Vaclav Havel: a symbol or a stigma in the contemporary Czech society

• Thesis title in Czech: Václav Havel jako symbol a stigma v současné české společnosti
• Thesis title in English: Vaclav Havel: a symbol or a stigma in the contemporary Czech society
• Key words: politický diskurz|masová média|kategorizace|Václav Havel|český diskurz|pravdoláskař|havlista|havloid|diskurzivně historický přístup|stigma|stigmatizace|tisková média|tisk|kritická diskurzivní analýza|nálepkování
• English key words: political discourse|mass media|categorization|Czech discourse|discourse historical approach|truth-lover|havlista|havloid|news media|press|labelling|stigma|stigmatization|critical discourse analysis
• Academic year of topic announcement: 2019/2020
• Thesis type: Bachelor's thesis
• Thesis language: angličtina
• Department: Department of Sociology (21-KSOC)
• Supervisor: Mgr. Jakub Mlynář, Ph.D.
• Author: hidden - assigned and confirmed by the Study Dept.
• Date of registration: 16.11.2019
• Date of assignment: 18.11.2019
• Administrator's approval: not processed yet
• Confirmed by Study dept. on: 11.02.2020
• Date and time of defence: 10.06.2020 10:00
• Date of electronic submission: 18.05.2020
• Date of proceeded defence: 10.06.2020
• Submitted/finalized: committed by student and finalized
• Opponents: doc. PhDr. Marek Skovajsa, M.A., Ph.D.

Guidelines

Vaclav Havel was one of the most important characters of The Velvet Revolution in 1989, a symbol of the democratic transformation in Czech Republic. As a former president, he became internationally well known for his high moral values such as truth, honesty, love and peace. Some people did disagree with his idealistic view on the world, he was also reproached for the decisions he made and lately criticized for the values he supported. How does the legacy of Vaclav Havel reflect in the contemporary Czech discourse? How important is the role of word categories like Czech expressions as “pravdoláskař”, “havlista”, “havloid” or “sluníčkář”?
The thesis focuses on the analysis of some recent Czech expressions related to the legacy of Vaclav Havel, mostly used in a negative way. The majority of expressions analysed in this paper started to appear after the former president passed away in 2011. The very Czech expressions as “pravdoláskař”, “havlista”, “havloid” or “sluníčkář” are used to label people supporting the same values Vaclav Havel was promoting.
The main goal of the thesis is to analyse, how the usage of the selected expressions develops during certain periods of time after Havel’s demise. The thesis will focus on how has the meaning changed within last years and if the purpose is still to offend or stigmatize people. If there is any negative connotation found, the thesis will also try to analyse its reference to any social frustration and global social atmosphere.
The methodology used is a discursive analysis of selected Czech paper or digital media to compare how are the word categories mentioned above included and arranged in the media content. The impact of mass media on society is very significant and it shows how the contemporary discourse applies the particular expressions.
Media chosen as the data for the analysis are Czech journals as Hospodářské noviny, Mladá Fronta Dnes, weekly magazines as Respekt and Reflex, or tabloids as Blesk or Aha.

References

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