Syllabus
Course syllabus:
An educational excursion (National Memorial on the Vítkov Hill) is a part of the syllabus.
Introduction into history (goals, approaches to studied topics, examples of main questions to focus on).
Methodology. Objectivity of history and historians. Sources critique.
Historical Consciousness and Collective memory. The ways of their formation, sources and theoretical approaches to their study (Talcott Parsons’. Jiří Šubrt’s, and Miroslav Hroch’s models).
Symbolical centres and Symbolical figures. Theoretical definition. Charles IV, the Father of the Country, and the Golden Age of the Bohemian Crown. The Good King Wenceslaus and his tale.
Ideology and historical myths. Libuše the prophet and the priest, and the others.
Jan Hus, Hussites and Hussite revolution: transformation of their interpretation in the course of history.
Jan Hus and Jan Nepomuk: two saints, two sides?
Josef Toufar and the miracle from Čihošť
Czech Music Avantgarde: The Plastic Peoples of Universe.
Jan Palach and his sacrifice.
Václav Havel and the Velvet Revolution: transformation of post-socialist memory?
Final discussion
Final test
Annotation
The course deals with symbolical figures from Czech history (such as priest Josef Toufar, Jan Hus and others) and the changes in the interpretation of their role throughout history. It will focus on the interaction between ideology and history, history and historical myths, and collective memory and historical consciousness. The aim of the course is to introduce students to significant milestones and symbolical figures in Czech history, and to demonstrate the ambiguity of their interpretation due to different political and historical contexts.
An educational excursion (National Memorial on the Vítkov Hill) is a part of the syllabus.