Choreology Seminar 4

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Learning objective:

Choreology seminars are aimed at complementing and expanding the knowledge and skills of students in the Master's program. Their purpose is to deepen the students' orientation in the field and the current state of choreological research, its topics and procedures, to develop their skills in independent research work, working with sources, orientation in methodological issues and theoretical background, approaches to the studied problems, analysis and interpretation of the collected facts, formulating opinions and arguments.

An essential part of the students' work in the seminar is self-study of the literature and its reflection, application of concepts, methodological tools and issues from them to selected phenomena of dance culture. The purpose of the seminar is to learn to use the methods, but also to connect them with theoretical backgrounds, and to work towards the creation of their own text and publication or public output.

In the framework of the seminar, professional practice is realized by participating in professional seminars, conferences, etc.

Thematic areas:

The topics reflect the current state of choreology and dance research, the inclusion of a specific topic in each semester is related to the focus of students in the follow-up master's study (thesis), the topicality of certain topics, developments in the field. Basically, they are divided into three main headings:

• Selected issues in Choreology - focusing on reflection of contemporary choreological research of various orientations through professional texts, their study and analysis. The thematic focus is related to the themes of the students' theses and to the students' professional focus. The aim is to take a detailed look at certain problem areas, their source base, conceptual basis, methodological tools, themes and questions, existing research approaches and solutions. These include, for example, the application of the oral-historical method in the historical study of dance phenomena, contemporary approaches to the theory and practice of historically informed interpretation in the sphere of dance, questions of the impact of globalization on dance phenomena, and issues of commodification and the culture industry in relation to dance.
• Selected problems of ethnochoreology – development of theoretical thinking in the given sphere through the study of texts, theoretical concepts and methods. Work with Czech and foreign language professional texts. The thematic areas include questions of the transformation of symbolic meanings and social functions of traditional folk dance culture in contemporary contexts, the place of dance in the protection of cultural heritage (UNESCO programmes for the protection of intangible cultural heritage and artistic creations).
• Dance anthropology and ethnography - theories and methods of field research - field research, aimed at observing different environments in whose context dance plays its irreplaceable role. In particular, its significance in the system of an interest, social, ethnic or other group is examined, and attention is paid to its cognitive and symbolic dimensions. Throughout the year, students engage in research within their chosen topic, using a combination of methods to do so. The primary method is observation supplemented by guided interviews and in some cases auto-ethnography. The object of research can be any form of participatory or presentational dance. Within the seminar, students conduct independent field research as part of their professional practice; they present their results in the seminar or publicly (publication, presentation at a professional forum).

Learning outcomes

Students will deepen their knowledge, better understand theoretical concepts and methods to apply them to specific material in their own research and output. They develop individual skills, critical thinking, formulation of conclusions, argumentation. They learn independent research and professional scientific work, applying the totality of acquired knowledge, theoretical background and methods to their own research outputs.

Prerequisites and other requirements

none

Literature

Required reading:

BAUDRILLARD, Jean. Simulacra and simulation. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, c1994. 164 s. ISBN 0-472-06521-1.

BAUDRILLARD, Jean. The consumer society: myths and structures. Rev. edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2016. ISBN 9781473982383.

BAUMAN, Zygmunt. Postmodernity and its Discontents. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1997. ISBN 0-7456-1790-5.

BUCKLAND, Theresa J.(ed.). Dance in the Field. Theory, Methods, and Issues in dance Ethnography. Palgrave Macmillan: New York 1999. ISBN 9780333719138.

ECO, Umberto. The Limits of Interpretation. Indiana University Press: 1991. ISBN 0253208696.

FOLEY, Catherine E. Irish Traditional Step Dancing in North Kerry. A Contextual and Structural Analysis. Listowel: North Kerry Literary Trust 2012. ISBN 978-0-9570201-4-6.

GEERTZ, Clifford. The interpretation of Cultures: selected essays. New York: Basic Books, 2017. ISBN 978-0-465-09719-7.

STAVĚLOVÁ, Daniela a Theresa BUCKLAND, ed. Folklore revival movements in Europe post 1950: shifting contexts and perspectives. Translation David MRAČEK. Prague: Institute of Ethnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 2018. ISBN 978-80-88081-22-7.

The Pina Bausch Sourcebook: The making of Tanztheater. London: Routledge, c2013. ISBN 978-0-415-61802-1.

THOMAS, Helen. The Body, Dance and Cultural Theory. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003. ISBN 978-0-333-72432-3.

Dance Research Journals and Periodicals:

Živá hudba, Národopisná revue, Český lid, Divadelní revue, Hudební věda aj.; Dance Research, Dance Chronicle, Dance Perspectives

Compedia of Study Group on Ethnochoreology ICTM, Yearbook for Traditional Music (ICTM), European Association for Dance History.

Recommended reading:

ČERNÍČKOVÁ, Kateřina, Daniela STAVĚLOVÁ, Jiří TRAXLER a Zdeněk VEJVODA. Prostředí tance: hranice identity a jejich překračování. Praha: NIPOS Praha ve spolupráci s Etnologickým ústavem AV ČR, 2008. ISBN 978-80-87112-33-5.

SOUKUP, Martin. Terénní výzkum v sociální a kulturní antropologii. V Praze: Karolinum, 2014. ISBN 978-80-246-2567-6.

VANĚK, Miroslav a Pavel MÜCKE. Třetí strana trojúhelníku: teorie a praxe orální historie. 2., přepracované a doplněné vydání. Praha: Univerzita Karlova v Praze, nakladatelství Karolinum, 2015. Orální historie a soudobé dějiny. ISBN 978-80-246-2931-5.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Credit for completion of seminar assignments (continuous assignments related to the study of literature, work on the assigned seminar assignment), active participation in the discussion

Attendance in class min. 75 %

Further information

No schedule has been prepared for this course

The subject is a part of the following study plans

• Choreology (MA) - from 2023/24 (Required subjects with the possibility of repeat registration)