|
|
Czech Mythology for an Anglo-American Audience: Tomáš Masaryk's Campaign for Recognition in the West, 1914-1918
King, Corey ; Matějka, Ondřej (advisor) ; Lorman, Thomas (referee) ; Brisku, Adrian (referee)
This research analyzes Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk's use of Czech national mythology in his efforts to secure Anglo-American support for an independent Czechoslovak state during the First World War. Convinced that the fate of the Czechs and Slovaks would be determined in London and Washington, he deemed it crucial to convince both nations of the importance of his program prior to the war's culmination. His propaganda on both sides of the Atlantic relied heavily on mythological arguments from the Czech past to present his case. This research seeks to illuminate how historical narratives can be adapted for different audiences and mobilized to achieve political aims by examining Masaryk's approach. Through an analysis of his various speeches, journals, and memoranda produced for the Anglo-Saxon nations, this study posits that Masaryk utilized the 'golden age' and 'dark age' of Czech and Slovak history as a conceptual framework to illustrate the compatibility of the Czechs with the West, the feasibility of a renewed Czechoslovak state, and the vilification of the Germans and Austro-Hungarians. Furthermore, it deduces that Masaryk's mythology differed in how it was expressed, emphasizing strategic concerns for the British and adopting a more moralistic strategy for the Americans.
|
guest ::
