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Courses
Each course title links to a more detailed description of the respective course.
Courses proposed for the Prague Summer Seminars 2008:
Czech Language and Culture (ENGL 2398/4390)Czech and American National Myths: A Comparative Study (ENGL 2398/4390)
A Pendulum of Power: 20th c. Central European History (HIST 2991) - CANCELLED
The Cold War Era (HIST 2991/ 4575)
Masterpieces of Music in the Czech Lands (MUS 2001/4001)
A Performer's Guide to 18th & 19th C. Musical Styles (MUS4001) - CANCELLED
The Architecture of Prague: A Subjective Survey (FA 3293/URBN 4800) - FULL
Fin-de-Siècle Prague Art and Architecture (FA 3293) - FULL
Introduction to Digital Photography (FA 2400) - FULL
Contemporary Practice and Photography in Prague - Int./Adv. (FA 3401/3402) - FULL
The Films of Award-Winning Czech Directors (FTCA 2090-92) - CANCELLED
Heather takes notes on a class excursion.
This course provides an introduction to Czech language and culture. It offers an insight into this Slavonic language, its history, and the culture connected with it. Part of the class will be dedicated to the language introduction, teaching students the most essential phrases in Czech, as well as a bit of historical background to the language. Students will be able to manage elementary conversations in shops, restaurants, etc., and will thus be able to participate in the local, daily life of Prague.
The course will also serve as an introduction to Czech culture; students will learn about Czech habits and traditions. By studying some examples of Czech literature, they will gain a deeper understanding of the culture and history of their host country and the mentality of the Czech people. Czech authors, whose works will be read in English translations, may include Milan Kundera, Ivan Klima, Bohumil Hrabal, Dominik Hasek, Milos Urban, and Franz Kafka. Finally, participants of this course will gain a further insight into Czech culture through one of this country’s most prominent art forms: cinematography. Students will watch a selection of contemporary Czech movies (with English subtitles), learn about their typical features, and compare them with modern American films. The class will also allow to address other topics according to students’ interest. There is, for example, an open field for opera lovers as well as theatre goers, and much more.
Class excursions and field trips will be a fundamental part of this course and contribute strongly to the learning process. Students will participate in literary walks through Prague following the traces of Czech writers, and they will visit, among others, such monuments of Czech culture as the National Library, the National Literary Archives, and the National Theatre.
Czech and American National Myths: A Comparative Study (ENGL 2398/4390)
Instructor: Kathryn Dettmer
What we teach our children about our country informs their actions later. Both the Czech Republic and the United States of America have an abundance of useful myths. A comparative examination of some of these myths will lead to a better understanding of the history and cultures of both countries. Students will read and discuss the myths surrounding figures such as Libuše, Jan Neopomocky, the Golem, and Fučik, among others onthe Czech side and the myths surrounding Pocahontas, Washington, Lincoln, and the American Revolution, among others on the American side. Topics will include the creation of myths, what purpose a myth serves and who it serves, debunking myths, and current myth creation; special emphasis will be given to Communist and post-Communist myth making about America, by America, about Czechs, and by Czechs.
A Pendulum of Power: 20th Central Central European History (HIST 2991) CANCELLED
The Cold War Era (HIST 2991/4575)
Instructor: Günter Bischof
This course will look the larger trajectory of the Cold War in Europe (1945/47 – 1989-91) with a special focus on the Cold War in Central Europe ( Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia). How did the ravages of World War II and the division of Europe affect these Central European neighbors politically, economically and culturally? 2008 will be a great year of important historical anniversaries of the Czech Republic. The Munich Agreement of 1938 and its Cold War legacies, the Czech Coup of 1948, as well as the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia of August 1968 are all important turning points in Czechoslovak Cold War history and special attention will be given to them.
Masterpieces of Music in the Czech Lands (MUS 2001/4001)
Instructor: J. Bradford Robinson
This course will provide an overview of Czech music including traditional folk music and its influence on classical composers. Special attention will be focused on the famous Czech composers, Smetana, Dvorak, Janacek and Martinu. The course is designed for students to explore and experience the vast musical heritage of the Czech Republic.
The course assumes no special musical skills or prior knowledge; limited rudiments of music theory and listening skills will be explained during discussion of individual works as an aid to their appreciation. To a large extent the syllabus will be structured around live performances that the students will attend in Prague and surrounding areas. One possibility is attending Mozart's opera Don Giovanni - one of his greatest works - in the Prague theater where it had its world premiere, conducted by Mozart himself. Visits to places in and around Prague that were important in the lives of composers will be an intricate part of this class.
