HIB033b Postwar History of Visegrad Four Countries through Cinema as Historical Source

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Jan Mervart, Ph.D. (lecturer), Mgr. Hana Ambrožová (deputy)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Jan Mervart, Ph.D.
Department of History – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of History – Faculty of Arts
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 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
  • History (programme FF, B-HI_) (3)
Course objectives
The aims of the course are twofold: firstly, to understand the historical, cultural, and political differences, as well as the overlaps, in the development of the state socialist regimes of Hungary, Poland, and former Czechoslovakia, and secondly, to grasp the feature film as a relevant historical source.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student will be able to: - grasp the feature film as a historical source; - interpret it in relation to contemporary history, more precisely the history of state socialism, in the context of the Visegrad Four Countries; - evaluate the differences and similarities in the post-war historical development of the Visegrad Four countries; - apply the above principles to any film product
Syllabus
  • This class is devoted to contemporary history of Poland, Hungary and former Czechoslovakia. Historical, cultural and political differences as well as mutually shared aspects of historical development are presented here through motion pictures and chosen cinematographic tendencies of above mentioned countries. Simultaneously, film is introduced here as an important historical source it twofold meaning: distinct historical facts and phenomena are transmitted on the screen, at the same time distinct attention should be paid to the way how a film is made and how its narration is constructed.
Literature
  • Falkowska, Janina. The political films of Andrzej Wajda. Providence, 1996. ISBN 1-57181-005-6.
  • Kenez, Peter. Cinema and Soviet society from the revolution to the death of Stalin. London, 2001. ISBN 978-1-86064-568-6.
  • Sadoul, Georges. Dějiny filmu. 1 . vyd. Praha, 1958.
  • PŁAŻEWSKI, Jerzy. Dějiny filmu : 1895-2005. Edited by Karel Tabery. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2009, 901 s. ISBN 9788020016898. info
  • THOMPSON, Kristin and David BORDWELL. Dějiny filmu : přehled světové kinematografie. Translated by Helena Bendová - Jan Bernard - Michal Bregant - Zdeněk Holý - V. První vydání. Praha: Akademie múzických umění, 2007, 827 stran. ISBN 9788071068983. info
  • CUNNINGHAM, John. Hungarian cinema : from coffee house to multiplex. 1st pub. London: Wallflower Press, 2004, xii, 258. ISBN 1903364809. info
  • JORDANOVA, Dina. Cinema of the other Europe : the industry and artistry of East Central European film. 1st pub. London: Wallflower Press, 2003, x, 224. ISBN 1903364647. info
  • HALTOF, Marek. Polish national cinema. New York: Berghahn Books, 2002, xiv, 304. ISBN 1571812768. info
  • LIEHM, A. J. Ostře sledované filmy : československá zkušenost. Edited by Jan Lukeš. Vyd. v ČR a v tomto souboru. Praha: Národní filmový archiv, 2001, 470 s. ISBN 8070041005. info
  • RUPNIK, Jacques. Jiná Evropa. 1. vyd. Praha: Prostor, 1992, 341 s. ISBN 8085190176. info
  • FERRO, Marc. Cinema and history. Translated by Naomi Greene. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1988, 175 s. ISBN 081431905X. info
Teaching methods
lecture
Assessment methods
A colloquium based on a submitted essay text commenting on the relationship of a freely chosen Hungarian, Polish, Czech or Slovak film made between 1947 and 1989 to post-war history. Length: 6-8nmp.
Language of instruction
Czech
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/HIB033b