Preliminary communication
The Culture of the Czech Nationality in SR Croatia at the Moment
Alen Matušek
; Alliance of Czechs and Slovaks, Daruvar, Croatia
Abstract
The postwar social and economic development of Yugoslavia has had an impact on the manner in which the cultural life of the Czech nationality in SR Croatia is organised. Internal migration has led the youth out of villages, and re-migration to Czechoslovakia has brought about the departures of the most creative and most eminent personalities. This has resulted in a restriction of the “human factor” and of the base of the former venues of the nationality, as well as a decline in the quality of cultural activities. The advance and breakthrough of mass culture has contributed to a pronounced drop in the nationality's interest in cultural activities and work in societies. Unlike the prewar period that was characterised by diverse activities in soci¬eties, the backbone of today's cultural life of the Czechs are grand convention-type manifestations (i e. harvest festivals). In the majority of societies cultural activities take place in accordance with planned participation in such manifestations, but there is no independent continuous work. The major problem is to win over young people for engaging in culture-related work. The main cultural activities are: folklore events, amateur drama and entertainments, as well as wind music concerts. The youth get included in those if they are attractive enough. In the past two years it has become obvious that the most successful at work with the young are the so-called sections or groups guided by young leaders who prefer more modem work methods and a more up-to-date repertoire. An important role in the cultural life of Czechs is played by the Alliance of Czechs and Slovaks, coordinating and enlivening the entire cultural life of the na¬tionality by means of a council. In the focus of the Alliance's attention are manifestations and festivals. To improve their quality, the Alliance has co-operation with its counterpart institutions in this country and in Czechoslovakia. In order to make the minority's cultural life more meaningful, however, the Alliance should work out a longer-term and more rational cultural policy so as to encourage work in societies on a continuous and more permanent basis and to prevent manifestations from being a means to their own end.
Keywords
nationality; cultural life; Czechs; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
128493
URI
Publication date:
30.9.1987.
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