Topic Archive Culture
Jaroslav Foglar and his “Rapid Arrows”
Writer and youth movement activist Jaroslav Foglar left a deep trace in
Czech popular culture. Besides more than 25 novels for children, Jaroslav
Foglar is also the father of Rychlé šípy, or “Rapid Arrows”, a
legendary comics that has earned a following with generations of Czech
readers. Persecuted by the Nazis and the communists, the writer also
single-handedly founded his own youth organization which, in its heyday,
had tens of thousands of members across the country. More
Documentary filmmaker Martin Dušek on why his native region continues to inspire him
Martin Dušek, who often works with co-director Ondřej Provazník, is a
two-time winner of the main prize at the Jihlava International Documentary
Film Festival, the Czech Republic’s most prestigious documentary award.
His films “A Town Called Hermitage” and “Coal in the Soul” were
both shot in the former Sudetenland in North Bohemia, a border region whose
Sudeten German inhabitants were expelled from Czechoslovakia after the war.
Martin Dušek ’s latest film deals with his own Sudeten German heritage
– in a humorous and provocative way. I caught up the director to speak
about why this part of country continues to inspire him and how he
discovered his love for making documentaries. More
Hard rock headliners Kabát
In today’s programme we feature music by the hard rock and thrashmetal
group Kabát, who have left a Godzilla-sized footprint on the Czech music
scene. To date, the band headed by charismatic frontman Pepa Vojtek, has
sold hundreds of thousands of albums and remains a major draw for fans of
heavier music. More
Hana Andronikova: mourning a powerful Czech literary voice
It seems very strange to be talking about the Czech writer Hana Andronikova
in the past tense. When she died of cancer on December 20th last year, she
was only 44, and until the last months of her life had been at the height
of her creative powers. Author of two successful novels, several plays and
numerous short stories, she was one of the most versatile younger Czech
writers, and will be hugely missed. David Vaughan looks at her life and
work. More
‘Adolf Loos – A Private Portrait’ offers readers a unique glimpse into the life of the modernist architect
In today’s Arts I talk to artist and editor Carrie Paterson about the
first English-language edition of a rare and fascinating book originally
published in 1936. Written by the third wife of modernist architect Adolf
Loos, Claire Beck Loos (Klára Becková-Loosová of Plzeň) it was
previously available only in German; the new edition, published by
Doppelhouse Press, is called Adolf Loos – A Private Portrait. More
The House of the Black Madonna – home of the only surviving Cubist café in the world
Nestled between busy Wenceslas Square and Prague’s number one tourist
destination, Old Town Square, the House of the Black Madonna houses a small
museum of Cubism as well as the only surviving Cubist café in the world
– the Grand Café Orient, which was renovated between 2002 and 2005. More
A heart from melted candles: an unusual memorial for late Czech president Václav Havel
After the death of the late Czech president Václav Havel, thousands of
people laid down wreaths and lit candles at impromptu memorial sites across
the country. Now, two artists have decided to recycle those candles for an
unusual memorial – a wax heart. Dozens of volunteers are currently
working on the “A heart for Havel” initiative at a Prague cultural
center. More
Pavel Bobek - a Czech country legend
In this edition of Sunday Music Show, we listen to some of the big hits of
Pavel Bobek - one of the country's most popular country and rock'n roll
singers. More
Josef Škvorecký – Part 2 – ’68 Publishers and writing in Canada
In this week’s Arts enjoy Part 2 of our look at the life and work of
renowned author Josef Škvorecký, who died at the age of 87 earlier this
month. I continue my discussion with respected Czech critic, translator,
and specialist in Czech studies Petr Onufer, who talks about how Miloš
Forman almost made a film version of The Cowards, Škvorecký’s style as
an author and his role as co-founder of ‘68 Publishers. More
Už Jsme Doma
In today’s edition of our Sunday Music Show we listen to more than 20
years of “avant-punk” band Už Jsme Doma. Though the band has gone
through countless transformations in that time, it still remains one of the
most innovative sounds on the Czech music scene and a heavy influence for
new generations of Czech artists. More
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