\r\n
Lecture 7. Nov 30
\r\nProtest Movement in Soviet Bloc
\r\nDuring the classes, we will study the protest movement that existed during the socialistic period in Eastern and Central Europe. We will acquaint ourselves with the crucial role of the Charter 77, with activities of Czech and Russian dissidents, protest groups and organizations. Which role in the protest culture did music bands play (on the example of The Plastic People of Universe and others)?
\r\nRecommended Reading: Václav Havel, “The power of the powerless”, in: Václav Havel, John Keane (eds.), The power of the powerless: citizens against the state in central - eastern Europe, London: Hutchinson, 1985, pp. 23-97.
\r\nor: http://www.vaclavhavel.cz/index.php?sec=6&id=2&kat&from=6&setln=2
\r\n\r\n
Lecture 8. Dec 7
\r\nSports and Propaganda: Together Forever?
\r\nWe will be dealing with soviet sport (mass sport and professional sport) in the Soviet bloc and propaganda, which is often connected to the soviet sport. During the classes, we will focus our attention on some ideological aspects of the Spartakiades (Spartakiáda) in Czechoslovakia and mass gymnastics under the communism and socialism. Yet we will study the Czechoslovak Hockey Riots at the beginning of 1969 and Olympic games in Moscow in 1980.
\r\nRecommended Reading: Petr Roubal, «Mass Gymnastic Performances under Communism: The Case of Czechoslovak Spartakiads », in Balazs Apor, Peter Apor (eds.), The Sovietization of Eastern Europe. New Perspectives on the Postwar Period, Washington, New Academia Publishing, 2008, pp. 171-180.
\r\n\r\n
Lecture 9. Dec 14
\r\nWomen’s Rights and a Socialistic Reality.
\r\nWhat did the social role of socialistic women look like? What roles, rights and obligations did they have? Were socialistic women truly equal with men economically and socially? Could socialistic women freely treat their body and life, freely choose roles in the society? Besides these issues, we will discuss the problematic existence of the so-called “Interruption committee” in Czechoslovakia.
\r\nRecommended Reading: VeraSokolova, “State Approaches to Homosexuality and Non-Heterosexual Lives in Czechoslovakia under State Socialism”, in: Hana Havelková, Libora Oates-Indruchová, The politics of gender culture under state socialism: an expropriated voice, London: Routledge, 2014, pp. 82-108.
\r\nHana Havelková, Libora Oates-Indruchová, „Expropriated voice: transformations of gender culture under state socialism; Czech society, 1949-89”, in: Hana Havelková, Libora Oates-Indruchová, The politics of gender culture under state socialism: an expropriated voice, London: Routledge, 2014, pp. 3-29.
\r\n\r\n
Lecture 10. Dec 21
\r\nChurch and Religious in a Socialistic Bloc.
\r\nOur point of departure will be anti-church propaganda in the contemporary magazines, most notably in the satirical multi-million issue “Krokodil”. What was the relationship between the church (or churches – Orthodox, Catholic and others) and the communist regime? We will be devoting a large section of the class to the study of communist persecution of priests and religious organizations (socialistic propaganda and priest Toufar’s case).
\r\nRecommended Reading: Paul Froese, The plot to kill God: findings from the Soviet experiment in secularization, Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008, Chapter The Atheist Crusade.
\r\n
Lecture 11. Jan 4
\r\nBack to Socialist Retro: Real Ostalgie or Clever Marketing Strategy?
\r\nWhat is the phenomenon of Ostalgie? As a rule, ostalgie is based on many socialist myths such as “The socialist society was egalitarian society o","inLanguage":"en"}]}
Předmět poskytuje sondu do každodennosti socialismu pomocí studia dobových anekdot (vtipů) ze zemí sovětského bloku.