This diploma thesis explores the concept of theatricality as developed by the Swiss theatrologist Stefan Hulfeld. The thesis aims at a presentation of Hulfeld's research which is based on examination of historical documents, his particular focus being the theatricality of the 18. century in Solothurn (Switzerland). In this thesis, his theory is compared to other theatricality theories developed by Rudolf Münz and Andreas Kotte. The more general aim of the presented work is to devise a notion of theatricality which is based on historical- theatrological exploration of historical documents.

This work deals with the concept of theatricality in media and with the usage of media content in theatre. The task is to find out the possibilities of journalism by means of theatre work and at the same time to describe the representation of theatricality in media. The methodology was made on the basis of the combination of semiotic and content analysis. The work also introduces the knowledge of theatre studies in the environment of media studies. The theatre is used as an example when during the reproduction of the communication all the participants know the fact that it is an interpretation. Similar approach is used for media contents. Also the terms actor's character and dramatic character helped to distinguish the real persons represented in media from their media image. The audience often does not realize this difference and accept the offered interpretation from the media and media image of the public life persons as a part of their understanding of public affairs. Dramatic situations are made up in the news service and the goal is to attract attention of viewers and readers. The composition of such situations produced by media is similar to the ones in dramatic art.

This dissertation introduces contemporary circus as a type of dramatic art. The work thus provides a basic framework for the analysis of contemporary circus and suggests a terminology for the designation of its specific traits. This terminology is derived first and foremost from the Czech theatre studies environment. The theoretical delineation of contemporary circus stems from selected theses from Otakar Zich's The Aesthetics of Dramatic Art and Erika Fischer-Lichte's The Transformative Power of Performance: A New Aesthetics. Contemporary circus, which is depicted as belonging to several discourses - historical, aesthetic, cultural policy and pedagogical, is described from a formal as well as content-focused point of view in order to best point out how the circus element changes and takes on meaning in relation to its theatrical counterpart. The thesis is subdivided into five parts. The introduction outlines the key theme, goals and methodology as well as terminology and theories which provide the work with a suitable point of departure. The Contemporary and Traditional Circus chapter describes the history and development of traditional as well as contemporary circus in selected countries (France, Canada, USA, Scandinavia) which are considered significant within the context of circus arts...