Course detail

Czech Art Between 1945–1990 in Contexts

FaVU-1CU20st-LAcad. year: 2020/2021

The course presents various topics from art, design and visual culture between 1945 to 1990. The art scenes is presented according to a late 1980s structure: political establishment, grey zone and counter-culture/underground. The course aims to address art as propaganda in Central-East European context, representation of the state, cultural politics, conditions for artistic work as well as artists outside the canon, at the margins of culture and society and illegal artists.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Students will have a basic overview of artistic institutions, key figures and their work; they will be able to attribute key artistic works and they will be able to characterize artistic programs and groups of Czech art between 1945 to 1990.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of Czech art between 1900-1945.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Lectures accompanied with slides of reproductions of the key works are supported with class discussions.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Test.

Course curriculum

1. War Groups: Ra a 7 v říjnu
2. Last Modernists: Toyen, Zrzavý, Teige, Filla
3. Revolution in 1948 in the visual arts, new institutions, official art 1948–1957
4. Art outside the canon: Medek, Medková, Reynek
5. From Brussels to Ósaka: State, architecture, design and public art in 1960s
6. Narmalizes institutions: Fond, Dílo, SVU and academies
7. Criticism and history of contemporary art and design: Chalupecký, Lamarová, Hlaváček, Jirousová
8. New surrealism: Kolář, Nepraš, Pacík, Švankmajer
9. Tactile art: Kolářová, Šimotová, Kučerová, Karlíková; Post-War art in Slovakia: Filko a Koller;
10. New abstraction: Kolíbal, Malich, Sekal
11. 1970s and 1980s official art and art of the grey zone
12. Typography: Benda, Kaplický, Hlavsa, Rathouský, Vaněk
13. Roots of performance and video art: Knížák, Vasulka, Pilař; Skupina 12/15, Tvrdohlaví
14. Mutějovice 1983: Jetelová, Gebauer, Judl

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim is to present major figures, artistic works, artistic groups, programs and institutions of Czech modern and post-modern art between 1945 to 1990, to present contemporary way of thinking and characterize contemporary texts and manifestos.

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

Attendance compulsory.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Altmann, S.; Klimešová, M.; Kalinovská, M.: Magdalena Jetelová : Dotek doby / Touch of time. Praha 2017 (CS)
Budak, A.; Dostál, M.; Kolíbal, S.: Stanislav Kolíbal: Kresba za kresbou. Praha 2015 (CS)
Dorfles, G.: Sochy a projekty = Sculptures and projects. Řevnice 2012 (CS)
Chalupa, P.: Bohuslav Reynek (1892-1971). Řevnice 2011 (CS)
Karous, P.: Vetřelci a volavky: atlas výtvarného umění ve veřejném prostoru v Československu v období normalizace (1968-1989). Praha 2015 (CS)
Hlaváček, J.: Cvičení z estetiky. Praha 2007 (CS)
Klimešová, M.: Roky ve dnech: české umění 1945-1957. Řevnice; Praha 2010 (CS)
Kol. aut.: Skupina Ra: Josef Istler, Miloš Koreček, Ludvík Kundera, Bohdan Lacina, Zdeněk Lorenc, Vilém Reichmann, Václav Tikal, Václav Zykmund. Praha 1988 (CS)
Kol. aut.: Tvrdohlaví: [katalog výstavy skupiny Tvrdohlaví, Městské kulturní středisko Havířov, Výstavní síň V. Wünsche, červen-červenec 1989. Havířov 1989 (CS)
Klimešová, M.: Zbyněk Sekal. Řevnice 2015 (CS)
Nekvindová, T.: Automat na výstavu: československý pavilon na Expo 67 v Montrealu. Cheb 2017 (CS)
Nešlehová, M.: Jan Koblasa. Praha 2002 (CS)
Ševčík J., Morganová P. Dušková D., České umění 1938-1989, programy, kritické texty, dokumenty, Praha 2001 (CS)
Švácha, R.-Platovská, M. (eds.): Dějiny českého výtvarného umění 1939-1958. Praha 2005 (1 díl) (CS)
Švácha, R.-Platovská, M. (eds.): Dějiny českého výtvarného umění 1958–2000. Praha 2008 (2 díly) (CS)
Toman Tylová, B.: Jde o to, aby o něco šlo: typograf Oldřich Hlavsa. Praha 2015 (CS)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BIT Bachelor's, 1. year of study, summer semester, elective

  • Programme IT-BC-3 Bachelor's

    branch BIT , 1. year of study, summer semester, elective

  • Programme VUB Bachelor's

    branch VU-D , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-D , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-D , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Czech art of the 1940s, art groups and tendencies during the WWII, postwar illusions, socialist art versus underground.
2. Post-stalinist "warming up" , art groups 1957 - 1969, "tame modernity" Brusel 1958 exhibition, hard edge art underground - informel since 1965.
3. Concretism as an opposition, Czech New Figurative Paintig of the 60s.
4. 1968. Post - occupation shock, communist "normalisation" of the 70s, end of the art scene. Action art, happening, performances (including rock) as an antidotum.
5. Re-constitution of the art scene in 70s and 80s. Postsurrealism, hyperrealism, abstraction, direct realism.
6. Semi-official scene, rock and jazz music, art exhibitions, publications under the aegis of the (lately banned) music society.
7. New wave of art exhibitions of new generations between 1980 - 1985.
8. Postmodern discontinuity of the postmodern "Stubborn generation" after 1985.
9. Reconstitution of art scene in the end of 80´s, Velvet revolution 1989 as the end of 40 years of political and cultural totalities.
10. Lost world of cultural semi - undergrounds of the 70´s and 80´s,