Course detail

Czechoslovakian Visual Culture 1945–1970

FaVU-CVKAcad. year: 2024/2025

A course is focused on the study of visual images in Czechoslovakian books, magazines, film and television. Individual lectures deal with applied graphics, photographs and spatial realizations in public space.  Miscellaneous visual materials are analyzed and interpreted in relation to institutions, changes in cultural policy and in connection with the creation and development of consumer society.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

MgA. Pavel Ryška, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Audiovisual Technology (KAT)

Entry knowledge

None.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Course assessment is based on an essay (minimum 5000 characters).

Teaching takes place in the classrooms of the FFA BUT in the hours determined by the schedule. Lectures are optional.

Aims

The aim of the lecture series is to introduce lesser-known activity of significant personalities of fine art, but also the ordinary work of designers who participated in the visual style of the Czechoslovakian cultural promotion, advertising and fabrication of a wide range of industrial products.

Students get knowledge about the development of post-war Czechoslovak culture. They will understand the economic, technological and organizational conditions of the activity of Czechoslovak designers. They will be able to identify important realisations in the field of industry, architecture and book, film and television graphics.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Alena Binarová. Svaz výtvarných umělců v českých zemích v letech 1956‒1972. Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, 2017.
Česálková, Lucie ‒ Táborský, Ondřej (ed.), Spotřební imaginace státního socialismu: Reklama v Československu 1948- Praha: Akropolis, Národní muzeum 2022.
Dušková, Dagmar ‒ Morganová, Pavlína ‒ Ševčík, Jiří. České umění 1938‒1989. Programy / kritické texty / dokumenty. Praha: Academia, 2001.
Franc, Martin ‒ Knapík, Jiří. Průvodce kulturním děním a životním stylem v českých zemích 1948–1967. Praha: Academia, 2011.
Kramerová, Daniela ‒ Skálová, Vanda (eds.) Bruselský sen. Československá účast na Světové výstavě Expo 58 v Bruselu a životní styl 1. poloviny 60. let. Praha: Arbor vitae, 2008.
Kramerová, Daniela (ed.) Retromuseum. Životní styl a design v ČSSR. Cheb: Galerie výtvarného umění, 2016.
Šidlíková, Zuzana. Stratená (m)óda. Odevná kultúra na Slovensku v rokoch 1945‒1989. Bratislava: Slovart, 2016.
Zarecor, Kimberly. Utváření socialistické modernity. Bydlení v Československu v letech 1945-1960. Praha: Academia, 2015.

Recommended reading

Adamovič, Ivan ‒ Pospiszyl, Tomáš. Planeta Eden. Svět zítřka v socialistickém Československu. Praha: Arbor vitae, 2010.
Česálková, Lucie. Atomy věčnosti. Český krátký film 30. až 50. let. Praha: NFA, 2014.
Franc, Martin ‒ Knapík, Jiří. Volný čas v českých zemích 1957‒1967. Praha: Academia, 2013.
Groys, Boris. Gesamtkunstwerk Stalin. Rozpolcená kultura v Sovětském svazu. Praha, Akademie výtvarných umění, 2011.
Holešovský, František. Čeští ilustrátoři v současné knize pro děti a mládež. Praha: Albatros, 1989.
Horáková, Ljuba. Haďák aneb Osud karikaturisty v Čechách. Praha: Mladá fronta, 1993.
Kaplan, Karel. Kronika komunistického Československa. Doba tání, 1953-1956. Brno: Barrister & Principal, 2005.
Kaplan, Karel. Kronika komunistického Československa. Kořeny reformy, 1956-1968. Brno: Barrister & Principal, 2008.
Klímová, Nikola (ed.). SNKLHU. Odeom. České knižní obálky v edičních řadách. Praha: Vysoká škola uměleckoprůmyslová, 2016.
Kybal, Antonín. Kapitoly o textilním umění. Praha: Nakladatelství československých výtvarných umělců, 1958.
Pachmanová, Martina ‒ Hubatová-Vacková, Lada ‒ Pečinková, Pavla. Věci a slova. Praha: Vysoká škola uměleckoprůmyslová, 2014.
Pernes, Jiří. Dějiny Československa očima Dikobrazu 1945‒1990. Brno: Barrister & Principal, 2003.
Rajlich, Jan. Brno ‒ černá bílá. Brno: Akademické nakladatelství Cerm, 2015.
Skopal, Pavel (ed.). Naplánovaná kinematografie. Český filmový průmysl 1945 až 1960. Praha: Academia, 2012.
Toman, Jindřich ‒ Sylvestrová, Marta. Zdeněk Rossmann: Horizonty modernismu (1905‒1984). Brno: Moravská galerie, 2015.
Vlčková, Lucie (ed.). Antonín Kybal. Praha: KANT, Uměleckoprůmyslové muzeum, 2016.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
  • Programme DES_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
  • Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    4 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

MgA. Pavel Ryška, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Applied graphics and illustrations
Development of book and magazine graphics, typography and illustrations in connection with changes of editorial experience in post-war Czechoslovakia.

2. From political satire to „pure humor“
Modern caricature and requirements of Soviet aesthetics. Czechoslovak humorous magazines. Association of cartoonist „Polylegran“ and their response to American and West European „cartoon poetry“.

3. Everything for children
Illustrated children's books and children's magazines. Political education under the SNDK. Production and distribution of filmstrips.

4. Socialist Realism in architecture
Mechanisms of cultural transfer between the Soviet Union and the post-war Czechoslovakia. Surface decoration and plastic exteriors.

5. Advertising or propagation?
Graphic design and photography in visual agitation, promotion and economic advertising. Freelance artists and employees of the „Reklamní podnik státního obchodu“ (Promotional state trading enterprise).

6. EXPO 1958
Demonstration of the socialist ideal of science, industry, culture and lifestyle. Response of the pre-war modernism. International organic style.

7. Brussels style
Graphic arts and industrial design in the socialist economy. Formation of consumer articles. Textile designers. Board games and toys. Use of plastics.

8. Film and television
Film and television graphics of the fifties and sixties. Partial animation. Advertising jingles.

9. Movie posters
Promotion of the Czechoslovak film industry.

10. Short films
Role of short films in the state-controlled cinematography. Ways of popularization of science and technology. Film in education.

11. Three-dimensional images
Development of Czech stereoscopic cinema in the fifties. Stereovision, colourfully and vividly with Meopta system.

12. Production designers
Artists, designers and filmmaking. Productions of Czechoslovakian cartoon and puppet films.

13. Light advertising
Centralized production and distribution of neon tubes and other light images. Animated neon signs in Czechoslovak cities.