Course detail

Around 1956: the Culture of the Mid Fifties

FaVU-2A1956Acad. year: 2019/2020

The course will focus on the different faces of culture in mid 50s Europe. We will shortly examine the political situation at both sides of the Iron curtain, but we will mostly look at selected issues in literature, film, music, and visual art

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

4

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Tests, active participation in class, essays.

Prerequisites

Students must have an upper-intermediate and higher level of English.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in the article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations..

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Exam

Course curriculum

1. Politics in 1950 at both sides of the Iron Curtain
2. Socialist Realism in art, film, literature, history, and propaganda in Czechoslovakia
3. Literature - Czechoslovakia - Focus: Škovercký: The Cowards (1957]
4. Film: Poland - Focus: Wajda: The Canals (1957)
5. Film: Focus: Sweden - Bergmann: The Seventh Seal (1957)
6. Film. France. Cahiers du Cinema; the birth of the New Wave and the concept of auteur film; Focus: Godard: Breathless (59)
7. Film: Neorealism: Italy. Focus: Rossellini: Stromboli (1950)
8. Literature - France. Existencialism and the New Novel. Focus: Robbe-Grillet. La Jalousie (57)
9. literature - Britain - Focus: Colin Mc Innes - Absolute Beginners
10. Some art groups of mid fifties: The Independent Group (UK), the SI
11. Music: bebop, cool jazz, Miles Davis, etc...

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The goal of this course is to provide students with a detailed knowledge of European culture in mid 50s.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Two absences per semester are allowed.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Bergmann, Ingmar. The Seventh Seal.
Goddard, Jean-Luc. Breathless.
Grojs, Boris. Gesamkunstwerk Stalin.
Ken Knabb. Situationist Antology.
Mc Innes, Colin. Absolute Beginners.
Robbe-Grillet, Alain. The Jealousy.
Robbins, David. The Independent Group in Postwar Britain
Rossellini, Roberto. Stromboli.
Škvorecký Josef: The Cowards
Thomson and Bordwell: Film History: An Introduction

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUM Master's

    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Seminar

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer