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Imaginary Elsewhere: The "West" in Czechoslovakian society in the time of Perestroika
Andělová, Kristina ; Pullmann, Michal (advisor) ; Randák, Jan (referee)
In societies of state socialism the image of West was usually characterized by high degree of ambivalence. On the one hand the West was a space where negative social and politic phenomena could be displaced - as negative film should the official image of evil West full of social insecurity, criminality and poverty, reassured Czechoslovakian citizens of rightness of building socialism. On the other hand entirely opposite scenes were part of the public meaning- unconcealed admiration of fashion trends inspired by western mass culture (films, music). There was not only the fascination with consumer commodities of the western World, but also an admiration of lot of nonmaterial aspects (freedom of press, traveling, ecologic, feministic, pacifistic movements etc.). The West became gradually something mystical- it was at the same time "familiar and inaccessible, real and abstract, mundane and exotic". This ambivalence and inaccessibility was transforming the West in some mysterious and dreamlike place where instead of evil, the promise of happiness could be projected. Despite the official ideology and censoring attempts that limited the information about life behind the Iron Curtain, citizens in Czechoslovakia had an opportunity to create their own, quite clear image of West. At the same time I am trying to...
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Western Music in the Post-1968 Czechoslovakia
Havlík, Adam ; Pullmann, Michal (advisor) ; Rákosník, Jakub (referee)
This paper addresses the peculiar topic of western music in post 1968 Czechoslovakia with emphasis on the official music scene. It shows how western music was actually treated in Czechoslovakian society and how the image of western music was shaped within the public discourse , including many significant ambiguities. It also follows various ways (legal and also illegal) in which ordinary people used to obtain foreign music records in the era of late socialism. An analysis of actual impact of western music on Czechoslovak popular music and the role of institutions within that is also present. This paper could thus be considered as a modest contribution to the social and cultural history of socialist dictatorships.
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The Presentation of the Occident in magazines Obzory and Tvorba in 1945-1948
Brandejská, Anna ; Cebe, Jan (advisor) ; Sekera, Martin (referee)
The diploma thesis "The media image of the Occident in magazines Obzory and Tvorba in 1945-1948" examines by using quantitative content analysis the portrayal of the Western world in provided magazines. It can be assumed that the magazines wrote about the Occident differently. Tvorba, magazine published by the communist party, is likely to be negative, while Obzory, published by the People's Democracy, would probably describe the West in a positive way. A description of the political situation in Czechoslovakia and in the world in postwar years, as well as the Czechoslovak media landscape, are included in the thesis to put into context.
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The Western Response to the Russo-Georgian War of 2008: A Case of Securitization?
Michálková, Kateřina ; Aslan, Emil (advisor) ; Weiss, Tomáš (referee)
The Russo-Georgian war, which took place in August 2008, with separatist ambitions of Georgian region of South Ossetia being the casus belli, was not merely understood as a clash between these two countries, but it was also seen in broader terms as a Russia-West dispute or a "new Cold War". This symbolic dimension of the conflict was based mainly on the Russian rhetoric prior to the war, which reacted sharply to the promise of future NATO membership for Georgia. Another reason was the nature of the Russian intervention with its inadequacy raising question whether the aim was solely to consolidate the situation in South Ossetia or if the real intention was to overthrow the Georgian government and reverse the Western foreign policy orientation of Georgia. During the August 2008 and in the following months in the West the relations with Russia became a major political issue. On the one hand the West strongly criticised Russia and condemned its actions on the other hand Western response lacked significant pressure that would persuade Russia to change its practices. The aim of this thesis is to explain the discrepancy between rhetoric and actions of the West, or by other words to answer the question why the West did not intervene against Russia, while at the same calling its steps "unacceptable"....
