Course detail
Around 1956: the Culture of the Mid Fifties
FaVU-2A1956Acad. year: 2023/2024
The course will focus on the different faces of culture in mid 50s Europe. We will shortly examine the political situation at both sides of the Iron curtain, but we will mostly look at selected issues in literature, film, music, and visual art
Language of instruction
English
Number of ECTS credits
4
Guarantor
Entry knowledge
Students must have an upper-intermediate and higher level of English.
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
Exam
Two absences per semester are allowed.
Two absences per semester are allowed.
Aims
The goal of this course is to provide students with a detailed knowledge of European culture in mid 50s.
Tests, active participation in class, essays.
Tests, active participation in class, essays.
Study aids
Not applicable.
Prerequisites and corequisites
Not applicable.
Basic literature
Robbins, David. The Independent Group in Postwar Britain
Ken Knabb. Situationist Antology.
Thomson and Bordwell: Film History: An Introduction
Škvorecký Josef: The Cowards
Robbe-Grillet, Alain. The Jealousy.
Mc Innes, Colin. Absolute Beginners.
Rossellini, Roberto. Stromboli.
Bergmann, Ingmar. The Seventh Seal.
Goddard, Jean-Luc. Breathless.
Grojs, Boris. Gesamkunstwerk Stalin.
Ken Knabb. Situationist Antology.
Thomson and Bordwell: Film History: An Introduction
Škvorecký Josef: The Cowards
Robbe-Grillet, Alain. The Jealousy.
Mc Innes, Colin. Absolute Beginners.
Rossellini, Roberto. Stromboli.
Bergmann, Ingmar. The Seventh Seal.
Goddard, Jean-Luc. Breathless.
Grojs, Boris. Gesamkunstwerk Stalin.
Recommended reading
Not applicable.
Type of course unit
Lecture
13 hours, optionally
Teacher / Lecturer
Syllabus
1. Politics in 1950 at both sides of the Iron Curtain
2. Socialist Realism in art, film, literature, history, and propaganda in Czechoslovakia
3. Literature - Czechoslovakia - Focus: Škovercký: The Cowards (1957]
4. Film: Poland - Focus: Wajda: The Canals (1957)
5. Film: Focus: Sweden - Bergmann: The Seventh Seal (1957)
6. Film. France. Cahiers du Cinema; the birth of the New Wave and the concept of auteur film; Focus: Godard: Breathless (59)
7. Film: Neorealism: Italy. Focus: Rossellini: Stromboli (1950)
8. Literature - France. Existencialism and the New Novel. Focus: Robbe-Grillet. La Jalousie (57)
9. literature - Britain - Focus: Colin Mc Innes - Absolute Beginners
10. Some art groups of mid fifties: The Independent Group (UK), the SI
11. Music: bebop, cool jazz, Miles Davis, etc...
2. Socialist Realism in art, film, literature, history, and propaganda in Czechoslovakia
3. Literature - Czechoslovakia - Focus: Škovercký: The Cowards (1957]
4. Film: Poland - Focus: Wajda: The Canals (1957)
5. Film: Focus: Sweden - Bergmann: The Seventh Seal (1957)
6. Film. France. Cahiers du Cinema; the birth of the New Wave and the concept of auteur film; Focus: Godard: Breathless (59)
7. Film: Neorealism: Italy. Focus: Rossellini: Stromboli (1950)
8. Literature - France. Existencialism and the New Novel. Focus: Robbe-Grillet. La Jalousie (57)
9. literature - Britain - Focus: Colin Mc Innes - Absolute Beginners
10. Some art groups of mid fifties: The Independent Group (UK), the SI
11. Music: bebop, cool jazz, Miles Davis, etc...