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When is a film “propaganda,” and when does social experiment
qualify as “art”? Does the Holocaust belong on the
silver screen? How is Hollywood affecting national cinemas? Is
Prague a ripe location for the new “reality” genres?
Frequently hailed as the “Hollywood of Europe,” Prague has
been an internationally recognized hub for cinema since Machatý’s
provocative Ecstasy (1933). This course will introduce students
to the Czech cinematic tradition – from the establishment of the
Barrandov Studios “Dream Factory” in the 1930s to the Czech
New Wave to recent post-transition hits like Kolja (aka „Coca-Kolya“). We
will analyze the cinematic language of storytelling and explore the uniquely
Czech approaches to film narrative. We will also examine how Czech
cinema has responded to foreign influences – from the „Aryanization“ of
the Nazis to the „normalization“ of the Soviet Union to the
genre system and big budgets of Hollywood -- and compare Czech trends to
their Western counterparts (surrealism, the New Wave, post-modernism).
There are no prerequisites; no knowledge of Czech language is required.
- CZE 1131
Section:
4244
Credits: 5
Time:
MTR 4; W3-4
Instructor:
Raynard
Whether your interest in Czech is social, academic or professional,
knowledge of the Czech language will enrich your interaction with
Czechs and Czech culture. CZE 1131 is a continuation of CZE 1130, further
developing your communicative abilities in Czech -- reading, writing, listening
and speaking -- while acquainting you with the most relevant aspects of
Czech culture. After the first-year sequence, you be able to converse
with Czechs about your daily life, opinions, and interests. You will also
be able to understand many authentic materials (ads, catalogues, instructions,
web sites, some television and film, etc.)
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