The thesis aims to explore the artistic personality of Hunter S. Thompson, one of the most distinctive cultural figures of post-war America, and his genesis as an author, journalist, and a counterculture idol of the 1960s. The era is now widely regarded as a turning point in contemporary American history as its deep-rooted values and norms were, over the course of a decade, gradually transformed by the young generation of social and political activists toward allegedly a more tolerant and liberal kind of community. Crucial in such an endeavor was the role of the countercultural movement that produced some of the most capable intellectual minds of the time, including Thompson. The paper thus analyzes the role and nature of the alternative culture in America as perceived by one of its most observant participants. Also, the thesis focuses on the author's role in establishing a new genre called New Journalism which can be linked with the era's countercultural efforts as well. In general, Thompson, in his texts, examines various phenomena surrounding the counterculture and provides us with a distinctive portrayal of the era's zeitgeist. However, unlike some of his contemporaries, he also remembers to examine numerous flaws and fallacies existing within contemporary American society, the American Dream...

Master thesis Zlatý máj - Magazine about Children's Literature and Art and the Personality of Z. K. Slabý follows foundation and history of Czechoslovak literary journal Zlatý máj. It has been published from September 1956 till December 1997, when 391 issues came out in forty one volumes. The magazine experienced its golden era in 1960s, when it participated not only in domestic, but also in international discussions about children and youth literature. But it also endured through the time of so called normalization (1969 - 1989), when most of literary or cultural magazines perished, and its final end was brought by lack of finance after formation of democratic Czech Republic. The name of writer and literary critic Zdeněk Karel Slabý has been tied to Zlatý máj for the most of its existence. He acted at first as the redactor, in two periods as editor in chief (1968 - 1971, 1990 - 1992) and at last as a member of board of editors. As a part of his job, but also because of his active and creative nature he shaped or co-shaped the image of Zlatý máj. His authorial signature is visible in his texts, his opinions and preferences formed the sections and content of the magazine. Master thesis analyses the work of Z. K. Slabý and defines its place and importance in context of the literary theory and critique.

This dissertation thesis addresses the history of public relations of the Communist Party in Czechoslovakia in Pardubice district. It is focussed at the period of so-called normalization. Firstly, it discusses the historical context of the time for understanding the crisis of the system in 70s and 80s. The first chapters describe so-called Prague spring and military invasion in August 1968. Next chapters stress changes in politics and media after the election of Gustáv Husák to become First Secretary of the Communist Party in April, 1969. The second part of text is case study about Pardubice district. The main topic of dissertation thesis are newspaper of Pardubice district - Zář. But there are also chapters about radio, factory newspaper, regional Union of Czech Journalists or College in Pardubice and editors of student magazine. In the second part of case study attention is focussed on cultural section of newspaper Zář and its main topics - for example political anniversaries and the role of culture. In cultural section I analyze which information and how they were, or were not presented to public. Supervision and control over the media content was one of the main regime's tools to take over the culture area and its presentation.

This work focuses on a photographic archive of a czech sculptor Stanislav Sucharda (1866-1916). Stanislav Sucharda was one of the leaders of modern Czech sculpture. The aim of the work is to investigate and analyze a part of the private fund related to photographic reproductions of Sucharda's sculptures and work. The collection shows a wide range of photographic techniques and materials. Counting both glass negatives and plastic negatives, photographic positive techniques including albumen prints, colloid prints and various types of silver-gelatin prints. On negatives and positives there are secondary interventions. There are framing, varnish, retouching or photocollages. The photo collection is not classified according to any code, chronological or thematic distribution is missing. The aim will be trying to find links between sculpture models and photographs. Determining the purpose for which the photographs were taken should create a mosaic of Stanislav Sucharda's work with photographs. I would like to compare this archive with archives in art institutions, which have photographs associated with Stanislav Sucharda in their funds. On the basis of the research, the thesis will be confirmed or refuted that this part of the private-owned photographical collection of the Stanislav Sucharda's Foundation was used by the sculptor purely for his creative activities and were not the representations of his work. Consequently, the key role of photographing Sucharda's sculpture and the confirmation of whether Stanislav Sucharda himself photographed will be the key outline. In exploring the possibilities of Stanislav Sucharda's work and his co-operation with photographs, I will use the approach of comparison with Auguste Rodin's photographic collection, who was Sucharda's friend.

Master's thesis deals with the reception of Franz Kafka's personality and works by generations of directors at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s. The main question discussed is what Kafka's work meant for these directors, which subject it represented for them, and how their theatrical adaptations reflected the socio-political conditions of the socialist Czechoslovakia in the period of normalization. The first chapter reflects the social and cultural context of the period while focusing on the position of the theater and movement of the small scenes which belonged to the current alternative culture. The second chapter focuses on Franz Kafka's reception by 1989 and also contains a literary interpretation of his work, on which is based the main part of the thesis. There are the analyses of the productions of America (1985, J. A. Pitínský), The Trial (1989, Arnošt Goldflam), The Metamorphosis (1988, Petr Lébl) and Josephine the Singer, or the Mouse Folk (1989, Petr Lébl). On grounds of these analyses, we can argue that Kafka’s work served to the explored generation as an expression of the existential feeling of an individual in totalitarian society. The last chapter deals with The Wish to Become an Indian (1991, J.A. Pitínský), which was created after the revolution, and shows how Franz Kafka's theatrical interpretations changed at the end of totalitarianism.

The thesis presents an assumption that literature is inspired by reality (besides other factors), and that specific literary worlds may, to a certain extent, reflect the actual state of society. Historical events around the end of WWII and the consequent rapid social changes in Japan during late 1940s and 1950s had an indisputable impact on literary production at the time. The aim of this thesis is to affirm this assumption through an analysis of selected short stories and novels from the time concerned. The analysis focuses on remarks and on references about the period of time when the prose was written, and also on behavioral and attitude changes of its characters - prototypes of the Japanese society. The direct impact of historical and social transition on literary work may also be traced in the works' themes, motifs and narrative. We can thus, in many cases, follow the development of the Japanese postwar society from 1945 until the late 1950s, when the country started to prosper economically. The selection of the analysed pieces of literature includes two novels which did not only describe the time of their origination, but also had reverse effect on society. The impact hypothesis is thus confirmed and, what is more, we can see a mutual influence exercised by both, the society and art: The...