Abstract
Romanian-speaking TV in the former Soviet Republic of Moldova is currently developing an infotainment genre that is politically charged and rooted in the history of modern Romanian literary culture. Choosing the EU over the Eurasian Customs Union comes across as a matter of ethnic and cultural background. The republic’s ethno-national traditions and the political loyalties of Moldovan citizens overlap to the extent to which TV entertainment, whether in Russian or in Romania, is bound to touch on contentious issues. The first privately owned TV station of Moldova, JurnalTV, and its Sunday evening show, Ora de Ras (The Hour of Reckoning, my translation) make a strong case for Europe. Making the country modern and European has everything to do with its past as recorded in the language of history. The ancient roots of Moldovans, their continuous settlement of the area and struggle for freedom are preached by the hero of all Moldovans, Stephen the Great, not to mention present-day media heroes (Constantin Cheianu and Anatol Durbala) who blow the whistle on corruption in local and national government.
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Notes
- 1.
Hereafter, The Hour of Reckoning (my translation) is aired on JurnalTV, retrieved from http://oraderas.jurnaltv.md [accessed 29.03.2015].
- 2.
My translation of “CHEIANU: Dar fiindca cei trei care au creat aceasta alianta, au acelasi prenume—Vladimir—noi credem ca Alianta lor ar trebui sa se numeasca de fapt… VALDIMIRSKII ŢENTRAL.
DURBALA: In Rusia exista un oras cu numele Vladimir, care este un important centru […] de triere a puscariasilor. […] Centrul respectiv se cheama “Vladimriskii Ţentral”.
CHEIANU: Rusii au un centru de triere a puscariasilor Vladimirskii Ţentral, noi avem la guvernare un Vladimirskii Ţentral!”.
- 3.
My translation of “Ne place sa credem ca astazi aici nu vom prezenta pur si simplu un spectacol, iar d-voastra pur si simplu il veti privi. Noi impreuna cu d-voastra vom participa astazi aici la ceva mai mult, la un act de demnitate, daca vreti”.
- 4.
My translation of “doi banditi Filat si Plahotniuc”.
- 5.
My translation of “aiştea fură cu miliardu”.
- 6.
My translation of “Nu, şî eu, de-amu dacî-s porc ca şî dânşâi, trebu sî fac ci-ni spun ii. Ii, cum v-am spus, au staj di porci mai mari, ştiu mai ghini ci şî cum”.
- 7.
My translation of “[Filat şî cu Voronin] I+i îmblî sî dioachi oamini, da ii sânguri îs diocheţ. Dacî ar vini la mini, eu le-aş scoati diochiu, cî ii îs diocheţ amândoi di doamni fereşti di Plahatniuc”.
- 8.
My translation of “Sau poati o mai rămas pe-aici v-o sămânţî di demnitati şî vârtuti?… Ha?… Apoi dacî o rămas, hai sî grăim cinstit şî sî nu mai prostim cu diochiuri, cu discântici, cu vrăj şî alte asemine. Dacă aici (cu mâna la piept) în loc di inimă şî vârtuti îi spaimî şî slugărnicii, însamnî că nu agiutî niş on discântat. Da dacî este demnitati şî vârtuti, apu niş saghia nu li tai, niş suliţa nu li străbati, niş focu nu li ardi!… Ci zâciţ, mai esti demnitati şî vârtuti în keptu vostru?… N-aud… N-aud!!… Iac-amu v-am auzât”.
- 9.
http://www.jurnaltv.md/ro/news/2014/6/19/Europa-te-astept-promo, retrieved on 13.04.2015.
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Colăcel, O. (2016). Europe on Romanian-Speaking TV in the Republic of Moldova. In: Kerikmäe, T., Chochia, A. (eds) Political and Legal Perspectives of the EU Eastern Partnership Policy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27383-9_16
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