CONSTRUCTION OF CZECH NATIONAL IDENTITY AND ITS SYMBOLS

The course focuses on the construction of Czech national identity during the 19th and 20th century. Although the Czech national awakening started first with the beginning of the 19th century, it used the symbols and references through all the historical eras of Czech lands starting with the early medieval times. The course follows the roots of Czech national consciousness from the first ruling dynasty, through the gothic, renaissance, baroque times until the foundation of Czechoslovakia and its history in the 20th century. Special attention is dedicated to the symbols and symbolical places, which were used during the creation of Czech national revival as patterns of Czech national identity (e.g. Slavín cemetery, National Museum, National Theatre, Municipal house, the monument of Battle of White Mountain, National Memorial on the Vítkov Hill). By visiting these symbolical places the students are able to see, what kind of national symbols were used and in which way. The course is divided into two parts: the first part is theoretical, in the in order to outline the topic and background of the lecture. The second part includes field trips to one of the museums/memorials, where the different problematics are discussed more precisely.