PHV239 Reading Kundera

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Synchronous online teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Dagmar Pichová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Dagmar Pichová, Ph.D.
Department of Philosophy – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Philosophy – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 14:00–15:40 L10, except Mon 21. 4. to Sun 27. 4.
Prerequisites
fluent English
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 17 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Was Milan Kundera a philosopher? Are his novels and essays considered philosophical texts? In this course, we will read Kundera´s works and explore their themes, in comparison to relevant philosophical writings.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students will be able to:
Identify philosophical themes in Kundera’s works.
Analyze literary works through the lens of philosophical concepts.
Think critically about the relationship between philosophy and literature.
Syllabus
  • Life and work (Art and morality)
  • Identity and memory
  • Ideology
  • Nostalgy
  • Irony
  • Death
  • Aging
  • Body and soul
  • Love
  • Happiness
  • Friendship
Literature
    required literature
  • KUNDERA, Milan. Ignorance : a novel. Translated by Linda Asher. London: Faber and Faber, 2002, 195 s. ISBN 0571215920. info
  • KUNDERA, Milan. The unbearable lightness of being. Translated by Michael Henry Heim. London: Faber and Faber, 1999, 311 stran. ISBN 9780571200832. info
  • KUNDERA, Milan. Immortality. Translated by Peter Kussi. First published. London: Faber and Faber, 1992, 387 stran. ISBN 057114456X. info
    recommended literature
  • KUNDERA, Milan. The art of the novel. Translated by Linda Asher. Rev. ed. New York: HarperPerennial, 2000, 165 s. ISBN 0060932945. info
  • KUNDERA, Milan. Slowness. Translated by Linda Asher. London: Faber and Faber, 1996, 132 s. ISBN 0571179436. info
  • KUNDERA, Milan. The farewell party. Translated by Peter Kussi. Pbk. ed. London: Faber and Faber, 1993, 209 s. ISBN 0571168876. info
Teaching methods
class discussions, home reading, presentations
Assessment methods
class participation, homework (80 %), class presentation
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
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