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From monasteries to men. The significance of monastic architecture and its art in the New Spain of 16th century
Brenišínová, Monika ; Křížová, Markéta (advisor) ; Štěpánek, Pavel (referee) ; Marek, Pavel (referee)
In my dissertation, I inquire into the phenomenon of monastic architecture and its plastic decoration in 16th century New Spain. The aim of this work is to present Mexican monasteries and their artistic significance. In my analysis, I build on the interpretation of monastic architecture from the perspective of early colonial society, I also reflect on the individual level, assessing its impact on the conquest and colonization of America. The methodology of this research project combines analysis of historical (e.g. study of historical sources) and art historical processes (iconological analysis of E. Panofsky) with analysis of anthropological concepts (e.g. rituals of transition of A. van Gennep, thick description of Cl. Geertz, concepts of liminality, structure and communitas of V. Turner). During my PhD studies, I conducted a field trip in Central Mexico (2013), supported by a grant from the Government of Mexico. I visited and documented one hundred and sixteen monasteries and the photographic documentation is the main empirical source of my analysis which further draws from the study of historical sources and academic literature. My research primarily focuses on three aspects: 1. the monastic architecture and art; 2. the role of the monastery in the process of European conquest and colonization...
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Sacrifice and initiation in the myths of Ódinn
Kozák, Jan ; Chlup, Radek (advisor) ; Antalík, Dalibor (referee) ; Starý, Jiří (referee)
This dissertation deals with the interpretation of four myths from early medieval Scandinavia, in which the main role is played by the god Óðinn. All four myths narrate how he achieved a state of permanent increase of his numinous knowledge. Based on the fact that the outcome of all of the narratives is the acquisition of the Mead of Poetry (or its equivalent), they can be percieved as "four reports on the same event". The analysis of myths itself has been executed in two steps: firstly the separate inquiry of the two more central myths and introduction of the other two followed by thorough analysis of the four together. All four myths demonstrate to a certain degree a presence of motifs and structures associated with the religious phenomena of sacrifice and initiation. By the means of said analysis the study reviews the systematic relations of the sacrificial and initiatory structures and postulates a common core which is subsequently named "monomyth".
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Question of Identity in The Impressionist and Baumgartner' s Bombay
Sehnalová, Kamila ; Topolovská, Tereza (advisor) ; Chalupský, Petr (referee)
This diploma thesis aims to depict the nature of identity formation in the main characters of two works of postcolonial literature, Hari Kunzru's The Impressionist and Anita Desai's Baumgartner's Bombay. The concept of identity is approached from two perspectives, the traditional and the postcolonial one. Apart from that, the reactions of the two characters to their identity crises are scrutinized. The goal of this thesis is to determine what consequences the extreme implementation of a fluid, therefore ideal postcolonial identity, and the fixed one, as its extreme opposite, might have upon human lives. Special attention is paid to the three terms crucial in the postcolonial theory, liminality, hybridity and mimicry and how they predetermine the characters of the two novels. The analysis shows that neither extreme approach proves to be viable or beneficial for the life of an individual.
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Short Non-Professional Film as a Genre of Contemporary Folklore. Options of Research on the Web in Anthropological and Sociological Perspective
Kubík, Milan ; Cirklová, Jitka (advisor) ; Hrůzová, Andrea (referee)
This exploratory study aims to determine short non-profesional film as a relevant object of study for anthropology and sociology. Firstly, short non-profesional film is defined as a product of popular culture, but it shares many characteristics with the commercial film. Subsequently, short non-profesional film is described as a distinctive genre of contemporary folklore. This definition will be based on its comparison with the characteristics of contemporary legends. Subsequently, the study shows, which symbolic functions could short non-pofesional film hold in society and thus help to set up its symbolic order. Film's main function is to bring limit experiences into everyday context of the viewer. In this way, the watching of short non-professional film becomes a rite of passage that gives to the audience the opportunity to experience the state of liminality - violation of order - through suspense. This tension, however, the viewer experiences in a safe symbolic world of the film itself. In the final catharsis, which is enhanced by an elliptical plot, then it release the tension and restore social order. This study is a combination of quantitative research and ethnography in cyberspace. The study brings the subjectivity of the researcher and also his essential reflexivity into the center of text...