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The Development of Orientalism and its Form in the Contemporary World
Přibáňová, Tereza ; Balon, Jan (advisor) ; Horák, Vít (referee)
The bachelor thesis deals with problems of orientalism, which is considered primarily in Edward Said's definition as a power discourse in which knowledge about the Orient is created. Even today, Westerners have to rely solely on mediated information about Orient, which can be quite misleading. The thesis first defines different meanings of orientalism and the categories of West and East. The thesis presents development of orientalism in its pre- modern and modern or academic form, including criticism of Said's concept. Critique of orientalism is currently included in postcolonial criticism, therefore there is a chapter on postcolonial criticism as well, which includes part about relationship of sociology to this issue. In conclusion is discussed occidentalism, which is often seen as the opposite of orientalism, but it isn't entirely accurate. Also is analyzed the contemporary form of orientalism, which is associated mainly with attitude of the Western world (mainly U.S.) to the Islamic countries.
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Apocalyptic movie - background, forms and function
Novák, Michal ; Petrusek, Miloslav (advisor) ; Kotík, Michal (referee)
The bachelor thesis "Apocalyptic movie - background, forms and function" deals the apocalyptic movie phenomenon as a functional element in the occidental civilization since 1920s until now. It investigates the origins of apocalyptic thinking, i.e. expectation of the end- time, and emphasizes its religious, philosophic and practical impact in society based on Judeo- Christian tradition. It tries to adumbrate recent public apprehension, evoked by technology development, spreading of diseases, overpopulation or clash of cultures, and sums up various pessimistic visions in perspectives of human and natural sciences. Then it focuses on the beginning of apocalyptic theme in literary fiction and finally in cinematography. The work brings the original typology of apocalyptic themes, designed on the base of sample of one hundred and fifty best rated movies, and with that tries to confirm reflecting essence of apocalyptic movie, whereas compares distribution of themes and parallel social events or moods in decades. In an effort to clarify function of apocalyptic movie, the work, with help of McLuhan's media theory, uses the concept of moral panic. It concludes, that visualization of danger and subsequent solution leads to discharging of moral panic's potential. Labeling of deviation and presentation of...
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Dzogchen and its philosophical aspect in Bon tradition
KLOZAR, Karel
The thesis deals with philosophical aspect of Dzhgchen, which is the core of the Yungdrung Bon traditon. It is very special spiritual tradition because of it's very special nondualistic view of man and universe. First part deals with the history and division of it's teachings and it's Dzogchen lineages. Next part focuses on explanation of differences in views of sutra, tantra and Dzogchen, mainly from the standpoint of the view of base, path, fruit, emptiness, clarity, conscioussness and mind and it's nature. Next part provides translation of the text Twelve little tantras and it's deep explanation. Last part, and most important one, focuses on philosophical examination of some key aspects of Dzogchen, mainly on it's view of autenticity of mindnature. This part also compares Pramenides's fragments with some key points of view of Buddhism and Dzogchen, which may lead to some unexpected conclusions about man's thinking and the problem of it's intentionality.
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Confrontation of western and eastern spirituality: options and limitations of contemporary approaches the transcendent
KLOZAR, Karel
The thesis deals with examination of the transcendent in relation to the human being through intraspective and extraspective analysis of some typical differences of eastern and western approach to being. Pointing out some fundamental differences on extraspective level. Searching for possible similarities on intraspective level ? real, imaginary and possible. Inspiration with Jung's collective unconsciousness and individuation process as the possible key to understanding the essence of human as focus of relation of an universal and an individual. The transcendent as a collective goal, or source of conflict? Are eastern and western approaches the transcendent compatible? Is there some essence of the transcendent, which is universal and points to some unbiased form of experience? Integration of consciousness and unconsciousness as the fundamental joint of East and West.
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The Western Influence on Current Situation in Rwanda
Počerová, Veronika ; Kochan, Jan (advisor) ; Sršeň, Radim (referee)
This thesis deals with the influence of the West on Rwanda. The main focus is on the recent development, from eighties up to now. In order to ensure full comprehension of all related events, there is a brief description of the pre-colonial and colonial era in the first chapter. The thesis focuses mainly on the behaviour of main western powers -- France, Great Britain and the United States of America, they are complemented by Belgium which plays an important role in the case of Rwanda. The thesis also deals with the influence of other international actors, namely with the UN but other international governmental and non-governmental organizations and transnational corporations are included as well.
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