Decentralization in the Czech Nationalized Cinema 1957-1962 : A Consequence of Cultural Liberalization or Effort to Work More Effectively?
Abstract
This study deals with decentralization processes in the nationalized Czechoslovak cinematography, which took place in the second half of the 1950's and the first half of the 1960's. It contextualizes these organizational changes within the historical and political-cultural developments in Czechoslovakia and approaches them from two main perspectives: from the point of view of changes right in the top management of the Czechoslovak cinematography and in other organizational parts of the Czechoslovak Film and from the point of view of changes in the relationship between this film management and the superior Ministry of Education and Culture.
The role of the ruling communist party is of particular importance, as they attached great significance to the influence of mass culture, especially film, and its educational function. The study also focuses on important persons associated with the management of cinematography in the monitored period and personnel changes that occurred as a result of the aforementioned organizational changes and political interventions.
We aim to reveal the causes and circumstances that led to the abandonment of the strictly centralized administration of cinematography, which was based on the industrial model of film production (introduced in the early 1950's), and to examine the effects of this transformation. Our study also focuses on the effects of these changes on the functioning of the cinema network and the influence on the distribution of films.
From January 1, 1957, the administration of cinemas was transferred to national committees, which was supposed to bring simplification and efficiency of film distribution. We tried to find out what problems cinema operators at the time faced, how they dealt with the drop in attendance in cinemas.