Sport & Culture in Contemporary Czech Republic

This course analyzes the role of sport in contemporary Czech society and the interrelationship between sport, identity, and politics in the Czech Republic from the end of the 19th century to the present day. Contemporary and historical sporting practices and events - including soccer, ice hockey, tennis, track and field, sailing, hiking, or spartakiáda - are analyzed to uncover issues around national identity, politics, gender, and the sport-media-market interface in the Czech context. Drawing on the Czech historical, sociological, and outdoor education studies, the course examines state and civic organization of sport and its political role in both totalitarian and democratic Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic. Students will actively engage in various aspects of the host culture throughout the term through case studies, onsite learning, and field research.