Zelinář a jeho televize: Kultura komunismu po pražském jaru 1968

by Paulina Bren

Jak se stalo, že se z nadšených stoupenců reforem Pražského jara 1968 a „socialismu s lidskou tváří“ stali poslušní stoupenci normalizace, která nastoupila po srpnové invazi pěti armád? Kdo byli hlavní nositelé normalizace a jak přiměli rozjitřenou společnost, aby se „ukáznila“ a projevovala podporu komunistické straně? A jakou roli v tom sehrála Československá televize, která v době Pražského jara reformy poháněla? „Po roce 1968 si komunistická strana začala s televizí intimní, leč tendenční milostný poměr,“ píše Paulina Bren, „a prvotním prostředkem komunikace s diváky se stala mýdlová opera v podobě televizních seriálů o soudobém běžném životě.“ A právě o proměně lidí prostřednictvím televizních seriálů pojednává Zelinář a jeho televize. Přeložila Petruška Šustrová.

Genres: History, Czech Literature, Nonfiction

460 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2010

Reviews

[Haley Hope Gillilan]

Some of this was over my head and I had to look up a few terms, and a few things I only knew about because I've spent time in Prague and know a little bit about Czech history. Because of this, it's not the most accessible text, BUT I think that a media studies person should definitely be interesting in this and the topic of how every-day citizens interacted with television during late communism in the Czech Republic.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, insightful look at post-Warsaw Pact invasion Czechoslovakia and the "normalization" that took place afterwards. The uses of television in normalization are detailed and I couldn't help but see how the effects there in a period of "late communism" bore similarities to our circumstances here in "late capitalism".

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entirely new approach to late communism that deemphasizes the dissidents, highlights everybody else, and illuminates the medium through which everyday people experienced the regime: TV.

[Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for lovers of Czech history, lovers of Czech culture, and those interested in cultural history. An interesting perspective of what average Czechs were watching every night on their televisions. Too often we forget what the average citizen of particular time periods was doing but only look at what the extraordinary were doing. Well that tide seems to be shifting in recent cultural historiography. A bit narrativistic and formulaic this book could have packed a better argument, but it did make me go find the television shows mentioned on YouTube and for that I'm extremely grateful.

[Urian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was very interesting, and more importantly made me want to view these shows to see what the author was referring to in the content. However, rather than reading as a narrative, it read far more like a textbook or a dissertation. While the content intrigued me, it was presented in many parts in a very dry manner.

[Karla Huebner]

This fascinating and well-written study of Normalization makes use of a source not commonly employed by historians: by looking at the making/reception of state television, it illumines the politics, economics, longings, and satisfactions of Czechoslovak life 1968-1989.

[Zdeněk Fekar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pohled na historii československé socialistické televize je o to zajímavější, že naši někdejší realitu popisuje Američanka. Našel jsem tam i pár zajímavých detailů.

[MBeach · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5