My doctoral thesis If the Anger dances - Fasnacht in Basel and the Velvet Carnival of Prague continues on topics, already researched for my master thesis and published as Fasnacht – a carnival in Basel in 2013. Now I deeply analyse the evolution of masks (Laarve) and a stream of inner revolt (Wilde Fasnacht). As well I show evolution of Fasnacht since the end of 19th century into the present form that grew into some archaic characteristics. From outside looks Fasnacht as a firmly structured ritual, but from inside shows an extraordinary ability of inner changes and flexibility. By presenting different forms of changes I tend to find principles that keep Fasnacht alive in the modern times. Since six years, throughout my whole doctoral studies, I devoted myself to organise the Velvet Carnival in Prague, a carnevalesque celebration that is directly inspired by Basler Fasnacht. At the end of my thesis I am presenting basic elements we transferred from the original and try to evaluate how those elements live in the new background. In the context of Basel and Prague I thematise a creative potential of anger that can be manifested in an artistic way. So do I show Fasnacht and Velvet Carnival as a cultivated form of middle-age Rough music and as a creative manifestation of active citizenship. Part of my thesis is a documentary film Beneath the mask, there is darkness (made by Viola Ježková) and a book of 5 Years of The Velvet Carnival.

This dissertation notices development of masquerade costumes in the Czech Republic and carnival costumes in Venice. In introductory part Jan Nečas describes the beginnings of Shrovetide festivities and their development in costumes and masks. In the next part of this dissertation he deals with the development of carnivals, typical masks and carnival costumes in Venice. In the fourth part of this dissertation author introduces and reflects his own work in pursuance of production of a folk masquerade and city carnival costume which is used for carnival procession.