MOYENS D'EXPRESSION CULTURELLE-POLITIQUE DU MESSAGE EUROPÉEN DE LA DIASPORA ROUMAINE DE FRANCE. LA MAISON ROUMAINE - UNE ÉTUDE DE CAS

While the existence of a powerful core of the Romanian diaspora in France not only before, but also - and especially - during the communist period is undeniable, the nature and coherence of its message were largely reliant on the quality of the means of expression created or used by this dynamic and heterogeneous intellectual segment. It is thus interesting to observe the effectiveness and complexity of the cultural instruments these elites resorted to during their years in exile, also given the significant number of Romanian artists that had sought refuge in the resourceful intellectual space of the French Republic. Representatives of numerous cultural and artistic branches found imaginative ways of portraying either criticism of Romanian communism, or perspectives regarding a much-needed reorientation of their country of origin, one that may be in keeping with the integration process initiated at an institutional level in the western part of the continent. In particular, it is to be noticed the activity of the so-called Maison Roumaine from Paris, which became a gathering point of some of the most prominent voices of the Romanian exile before the fall of Ceausescu's regime. The cultural output of this society became a genuine landmark for the entire diaspora and provided it with exceptional impetus, amid countless political controversies germane to the nature of such forums. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]