Contrary to dominant narratives that portray cultural life in Greece under the Colonels’ dictatorship (1967–1974) as suppressed, this event features Stathis Kalyvas discussing his latest book, which reveals a surprising cultural “Big Bang.” Drawing on new evidence, he argues that, despite censorship and repression, artistic and intellectual activity flourished. The talk examines the conditions that made this possible, highlighting how cultural production can adapt under authoritarian rule. It also explores why this period of creativity was later erased from collective memory, questioning how historical narratives are constructed. Overall, the event challenges assumptions about culture under dictatorship and offers a revised understanding of Greece’s recent past.
