CIEE Prague, Czech Republic
Prague never lets you go…this dear little mother has sharp claws.”-Franz Kafka
There is no other city in the world that can compare to the rich history, diverse culture, and timeless appeal of Prague. Here, you can walk streets steeped in history, flanked by the beautiful architecture of the Bohemia region. You can visit the Museum of Communism and then stroll through the National Library, or take in the history of the Jewish Quarter and watch the 600-year-old Astronomical clock as it rings out through Old Town Square.
Located on the River Vltava in the central area of the Bohemia region of the Czech Republic, Prague has been an economic, cultural, and political hub for over 1000 years.
Though the city dates back for over a thousand years, for much of its history the majority of its population has been composed of Jewish, German, and native Czech sections. Each of these populations has helped shaped the landscape and architecture of the city, creating a unique cultural atmosphere. Today, nearly one quarter of the city population is comprised of Americans.
The political and cultural history of the Czech Republic, and specifically of Prague, has resulted in an architectural environment and literary scene unlike anywhere else in the world.
The History of Literature in Prague
Literature has been a part of Prague since around the 9th century, when the first writings in the Old Church Slavic language appeared. However, it wasn’t until about the year 1100, when Latin became prevalent throughout the region, that a real literary scene began. At this time, the most common language spoken and written in Prague was a trilingual combination of Czech, German, and Latin. In this environment the Czech language began to develop, especially in the written word. In fact, Czech annotations can be found dating as far back as the 11th century.
In 1300, epic verse, chronicles, lyrical pieces, fables, legends, and satires began to appear in written form. The first book published in the Czech Republic was the Trojan Chronicle of 1468, and one of the first two copies printed can be found in the National Museum in Prague.
After a battle in 1620, Czech culture split and non-Catholics became exiles. During this time, Catholic literature, written in Latin, and Czech Baroque poetry flourished, with Czechs like Adam Mincha, Fridrich Briedel, and Felix Kadlinsky emerging as popular and influential authors.
During the 1770s, calls for a Czech national revival in the areas of literature, science, and art were realized; out of this environment emerged Josef Dobrovsky and a host of other Czechs who pushed for the idea of a “living and national literature, which took account of the Czech public and addressed them in their mother tongue.” Immediately following this time, many attempted to prove the vast reputation of Czech literature by falsifying manuscripts. In the wake of this movement, much of the literature produced in Prague and throughout the Czech Republic was of the “lesser” variety: pamphlets, songs, illustrations, and short stories. Out this, ironically, emerged Karel Hyneck Macha, often touted as the greatest of the Czech Romantic poets. Macha’s poem, Maj, became the launching point for new, emerging authors, spawning the Maj generation of Czech literature.
From the end of the 19th century through to the 20th, Czech literature felt the effects of many literary movements: Alois and Vilem Mrstick, and Karel Vaclav Rais in realism; Frantisek Xaver Salda in naturalism and modernism, Otokar Brezina in symbolism, Antonin Sova in impressionism, and Jiri Karasek in decadence.
Additionally, during this time, many of the most well known Czech authors were writing in German in Prague. Some of the Jewish writings to emerge during this time included Franz Kafka, Rainer Maria Rilke, Franz Werfel, Max Brod and Egon Erwin Kisch.
From 1918 through 1939, the Czech independent state produced great amounts of literature, as all of the arts were flourishing. However, during the Nazi persecution following this time, literature, as well as many other cultural exploits, dimmed under the wartime troubles. War themes and dark literature was produced during this time. After the Communist Party took absolute power over the state, strict censorship policies all but halted the Czech creative culture. Works produced during this time were often published much later, once the censorship had lifted, During this time, many authors and artists suffered civil persecution for their expressions and spent decades imprisoned for their writings.
During the 1960s, the banned and imprisoned authors began to publish their works from the preceding decades, sparking fierce political and social debates. This unrest culminated in critical speeches and demonstrations at the Fourth Congress of the Union of Czechoslovak Writers in 1967. In spite of this protest, new policies were instilled permitted only vetted authors to be published, regardless of quality. Because of this policy, many authors fled to the surrounding states rather than support the social rule or fall under its power.
Today, numerous publishing houses have emerged in the Czech Republic, inundating the markets with Czech literature, especially titles which had previously been banned. Czech writers live, work, and teach all over the world, and have had a great influence on contemporary literature. In Prague, The National Library houses over 6 million titles and has become the national archive for Czech literature. The Museum of National Literature further explores the history of Czech literature, and the Municipal Libraries of Prague are a beacon for freedom of expression and literature in repressed states.
CIEE Prague
Students take courses taught by professors from Charles University, one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the Czech Republic, and the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU), one of the oldest film schools in Europe.. CIEE houses classes in its own study center in Prague. Highlights of the program include:
- Broad and challenging range of courses supplemented by prominent guest lectures by leading Czech political, economic, religious, and social figures
- Opportunity to enroll in courses at FAMU, one of the most prominent and renowned film schools in Europe
- Co-curricular activities immerse students in the Czech community
- Volunteer in fields such as teaching English, human rights, and politics
- Cultural and educational activities such as visits to Prague Castle, Old Town, the theater, and the opera
- Excursions to sites of cultural importance in Bohemia and Moravia
- Optional excursions to Berlin and Vienna led by CIEE professors
Students can choose between a family homestay, dormitories or shared apartments.
Within the CIEE system, you will take one—very welcome—course in the Czech language, in addition to four “area studies” courses, including:
Contemporary Jewish Religious Thought Modern Czech Art
Czech and Central European History Czech Cinema
Collective Identity in a Totalitarian Regime East European Cinema
The Theory and Reality of Gender Central Eurpoean Politics
in the Post-Communist Era The Music of the Czech Lands
The Politics of the European Union Modern Czech Literature
Psychology of Transition and Transformation Art and Architecture in Prague
This program is particularly strong for students interested in film studies. Students can examine the work of 1960s ground-breaking directors Miloš Forman, Jiří Menzel, Ján Kadár, Elmar Klos, Vojtěch Jasný, Jan Němec, Věra Chytilová, and Ivan Passer, many of whom studied at FAMU. Kadár and Klos's The Shop on Main Street (Obchod na korze, 1965) and Menzel's Closely Watched Trains (Ostře sledované vlaky, 1966) both won Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film.
For more information, visit international programs’ CIEE Prague program.