The weekend field trip to Vienna is highly recommended for participants in this course.
A Performers Guide to 18th & 19th c. Musical Styles (MUS 4001)
CANCELLED
Instructor: Carol Sherwood
This course explores the architecture of Prague from the 10th century to today by examining the place and our experience of it. Using the city of Prague as the primary classroom, the class will investigate how the qualities of the materials, the use of light and shadow, proportion and scale, structural systems and attention to context all work together to inform the experience of the architectural environment. These elements, the ideas behind them and how they have been approached historically will be presented and examined through walking tours, slide lectures, class discussions, readings and individual projects.Text: Reader (to be purchased in Prague)
$45.00 fee for tours and admissions
The weekend field trip to Vienna is highly recommended for participants in this course.Class size limited to 10 students.
The Architecture class on one of its many walks through Prague.
Fin-de-Siècle Prague Art & Architecture (FA 3293) FULL!
Instructor: Carol Sherwood
Syllabus
Fin de Siecle Europe saw an unprecedented explosion of artistic activity in all of the arts. From the decorative arts to architecture, from graphics to sculpture to theater and poetry.In this class we will look at the art and architecture in Prague at the turn of the 19 th century. Through discussions, readings, walking tours and museum visits we will examine the theories and the artistic and technological advancements of this exciting time. We will look at how the industrial revolution created a whole new world. A world apparent in the art of the era and in the fabric of the city of Prague. We will consider our subjective experience of the place while examining turn of the century artistic expressions from the center of Europe. The class will include visits to the Rudolfium, the Art Nouveau Obecni Dum, the Bilek villa and other outstanding examples of Prague architecture along with analysis of the artwork of Frantisek Bilek, Emil Filla, Jan Zrzavy, Vlad Saloun, Max Svbinsky, Jan Priesler and others.
Text: Reader (to be purchased in Prague)
$45.00 fee for tours and admissions
The weekend field trip to Vienna is highly recommended for participants in this course.Class size limited to 10 students.
Instructor: Ariya Martin
As an art form photography demands both craft and vision. Becoming familiar with the craft and methods of photographic and digital technologies, and understanding what can be accomplished with and through them is central. This course will cover fundamental techniques of digital photography, as well as the art of making and interpreting photographs. In addition, students will learn the importance of establishing an authentic photographic voice of their own. Photographic tools and materials, as well as aesthetic and conceptual qualities will be explored through a combination of demonstrations and assignments, readings, slide presentations, field trips, and critiques, as well as one-on-one meetings with the instructor.
With theory and practice, patience, and hard work the initial intention to simply take photographs can become the art of truly making them. This art comes from conscious and knowledgeable yet, skillful and intuitive choices in equipment, lighting, exposure, printing, framing and presentation. As a photographer you will learn how to depict your subject matter and embody your vision.
All students must bring their own digital camera, appropriate memory cards, card reader and battery chargers. Point and shoots that are a minimum 5 Mega pixel resolution are suitable, but a digital SLR is recommended.$50.00 fee for use of digital lab, some supplies and some printing.
A Photography student on a shooting excursion in the vicinity of Prague.
Instructor: Ariya Martin
This class serves two purposes. First is practice: Working in either digital or traditional color film, students at the intermediate to advanced level will work on one project over the course of the four-week program. Aimed at developing and deepening students' own photographic practice, this class is for photography students who are interested in devoting time to explore both content as well as form through the photographic medium. The second purpose of this class is to teach students about the history of Czech photography and the contemporary practices of working photographers with studio visits and gallery tours. At the end of this class students will have a coherent body of work and a digital portfolio. Use of color film is an option and will be a part of class lectures. Types of film and ways to experiment with traditional film based photography is welcomed and expected. Class time will be used for critiques, fieldtrips, discussion and exploration of ideas.
All students must bring their own camera, any format, and appropriate film type. Be prepared to pay for processing and prints. If using digital must bring their own digital camera, appropriate memory cards, card reader and battery chargers.
$50.00 fee for use of digital lab, some supplies and some printing.
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The Films of Award-Winning Czech Directors: Jiři Menzel, Miloš Forman, Jan Sveřak (FTCA 2090-92) CANCELLED
Please e-mail the Program Coordinator at prague@uno.edu with any further questions.
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