Charles University, Faculty of Arts East and Central European Studies. Czech Short Stories (on Film)

Transcription

1 Charles University, Faculty of Arts East and Central European Studies Spring 2011 Czech Short Stories (on Film) CUFA LIT 326 Instructor: Clarice Cloutier, Ph.D. Class Days/Time: Wednesdays, 10:00-13:00 Classroom: Room 129, FF UK, Main Building Course Description This short course will familiarize students with a broad range of Czech 19 th and 20 th Century short stories by both male and female authors. Wherever possible, the short stories will be paired with films (primarily Czech) and music to augment an understanding of the society and era. All classes will be conducted in English. Some Slovak authors will be studied, given that the nation was Czechoslovakia for many decades. Course Goals and Student Learning Objectives to analyze Czech 19 th and 20 th Century short stories to develop an understanding of Czech identity via its literature/culture to familiarize students with literature / film pairings Required Readings Course reader is available for purchase in Room 128, FF, UK. Recommended Readings To cover history and politics: Čornej, Petr and Jirí Pokorný. A Brief History of the Czech Lands to Praha: Práh, To cover writers: Cloutier, Clarice & Bronislava Volková. Up the Devil s Back A Bilingual Anthology of 20 th Century Czech Poetry. Bloomington, IN: Slavica Publishers, 2008, 2009 (2nd edition). To cover writers: Holý, Jiří. Writers Under Siege: Czech Literature since To cover writers: offering info on Czech literature and current news on Czech writers and the literary scene in Prague Bookshops with large selections of Czech literature in English: Anagram Bookshop, Tyn 4, Prague 1. Entrance from the Ungelt Courtyard or Stupartska Street. Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-20:00 / Sun 10:00-19:00

2 Big Ben Bookshop, Malá Štupartská 5, Praha 1, Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-20:00 /Sat 10:00-20:00 / Sun 11:00-18:00 Classroom Procedures Students are expected to prepare the readings ahead of time for each week s class and participate in the class discussion this is not a lecture-only class. On time arrival is mandatory. No mobile phone use. Regular and punctual class attendance is mandatory for all students. Absence of 180 minutes is allowed. Three or more absences (90 minutes each) lower the grade automatically (A to A-, A to B+ in case of 4 absences etc.) Assignments and Grading Policy Grades based on letters A through F will be given. ECES does not provide courses with pass/fail grades. The final grade will be based on a combination of class participation, in-class presentation, journal entries, midterm and final paper. Presentation Policy: Missing the presentation will result in an F. If the student is sick and has a medical note, then the professor must agree with the student on how the work will be made up for. Final Paper Policy: Completing the final paper is required. Failure to submit the final paper according to the deadline will result in a letter grade F for the entire course. For further details, please see the Attendance Policy at the ECES website under Academic Policies and Procedures : Student Responsibility and Code of Conduct Students are subject to the general standards and requirements of Charles University in regard to attendance, examinations, and conduct, as well as to the specific requirements of the program. The student is expected to assume the initiative in completing all requirements at the time specified.

3 Week 1 Countryside Roots Božena Němcová Grandma (excerpt) Film: Babička (František Čáp) Karel Čapek The Ballad of Juraj Čup Weekly Schedule Film: Balada o Juraji Čupovi (Martin Frič) Week 2 Excursions into the Everyday Jan Neruda St. Wenceslas Mass Bohumil Hrabal Cutting It Short Film: Postřižiny (Jiří Menzl) Week 3 Excursions into the Everyday Part II Vladislav Vančura Summer of Caprice (excerpt) Film: Rozmarné léto (Jiří Menzl) Week 4 Pink Roses on the Coffin Ludvík Vaculík A Spokesman s Funeral Eva Kantůrková The Old Man Died Alexander Kliment The Black Thread Week 5 The Trial of Life Václav Havel The Trial Franz Kakfa excerpts from The Trial Film: The Trial (Orson Welles) Karel Čapek Released on Parole Film: Propuštěný (Martin Frič)

4 Week 6 To Win (Back) the Land Alois Jirásek Libuše s Prophecies & The Knights of Blánik Eda Kriseová A Knight of the Cross Milan Uhde My Desk Film: Želary (Ondřej Trojan) Week 7 Drinking Away Forty Cows Helena Pawlowská Thank You for Each New Morning (excerpt) Film: Díky za každé nové ráno (Milan Šteindler) Michal Viewegh The Blissful Years of Lousy Living (excerpt) Film: Báječná léta pod psa (Petr Nikolaev) Week 8 Teatrum mundi Jiří Gruša A Bride for Sale Sergej Machonin Pietà Josef Škvorecký Tenor Sax Solo from Washington Week 9 Beauty from Ashes Ota Pavel They Can Even Kill You Film: Smrt krásných srnců (Karel Kachyňa) Arnošt Lustig Moral Education Film: Nicholas Winton: The Power of Good (Štolbová) Week 10 Beauty from Ashes Part II Pavel Brycz I, City (excerpt) Film: Štěstí (Bohdan Sláma)

5 Week 11: Review of semester The Association of Cactus Fanciers Vašek Koubek Hell Michal Ajvaz The Past Music: Koubek plays Koubek Karel Čapek The Stolen Cactus Week 12: Review Week Week 13: Final Exam Period