ALTA HUMAN ATLAS EXHIBIT at LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY - CENTRAL : MAGYAR DNA

LAPL ORG EVENTS EXHIBITS : ALTA HUMAN ATLAS running through April 27, 2025.

Excerpt: Alta is a social-impact art project that showcases 100 extraordinary individuals creating positive change across Los Angeles County. Each participant is represented through photographic portraits, ancestral DNA, and interviews that reveal how their lives intersect with the region—past, present, and future—creating a legacy work that documents and conserves a deeper narrative for generations to come about the city, its people, and its communities.

Each of them will tell you some of their stories if you download the free, interactive App. Storytelling is a powerful tool for preserving historical perspectives, and can often offer a more nuanced understanding of our complicated past. In a sprawling metropolis like Los Angeles, storytelling can also emerge as a potent tool to bridge divides, cultivating a sense of belonging that can transcend cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic differences.

image of peace dove from GraphicsFairy

I was able to see this exhibit and spend some time with it.  Each individual was photographed and some were selected to be presented on the wall - along with their DNA results - and some were in books to look through. I was delighted to note that - unexpectedly - some of these people had MAGYAR DNA and it was listed as MAGYAR rather than HUNGARIAN.

It was quite interesting!

Alta / A Human Atlas of a City of Angels, is a collaboration with the Getty Conservation Institute and PST ART: Art & Science Collide.

WHAT ARE "AMERICAN SPACES" IN HUNGARY? THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES PROVIDES LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HUNGARIANS

AMERICAN SPACES : UNITED STATE EMBASSY IN HUNGARY : EDUCATION 

• Educational advising for those who want to study in the U.S.,
• Workshops on a range of topics from career skills to English language learning,
• Classes and clubs introducing new technologies, 21st century digital skills, and academic resources,
• Films, discussions, and lectures on entrepreneurship, leadership, current events, international affairs, and much more.

STEREOTYPE OF HUNGARIANS : PARTY ANIMALS or DEPRESSED and DRUNK? WHAT ABOUT POETRY?

 

Since I personally have never been anything close to a "party animal" and rarely get drunk, that stereotype sure doesn't fit me.  I've been depressed, though not seriously deep or for too long.  A bad break up or the death of a loved one can do it to me, and everyone is entitled to one bad break up so that one can mature, but it seems to me that my response is usually long walks in nature and morning shakes with lots of vitamins and protein powder.  I also suspect that most depression is actually anger that is unexpressed and unexpressed because it is considered antisocial to do so.  So making lists of things I hate often brings me to humor.

It mostly seems to be a waste of time to me to be depressed but yes, sometimes one must entertain their depression till they figure things out, and while entertaining it, one might wish to have a glass too many of wine.  (Read my past posts on STEREOTYPING Hungarians and Hungarian-Americans including the wine versus beer issue!)

OK, the PARTY ANIMALS are usually drinking beer and they chug it, they like LOUD parties and concerts, they don't want to have conversations, just to yell at each other, and speak in bumper sticker messages.  They call other men who they are not related to "Bro!"  Too much beer (or hard liquor or drugs) allows some of these beasts to actually BOND to each other, and show emotion and support for others, without actually being thought of as homosexual!

OK, the DEPRESSED AND DRUNK, they want to be alone, they may actually be picky about the wine labels - the brands - as they drink themselves into sleep. How deeply depressed can you be when you also actually EAT FOOD and GAIN WEIGHT?  Seriously depressed and you would be unable to entertain food, and just waste away, thinner and thinner, till you were nothing.  Seriously depressed and you cannot answer the question, "What would you order if it was your last meal?"

Then there is the next day when the sun must not come through the window bright and early, but there is always a pillow over the head anyway.

Are you laughing yet?

The fact is that while "party animals" and the depressed and drunk people exist, they do not especially exist in Hungary. And so this is a worthless stereotype.  You can find such people all over the world who use or imbibe substances in order to feel. 

Hungarians also write and read and recite poetry in order to feel and express feelings.  So there!

C 2015 Magyar American BlogSpot

A WASPY NEW FRIEND WRANGLES WITH MY HUNGARIAN ETHNIC HERITAGE

My new friend, from what he would call an "all American" background recently revealed to me that he is wrangling with my Hungarian ethnic heritage, make that OTHERNESS, now that he's determined that I'm not as American as he!

I learned that he was doing a little internet research on the Hungarians in an effort to better understand me and have something to talk to me about, which is a good thing.  Except that now that he has found out I'm from a Hungarian ethnic heritage he does think of me as "different."

I may or may not be "different" for other reasons, but I wonder, will it be that I'm "different" or that he thinks of me "differently?"