Through close textual analysis of 20^th century Czech anthropological texts from the Revivalist and Socialist periods and contemporary social research conducted after the Velvet Revolution, I demonstrate certain prominent discourses of identity developed in early Bohemian anthropology and their continuities in present day popular discourses. In each period, identity is deeply intertwined with teleological theories of history with Czech populations at the apex of cultural evolutionary development. In the Revivalist period this apex was believed to be the democratic nation state, transitioning to a Marxist nation state in the Socialist period, and in the contemporary period is conceived of as a neoliberal nation state. A major function of anthropology in the Revivalist and Socialist periods was to legitimate either period’s respective teleological theory and Czech possession of relevant values as 'objective' and 'natural' fact, a general mode of discourse which continued in the contemporary period in numerous editorials in the 1990s on the advantages of capitalism. The contemporary manifestation has particularly noteworthy consequences for the Roma minority, which I argue has provided Czech discourses with an ethnic category 'anti-thetical' to their own identity, providing a 'repository' for negative Czech self-stereotypes emerging from collaboration in the Socialist period.

This dissertation deals with sepulchral artworks of Franta Úprka (1868-1929), the Czech sculptor. At first his life is described. Franta Úprka was born in Kněždub, south-eastern Moravia. Beginning of his artistic activity belonged to the end of 19th century, when he worked as an assistant of two famous Czech sculptors - A. P. Wagner and Bohuslav Schnirch. His own career took place in the first two decades of the 20th century. Name Úprka is best known for Joža Uprka, Moravian painter and Franta's elder brother. Although Franta Úprka lived and worked in Prague from 1890th, the midpoint of his artistic interests and main theme of his sculptures was depicting people, traditions and subjects from his home country, Moravian Slovakia. Moravian Slovakia was specific part of Moravian countryside full of long lasting and still surviving folklore, folk traditions, peculiar vivacious characters and intact nature. As Auguste Rodin said during his visit of Moravian Slovakia in 1902 it was kind a Greek Helada overflowing with bright colours, sunshine and cheerful relaxed atmosphere. On the other side, common people lived there their uneasy rural lives with all ordinary worries and pleasures. Both sights of the issue were solved by Úprka's artworks. Very specific and the most significant part of his chef-d'oeuvre...

Anna Jagošová, Slovácký verbuňk v interpretaci dětských tanečníků Abstract The presented thesis deals with the phenomenon of the male solo dance otherwise known as "The Slovacko Verbunk" and its contemporary interpretations performed by child dancers. This phenomenon is a modern element of folklorism and can be observed Moravian Slovakia region in the past two decades. The main theme of the research and subsequent analysis is the form and performance of "Verbunk" by child dancers. Marginal attention is also paid to their own opinions and attitudes towards "Verbunk" as it is traditionally performed by adult male dancers. Moreover, the thesis deals with "Národní přehlídka dětských verbířů," roughly translated as "The National Exhibition of the Child Verbunk Dancer." This exhibition is organized in cooperation within The International Child Folklore Festival called "Kunovské léto" (The Summer of Kunovice) which has undoubtedly influenced the phenomenon of children reinterpreting "Verbunk" dance the most. The backbone of the thesis is a qualitative research based on interviews conducted mostly with the adults involved in the phenomenon - tutors and adult dancers of "Slovacko Verbunk," leaders of the children's folklore ensembles and the children's parents. The aim of this thesis is not only to describe the...