Page 112 - Vinkler, Jonatan, Ana Beguš and Marcello Potocco. Eds. 2019. Ideology in the 20th Century: Studies of literary and social discourses and practices. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 112
Ideology in the 20th Century: studies of literary and social discourses and practices
Although on the level of actions, the text shows totally nonsensical
situations surrounding the research of animal speech, Jovanović’s allu-
sions to the society of that time are absolutely clear. The animals stage the
self-management practice with a constant search for consensus that com-
pletely blocks any kind of action; they vote for the king of animals, in
which only a single candidate remains—the old king the lion, who is also
elected in the end, thus reflecting the party personnel politics. An inter-
esting scene occurs with Kozlevčar the veterinarian and Francl the clean-
er at the beginning of the third set, where Kozlevčar gives a precise anal-
ysis of self-management economy or ‘consensual economy’, while Francl,
using common sense, is building their future business of selling animal
flesh. The seemingly senseless dialogue is in fact a very clear critique of
112 the consensual economy.
Kozlevčar: The scant choice of meat in butcher shops shows that some-
thing is wrong in the stable-to-table chain.
Francl: Sausage, salami, smoked meat, you can get those; but very little
fresh.
Kozlevčar: In the opinion of many, the most important thing now is for the
federal executive council to approve the recommended higher purchase
prices of livestock, and based on that, higher retail prices for meat.
Francl: Politically, this is wrong. What will a simple self-managing peon
eat? A citizen, say, of my calibre?
Kozlevčar: The problem is that the price of corn is increasing, of feed and
particularly of energy, which significantly raises the cost of husbandry. For
this reason, the double pricing system is in place!
Francl: The birth rate is dropping, hell, a man with no calories can’t even
screw: there must be meat, at least twice a week!
Kozlevčar: The former was set by the federal government and should be
valid by all regulation —
Francl: I don’t care, let them sort it out any old way they want to, even if by
prescription!
Kozlevčar:—while the latter was determined by the market, which at the
ever growing gap between the offer and demand outright ignored the ex-
ecutive council decree.
Francl: A steak gives you the power to endure this shit!
Kozlevčar: Thus we waded into a weird situation where animal husbandry
is statistically growing, but the one for the market is, of course, decreasing.
The result: full stables and empty abattoirs (Jovanović 1991, 94, 95).
Although on the level of actions, the text shows totally nonsensical
situations surrounding the research of animal speech, Jovanović’s allu-
sions to the society of that time are absolutely clear. The animals stage the
self-management practice with a constant search for consensus that com-
pletely blocks any kind of action; they vote for the king of animals, in
which only a single candidate remains—the old king the lion, who is also
elected in the end, thus reflecting the party personnel politics. An inter-
esting scene occurs with Kozlevčar the veterinarian and Francl the clean-
er at the beginning of the third set, where Kozlevčar gives a precise anal-
ysis of self-management economy or ‘consensual economy’, while Francl,
using common sense, is building their future business of selling animal
flesh. The seemingly senseless dialogue is in fact a very clear critique of
112 the consensual economy.
Kozlevčar: The scant choice of meat in butcher shops shows that some-
thing is wrong in the stable-to-table chain.
Francl: Sausage, salami, smoked meat, you can get those; but very little
fresh.
Kozlevčar: In the opinion of many, the most important thing now is for the
federal executive council to approve the recommended higher purchase
prices of livestock, and based on that, higher retail prices for meat.
Francl: Politically, this is wrong. What will a simple self-managing peon
eat? A citizen, say, of my calibre?
Kozlevčar: The problem is that the price of corn is increasing, of feed and
particularly of energy, which significantly raises the cost of husbandry. For
this reason, the double pricing system is in place!
Francl: The birth rate is dropping, hell, a man with no calories can’t even
screw: there must be meat, at least twice a week!
Kozlevčar: The former was set by the federal government and should be
valid by all regulation —
Francl: I don’t care, let them sort it out any old way they want to, even if by
prescription!
Kozlevčar:—while the latter was determined by the market, which at the
ever growing gap between the offer and demand outright ignored the ex-
ecutive council decree.
Francl: A steak gives you the power to endure this shit!
Kozlevčar: Thus we waded into a weird situation where animal husbandry
is statistically growing, but the one for the market is, of course, decreasing.
The result: full stables and empty abattoirs (Jovanović 1991, 94, 95).
