Sylabus
* Mandatory:
ARENDT, H., The Origins of Totalitarianism. New York - London: Harcourt, Brace & Co, 1994 (selected chapters).
HAVEL, V., Open Letters. Selected Writings 1965-1990. New York: Vintage Books, 1992 (selected chapters).
KUNDERA, M., The Book of Laughter and Forgetting. London: Faber and Faber, 1996.
* Recommended:
CASSIRER, E., The Myth of the State. Westport (Connecticut): Yale University Press, 1983.
GEYER, M. - FITZPATRICK, S., Beyond Totalitarianism. Stalinism and Nazism Compared. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.
GLEASON, A., Totalitarianism. The Inner History of the Cold War. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
MILOSZ, C., The Captive Mind. New York: Limited Editions Club, 1983. SOFSKY, W., The Order of Terror. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997.
Anotace
The course provides students with an overview over the selection of reflections on the epoch of totalitarianism and post-totalitarianism in Central European philosophy, literature, and movies from the period. Weekly schedule:
1) The concept of totalitarianism
2) Pre-totalitarian atmosphere I: imperialism and nationalism
3) Pre-totalitarian atmosphere II: party system and political movements
4) Pre-totalitarian atmosphere III: minorities and the stateless
5) Totalitarian movement: classless society, masses, organization, and propaganda
6) Secret police and the concentration camps
7) Totalitarian Ideology and Terror
8) (Post-)totalitarian reflections I: V. Havel’s letter to Dr. Husák
9) (Post-)totalitarian reflections II: The Power of the Powerless
10) (Post-)totalitarian reflections III: The Power of the Powerless II
11) (Post-)totalitarian reflections IV: V. Havel’s Stories and Totalitarianism
12) Literary reflections: M. Kundera: The Book of Laughter and Forgetting; M. Kundera: Life is Elsewhere; P. Kohout: The Hangwomen.
13) Reflection on Totalitarianism in Czech movies: Larks on a String (1969), The Ear (1970), All My Compatriots (1968), The Nun’s Night (1967).