This diploma thesis deals with the national presentation of the Czech Republic at EXPO 2010 in Shanghai in terms of mythology, symbols, signs and codes. It describes the history of the World Exhibitions, attempts to highlight Czechoslovak achievements and on the basis of that to define key points of successful communication for an international, predominately Chinese audience. By comparing information on traditional Chinese symbols and values with that of Czech explains correlations between Czech and Chinese culture. This can help visitors from China identify with the Czech Republic. A mythological analysis is executed examining the exterior of the Czech pavilion, the exhibition inside, and notes narrative structures of individual exhibits and how they work to provide the preferred interpretation. Part of the overall analysis includes an overview of supporting events, which also help to strengthen the perception of Czech Republic to visitors. The information gleaned is used to summarize learnings that could be useful for the upcoming EXPO in Milan in 2015.

The technique of manufacturing of creamware and porcelain was discovered in Europe during the 18th century. The objects made from these materials document the social changes and the development of the dining culture, which both occured during the 18th century. At the end of that century classical culture became a fundamental inspirational source, which had been supported both by the discoveries of the ancient towns, Pompeii and Herculaneum, and by publishing books presenting ancient art. From the end of the 18th century the creamware and porcelain objects were started to be manufactured also in the Czech lands. In this master thesis I have studied, how the ancient influences were manifested in the products of the Czech and Moravian factories, from where they came and how they were transformed. The thesis does not cover all porcelain and creamware production, however it focuses on those factory where it was possible to detect ancient influences. The approach of the particular factories was strongly different. Czech porcelain factories took over ancient themes more likely from graphic patterns used in European workshops. The shapes derived from ancient pottery do not differ too much from the older and also contemporary European examples which were used as models. However, creamware objects tried, nesides the...

The thesis explores Czechoslovak Spartakiads in the context of modern mythologies theory. The analysis is concerned with reflection on changes of shape and ideological image of the Spartakiad from the 1950s to the 1980s. The thesis explores the Spartakiad as a cultural and sporting event and as an unique type of collective ritual in conditions of socialist dictatorship. The main focus is put on the narratives generated by the Spartakiad tradition and its evolution. Moreover it tries to regard possibilities to define the Spartakiads in the context of aesthetics of performativity. Based on analyzing those signs and cultural meanings, the thesis follows the role of the Spartakiad and Spartakiad-related subjects in formation of mythologies of the changing communist regime and its specific festivity, and also the Spartakiad's function in the process of the dictatorship's self-legitimation and in the promotion of concrete social coexistence models. Particular chapters of thesis are concerned with reflection on Spartakiad narratives in a relation to time and space as principal narratological categories. Last chapter contains a case study dedicated to performances of children and youth in 1955 and 1980 - this case study tries to approximate specific ways of emblematisation of gymnasts in Spartakiad...

Obrazy Hendricka van Balena ve sbírkách zemí českých. Inspirace pro van Balenovy figurální kompozice a jejich vliv na další umělecké generace. Abstract The diploma thesis fucuses on the paintings by Hendrick van Balen (1575-1632), which are found in Czech collections. The main point of this thesis is a figurative stint in cabinet painting, which was the domain of the Antwerp painter Hendrick van Balen. there will be also hightlighted Hendrick van Balen's collaboration with Jan Brueghel Older, who became a part of his work as the author of still life and nature in Balen's paintings. On specific works from the Czech collections will by pointed out the possible inspiration in the figures of rudolfinian masters Hans von Aachen and Josef Heintz and parallels in their work, and the influence on the cabinet painting of the 18th century painters, Johan Georg Platzer (1704-1761) and his follower Franz Christophr Jannecka (1703-1761). Keywords Hendrick van Balen, inspiration, Hans von Aachen, Josef Heintz, Johan George Platzer, Franz Christoph Janneck, cabinet painting, mythology, collections in Czech Lands, Jan Brueghel the Older, Jan Brueghel the Younger

