"Tito - a reliable friend". Media image of Czechoslovak-Yugoslav friendship during Tito's state visits to Czechoslovakia
Abstract
Josip Broz Tito, as head of state, visited Czechoslovakia three times: in 1946, 1965 and 1968. Especially his visits in 1946 and 1968 attracted considerable attention of the Czechoslovak public.
The visit in 1946 was influenced by the spirit of the post-war euphoria and the associated atmosphere of hope for the future peaceful coexistence of European countries. Probably the strongest symbolic dimension had Tito's visit in August 1968 (a few days before the invasion of the Warsaw Pact troops, which prevented the reform efforts of the Prague Spring).
In a way this visit also became the "place of memory" which is remembered even nowadays in the context of relations between Czech Republic/ Czechoslovakia and the post-Yugoslav countries. A paper will focus on discursive and semiotic analysis of the image of Tito's visits in Czechoslovak media of the era.
We will follow mainly ensuing questions: - in which way was the Czechoslovak-Yugoslav friendship presented and which aspects of this relation were emphasised the most? - in which way was constructed the image of Yugoslavia? - in which way was depicted Tito in personal as a political leader? - how was this media image infuenced by the festive nature of the visits?