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Pilgrimage legends in Bohemia in the Baroque period
Andršová, Tereza ; Chlup, Radek (advisor) ; Zdichynec, Jan (referee)
In this paper I deal with the cult of Virgin Mary in Bohemia in the period after the Battle of White Mountain, when there was a very significant rise in the Marian devotion and pilgrimage sites. Around the half of 17th century a substantial change in the social order occurred due to the Battle of White Mountain and subsequent consolidation of Habsburg power. This paper deals with the legends concerning the origin of the pilgrimage sites and the books of miracles. I based my interpretation mainly on the theory of Victor Turner. I was influenced also by a book by Mary Douglas Purity and Danger. I use the examples of Svatá Hora and Stará Boleslav to show how Marian pilgrimages respond to the socio-political changes. Pilgrimage legends managed to link different periods of Bohemian history and thus to legitimate the reinforcement of Catholicism as well as the Habsburg reign. They also managed to bridge social differences and release the social tension, since they involve people from all social classes and articulate a state where the social hierarchy is abolished.
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Worcamp Liminality, or There and Back Again (and the extraordinary experiences that happen in between)
Sedláčková, Tereza ; Grygar, Jakub (advisor) ; Horák, Vít (referee)
Bachelor thesis "Workcamp Liminality, or There and Back Again (and the extraordinary experiences that happen in between)" deals with initiation in contemporary society. It elaborates on initiation of transition between childhood and adulthood, which is made possible through the secular rituals of transition. A research on one workcamp is used to analyse this type of initiation. Three-phase concept rites de passage of Arnold van Gennep, focusing on the middle, liminal, stage and its course as described by Victor Turner is used in the analysis. The aim of this paper is to outline some examples of travelling, which may take the form of rites de passage, and through research on one specific workcamp show that it is possible to encounter the liminal and initiating characteristics of travelling there. According to the theories of Victor Turner emergence of communitas is perhaps the clearest indication of liminal stage (or rite de passage and initiation). Turner's understanding of communitas is very important especially for the empirical part of the text. Methodological work is based on participant observation in the field and semi-structured interviews with workcamp participants conducted during the workcamp. This work shows that under specific circumstances, the workcamp environment can facilitate...
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Holden Caulfield as a liminal character
Chrobok, Jiří ; Ženíšek, Jakub (advisor) ; Chalupský, Petr (referee)
This Diploma thesis deals with the character of Holden Caulfield, the main protagonist of J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye, identifying him as a liminal character. It is concerned with the term liminality and inbetweennes. It focuses on evidence of his inbetweennes by means of the examples from the novel itself. It illustrates the examples of his position between childhood and adulthood by way of some of Holden's manners, behaviour and talks.
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Identity and Displacement in Contemporary Postcolonial Fiction
Olehlová, Markéta ; Nováková, Soňa (advisor) ; Franková, Milada (referee) ; Kolinská, Klára (referee)
English summary The main objective of this thesis is to present some key issues relevant for postcolonial field of study with respect to two basic areas of interest: concepts of identity and place, respectively displacement in contemporary postcolonial discourse and their reflection in fiction, too. The thesis should provide the potential reader with basic theoretical background based on the most fundamental sources and by means of selected literary works it should support (or disclaim, if necessary) conclusions reached by the most notable theories. This dissertation work consists of three major parts. In the introduction, apart from providing the motivational, theoretical and literary objectives of the thesis, I cover some basic difficulties that may occur when dealing with the postcolonial field of study. The central part of the thesis can be divided into two parts, each of them consisting of two further sections. The first one, "Identity in Postcolonial Discourse", is focused on one of the key terms in all of postcolonial theory: identity and other concepts related with it. I cover the basic development of theoretical reflection concerning this concept, drawing primarily from secondary sources dealing with it. The theoretical part on identity is succeeded by a chapter "Reflections of Identity in the...
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Culture and Ritual
KOLESOVÁ, Lucie
The work deals with whole description of ritual theory. The first chapter focuses on ritual from point of view its function, rise and meaning in culture. The part two deals with ritual as performance, first of all relation ritual and theatre. The third chapter states some of typology of ritual and important representatives who occupies with ritual and some of theirs main opinions and ideas. The next chapter completes anthropological approaches to ritual with others important anthropologists, who represent this approaches. The fifth chapter devotes other types of ritual, as burial rituals, healing rituals, annual rituals, which are complete with description visual examples.
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