The aim of this thesis is to create an ethnolinguistic analysis of two corpuses of Mongolian riddles (Lovor and Ölziikhutag 1990 and Ölziikhutag 2013). The work contains over one hundred riddles appended with translations and morpheme-to-morpheme glosses. The riddles are further analyzed on a phonetic level, including descriptions of specific sound patterns and alliterations, as well as their lexical and semantic properties. This complex analysis, in conjunction with findings gained in field research, renders possible the description of a specific language of Mongolian riddles, characterized by the frequent occurrence of borrowings, the presence of semantically and phonetically 'damaged' words, ideophones, metaphors and many specific cultural expressions. The language of Mongolian riddles also often skilfully exploits overt abstractions, allusions, and lexical and morphological ambiguities, in addition to other techniques which facilitate conceptual mapping and cognitive blending. This linguistic analysis makes possible a description of the various aspects of the worldview of Mongolian nomads concealed in these riddles, including the characteristic linking of the 'sacred and profane,' as well as the relationship of these riddles to mythology and religious ideas.

is study is composed of two units: manuscript of the author's publication Interpreting Ancient Egyptian Narratives: A Structural Analysis of the Tale of Two Brothers, the Anat Myth, the Osirian Cycle, and the Astarte Papyrus (Nouvelles études orientales, Bruxelles-Fernelmont: EME, 2014) and an additonal chapter entitled Accommodating Ambivalence: Case of the Doomed Prince and His Dog, which follows directly a er the Index of the first unit and which extends the applied methodology to yet another New Kingdom mythological narrative, the so-called Tale of the Doomed Prince. Methodologically, the author follows the neo-structuralist approach. Both studies explain the strong configurational character of ancient Egyptian (mythological) thought which has the ability to connect various ontological levels of human experience with the surrounding world into complex synchronic structures. ese symbolical systems are shown to be mediating between the various cultural paradoxes which were inherent to ancient Egyptian society. Axial role in this process is a ributed to the institution of positional kingship represented by the Pharaoh. Its transformative function is also put into relation to the special status of female characters who are shown to play the part of the "powerful powerless ones" further personifying...

The thesis has been written on the basis of main architectural concepts and their application in real life within a historical context investigation. Main architectural concepts are represented in a harmony of architectural composition that deals with relations among form, structure and space in the unique art work. Genius loci play very important role in the architectural creation - it represents a special and extra-ordinary urban locality and its architectural value in the historical, geographical and cultural context. The origin of Ostravice village within the historical frame concept of Moravia domain is the topic of this thesis. Other historical documents gave information about Bruneswerde as the Brno Castle. That means Brno Castle had to be founded not in Brno (as it has been consid-ered for many years) but it was located in Beskydy at Ostravice. The sacred city – Civitas Dei had been located in Bruneswerde region in early ages as the centre of European culture, education and spiritual life. Civitas Dei – divine Jerusalem in the transcription of St. Augustine's book De civitate Dei – is not only glorification of God and religious fantasy. It is also one of significant clues for recognition of historical architecture. The depiction of unknown settlement from the book of unde-fined origin is a superb testimony about extinct architectural works. They are legible from cadastral maps. Brno Castle - residence of nobility and power served shelter to St. Vojtěch, St. Prokop, St. Václav and St. Ludmila as it is obvious for the mentioned picture. Three major temples, three com-position axes symbolized by three towers on coins are in analogical relation to Brno triangle of four saints - the Saint family of Brno temples. Powerful ambitions of Brno City principals and clergy are inscribed into the urban structure in the way of composition relations which are legible to them who devoted themselves to the mystery of harmony. The absence of historical continuity affects personal attitudes and also identity of the whole community. The architecture truly reflects the past state of polis and it is eloquent even after its death. The architectural composition relations influence the natural environment for long time, longer than the architectural work existence. The geometric order of Renaissance Brno existence has not been in attention of architects so far. The features were discovered in characteristic paintings by Albrecht Durer. They are evidently secret works of the genius. A meaningful collaborator and follower in the extensive project was also his friend Jan Čert from Brno and lately from Vienna. His noble genealogy played a significant role in history of Silesia and Moravia for centuries. It is tendency to consider him as Austrian or even German architect. It is because of the fact that the genealogy tree of his noble family had roots in Moravia. It is supposed that Durer with Jan Čert´s support created the extraordinarily monumental architectural and urban works in Brno. A remarkable consensus in the urban composition of two squares and transition of traditional urban structure of Ostravice Civitas Dei into the modern Brno is also confirmed due to the identification of noble creators and owners, who were at the foundation, transformation and extinction of elements of the Moravian urban structure.