mythical meaning because the community projects its own values and desires onto them.
Elements that facilitated later myth-making were already present during Ferenc Balázs’s life. His short life of only thirty-six years was filled with intense work: he acted as an author, a minister, and a village organizer, while striving to turn his globetrotting experiences to the benefit of the local community. After his death, the press and funeral reports already shaped a narrative portraying him as an “apostle” and “pioneer” who sacrificed himself for great ideals. Through collective remembrance, values were attached to his person that were particularly important for 20th-century rural society.
Based on the memory motifs emerging from the fieldwork conducted by Vilmos Keszeg, several recurring topoi (themes) can be identified:
- The “Lover of the Homeland”: The most prominent theme is that of the man who traveled the world yet returned to serve his local community.
- The “Educator of the People” and “Laborer of the Nation”: This depicts an intellectual who aids the cultural education, economic development, and self-organization of villagers. In rural memory, he often appears as a community-minded, democratically-thinking man who made no distinction between rich and poor and spoke to everyone.
- The “Globetrotting Intellectual”: A figure who attempts to utilize his foreign experiences and connections for the common good.
- The “Self-Sacrificing Ascetic”: Parallel to his public roles, memories of his personal lifestyle reinforce the image of a man living a puritanical, simple life. Stories often emphasize his kindheartedness, helpfulness, and trust in people.
- The “Tragic Hero”: A crucial part of the myth is the motif of a tragic fate: according to the community, Ferenc Balázs’s ideas were not fully understood in his own time, which is why many of his initiatives remained unfinished. His early death and the subsequent veneration further strengthened this martyr-like interpretation.
In summary, the memory-figure of Ferenc Balázs is built upon several reinforcing topoi: the intellectual faithful to his homeland, the educator and village organizer, the world traveler who lived a simple life, and the misunderstood, tragic innovator. Together, these motifs create a regional myth in which Ferenc Balázs is not merely a historical person, but a symbolic embodiment of community values.
Bibliography:
- Ferenc Balázs az emlékezetben. In: Vilmos Keszeg: Belépni az emlékezetbe. Emlékezési alakzatok és gyakorlatok. (Kriza János Ethnographic Society, Cluj-Napoca)
- Keszeg Vilmos: Balázs Ferenc Aranyosszék emlékezetében. In: Balázs Ferenc Emlékkönyv, Népfőiskolai Füzetek, EMKE, 1997.