Annotation
The course offers an overview of the development of puppetry in Czech Lands from 18th century to the present.
The course is semester-long and consists of lectures, review of documentary materials (i.e. videos), practical workshops and some supplementary reading. The students are expected to attend all lectures and actively participate in discussion. The students are graded on attendance, an in-class group presentation and an end-of- term paper.
Course outline:
LECTURE 1
Introduction, course structure and expectations.
LECTURE 2
Foundations of Czech puppetry – Middle Ages to Baroque marionettes.
LECTURES 3 and 4
Folk puppeteers, travelling troupes, Matěj Kopecký, Czech National Revival – mid 18th to late 19th century.
PUPPETRY WORKSHOP 1
LECTURES 5 and 6
Development of amateur stages, family puppet theatres, Josef Skupa, 1900 – 1940's.
PUPPETRY WORKSHOP 2
LECTURES 7 and 8
Professionalization of Czech puppet theatres, Czech puppetry under Communist regime, contemporary puppet theatres, Buchty a Loutky, Divadlo Drak, National Marionette Theatre, Jan Švankmajer, 1948 – present.