Zugl.: Augsburg, Univ., veränd. Habil.-Schr., 1991

Zugl.: Bochum, Univ., Diss., 2006

Zugl.: Augsburg, Universiẗat, Habil.-Schr., 1991.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2001--Bonn.

Zugl.: Freiburg (Breisgau), Univ., Diss., 2001/2002

The aim of this thesis is to explore and evaluate the scientific work of art historian Rudolf Chadraba who is generally considered to be one of the founders and the most distinctive representatives of an iconological method in czech art history. The Master's thesis doesn't make efforts to survey Chadraba's scientific career from biographic point of view in a clearly and chronologically way, because the main focus of the interpretation lies on starting points of Chadraba's work, specific influences on him, particular motifs and themes, which are penetrating and reflected in his academical works of art historian and which therefore form his peculiar method. Biographical information about Rudolf Chadraba is introduced here only briefly, the text tends to point out Chadraba's transdisciplinary approach and his extensive conception of iconology. Moreover, it pays a lot of attention to influences of such personalities as Max Dvořák, Ladislav Cejp, Alois Dempf, Josef Strzygowski or Herbert Read, who represent important source of inspiration in Chadraba's scientific work. Theories and methods of these scholars in connection with Chadraba's interest in tradition and triumphalism in christian art initiated his pursuing parallels between european and oriental art, which were insufficiently employed in czech art...

Freiburg i. Br., Univ., Diss., 2000.

This thesis deals with advertising images. It contributes to discussion about position of image in present visual field. It also speaks about influence of image on contemporary society. The starting point and theoretical basis are Visual studies. The main ideas are applied to two different constructs of reality, both are tendentious. The first is vision, ideologically and politically constructed during authoritarian socialist regime. The second is current globalized consumer society. In the practical part of the thesis, the analysis focuses on the advertisements of Skoda Auto Company, used in both mentioned visual modes in the Czech Republic in the 20th century. Key words: picture, visual studies, iconology, advertising, globalization, consumer society, propaganda, image.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to explore the possible influence of the idea of the end of the world on the process of conquest and colonization of America. The author tries to answer this question through the study of selected images of the Last Judgment. The purpose aim of this thesis is not to describe or stylistically classify given works of art, but to interpret them using the methodology based on the semiotic conception of culture as public symbolical system that allows to interpret the culture and its expressions in their social connections. As the topic of this work is related to the question of death and finality, the chosen works of art are interpreted also in connection with A. van Gennep's idea of "rites of passage", which enables to pass from one life stage to another. The main source for analysis is the photographic material, which illustrates images and reliefs of the Last Judgment in their natural environment.

The thesis presents a detailed analysis of the late medieval murals in the so-called 'green chamber' of Žirovnice Castle and similar late-medieval mural paintings. Compared to the earlier literature the study focuses on the interrelations between the scenes depicted in the 'green chamber': the Judgement of Paris, Judith beheading Holofernes, the exemplum An Old Woman Is Worse than the Devil as well as an image which was previously described as the Judgement of Solomon (perhaps rather a parable about legitimate and illegitimate progeny). They are compared with other depictions of these themes and their treatment in contemporary literature. These comparisons link them with the popular concept of a critique of the power of women (Weibermacht). In Žirovnice, and similarly elsewhere, this concept was connected to the allegory of the transcience of love and the ephemeral nature of the world overall. The ostensible genre depictions of the hunt and tournament can be interpreted in this sense as well. This is demonstrated by numerous details subverting the meaning of these images. The study then compares Žirovnice to other similar murals in Bohemia and addresses the questions of their function as well as of the art-historical phenomenon of 'green chambers' as various secular murals are called following the...