Area B

A cultural state?

Panel B1: Literature as a social practice

The understanding of the new state as, among others, a means for massive enhancement of the cultural life and quality of life for all citizens, created a unique opportunity to implement measures to have access, from the early days of the founding of Czechoslovakia, to books in any town or village. The law on libraries made municipalities build libraries, and the new network of public libraries also stimulated the taking over of older associational libraries. Noteworthy topics include the economic issues regarding the production, publishing, distribution and consumption of books, newspapers and magazines, the libraries of students’ societies, commercial libraries as well as the “national resistance” library of Czechoslovak Germans (Bücherei der Deutschen). We would appreciate contributions taking into consideration literary censorship, readership in various social classes, literary sociability, representation of the cultural ambitions of the “state nation” (leading nation) and issues of German and other minority literatures, their institutionalization and needs.

Lukáš Borovička (chair)

Panel B2: New schools for the new world? Struggles for school reform and school experiments

A fundamental topic in the early Czechoslovak Republic was the effort to transform the educational system. There were discussions on the need to “de-Austrify” and “democratize” the school system and make it “republican” or even transform it gradually into a means for societal change. However, there was no consensus on the practical aspects of such transformation. There were stimulated efforts for transformation in the form of school alternatives and experiments, mostly as bottom-up initiatives carried out by enthusiastic teachers (e.g., Dům dětství – “Childhood Home”, Volná škola práce – “Free School of Work”, Pokusná pracovní škola – “Experimental Work School”, etc.). Despite huge expectations, the attempts at school system reform resulted in no great success in this era, probably due to political reasons, and only the “lesser school act” was adopted. This section is limited to the early post-war years, e.g., before Václav Příhoda’s reform efforts of the later period. We would also welcome Central European comparisons.

Tomáš Kasper (chair)

Panel B3: Scientific and university policies

This section will focus on the policies of the Czechoslovak government in regards to university education and science. It will provide space for questions regarding various forms of state power and the academic environment, ranging from the rare symbioses of etablishing new scientific and university institutions or the taking over of existing ones by the state, to negotiating plans and projects which were not implemented for various reasons, and critical discussions on curtailing the state’s role towards universities and science. Desired topics also cover new axes of international scientific collaboration (France, Yugoslavia, etc.) and their connection to international agreements and domestic scientific capacities. Space is to be given to formation of the scientific discourse in relation to topics supported by the government and the question of how scientific policies reflected the government’s approach towards “non-state nations” and other minorities. Another suitable topic is private scientific institutions. Comparisons with Central Europe and other countries would be appreciated.

Karel Šima (chair)

Panel B4: Arts, the state and representation

The formation of a new state identity in Czechoslovakia’s citizens in the early 1920s was supported by transformations of the surroundings in which public procurement in the areas of architecture, city planning, landscaping and arts in public space as well as applied arts design (e.g., stamps) were used. We will focus on how artists and arts institutions (art museums, publications, art schools, art criticism, the art trade) adapted/were adapted to the new situation. What was the effect on topics for exhibitions, museum collections, subjective choices of artistic topics, the focus of research in history of arts? The most interesting cases can be expected in the intersection of both situations as well as in intersectional questions (Czech – Slovak – German relations, foreign representations, etc.) Contributions from the areas of the history of arts, history, philosophy and cultural anthropology would be appreciated.

Milena Bartlová (chair)

Panel B5: Film as a pop-culture phenomenon and industry

Czechoslovakia was recorded by film cameras from its birth. Events perceived as important ones were often recorded on film reels for future generations. Still a relatively new type of entertainment, film soon became a mass phenomenon thanks to the increasing number of permanent cinemas being opened across Czechoslovakia. The early years of the Czechoslovak Republic were connected with the revival and embedding of regular national production, the formation of a local film star culture and fandom subcultures as well as the interest of avant-garde film-makers and the first projects with artistic ambitions. We would also welcome Central European comparisons.

Tereza Czesany Dvořáková (chair)

Panel B6: Preserving the republic: changes and visions in archival science and heritage preservation

The preservation and upkeep of the historic and cultural heritage is the intersection of archival science and historic preservation. The Czechoslovak Republic’s early years saw fundamental challenges in these areas. An archive school was founded and separations of older archives as well as disputes on an appropriate model for the archive network took place. The field of care for monuments also faced challenges when searching for its new model, and there were disputes over the law on historic heritage. The form and priorities in both of these areas were significantly affected by the process of land reform, restrictions on the export of artwork and archive documents and also by imperfect registers and inspections. At the same time, there were attempts to make fundamental reforms in both archives and heritage preservation which were followed by ideas and visions for their further development. Contributions can also focus on Central European comparisons.

Eva Drašarová – Kristina Uhlíková (chair)