EVS426 Jazz and Politics in Europe 1930-1950

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2017
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Markéta Pitrová, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 47 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/47, only registered: 0/47, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/47
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course is devoted to political influence on culture in Europe in the first half of the 20th century. The position of various European totalitarian and authoritarian regimes towards jazz and swing music serves as an example. “Jazz policy” of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes of different type will be compared. Attention will be paid to general historical and political circumstances and to “micro-history” of jazz music and jazz musicians in different European cases as well. The lectures and seminars will be completed with many samples of European jazz and swing music in the 1930s and 1940s. The course is taught in Czech (but the music is universal). At the end of the course, student should be able to debate importance of jazz music for contemporary propaganda of totalitarian and democratic regimes in the 1st half of the 20th century. Student will be able to apply acquired knowledge in individual essay concerning relation between art and politics.
Syllabus
  • 1) Introduction to the course 2) Prehistory of jazz in Europe 1900/1930: Jazz as amusement of the elite versus jazz as cultural avant-garde 3) Swing – the first pop-culture? 4) Cultural policy of the Third Reich and fascist Italy: “Swing tanzen verboten!” 5) Jazz in propaganda’s services: Goebbels’ big band versus the Voice of America 6) Jazz in occupied Europe: how to cheat the Nazis? 7) Jazz in Protectorate Bohemia and Moravia: how to cheat the Nazis – the Czech way 8) Jazz after liberation: From Triumph to Marginality? 9) Jazz and cultural policy in the Soviet Union: balancing at the edge of legality 10) Real socialism against jazz: The end of “Nylon Age” 11) Final seminar devoted to essays
Literature
  • STARR, S. Frederick. Red and hot : the fate of jazz in the Soviet Union 1917-1991. Updated ed. New York: Limelight editions, 1994, xvii, 390. ISBN 0879101806. info
  • POLEDŇÁK, Ivan and Lubomír DORŮŽKA. Československý jazz : minulost a přítomnost. 1. vyd. Praha: Supraphon, 1967, 309 s. URL info
Teaching methods
The course is based on lectures that include musical examples illustrating the topics discussed during the course. As homework, students will write academical essay (aprox. 15 pages long).
Assessment methods
The course is finished with the essay aimed at demonstration of ability to apply and debate the relation among art, propaganda, and politics. The evaluation score includes essay as well as active attendance.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008, Spring 2010, Spring 2012, Spring 2014, Spring 2016, Spring 2018, Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2017, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2017/EVS426