Events: December 2014
November 2014
January 2015
Karel Hvížďala, Petr Pithart and Petr Fischer – Experiments
December 1, 2014, 17:00
Ceremonial presentation of Karel Hvížďala’s new book Pokusy. Eseje o uvízlých větách a lidech z let 2011–2014 (Experiments: Essays on Stuck Sentences and People from the Years 2011–2014) with illustrations by Ivan Steiger. Musical accompaniment by Jitka Molavcová and Jiří Suchý. The book will be “baptised” by Petr Pithart, Iva Steiger and introduced by Petr Fischer.
Three Faces of an Angel
December 1, 2014, 19:00
Jiří Pehe, Gerald Turner and Michael Tate: A panel discussion about literature, politics and religion on the occasion of a book launch of the English-language translation of Jiří Pehe's novel Three faces of an angel. Moderator: Erik Best More
Václav Havel: Suspicious to Myself
December 2, 2014, 19:00
In connection with the 25th anniversary of Václav Havel’s election as president, the Václav Havel Library is issuing the publication Sám sobě podezřelý (Suspicious to Myself). A collection of speeches with a marked personal tone from 1990–1995, it explores the philosophy of Václav Havel not only as president-statesman and president-citizen, but also as president-person. The publication has been put together by Anna Freimanová, and features a foreword by Martin Palouš, an afterword by Michael Žantovský, and photographs by Ondřej Němec. More
Memory of Dissent V: Kamila Bendová – A Family Story
December 3, 2014, 10:00
The lecture series Memory of Dissent is organised by the Historical Sociology department at Charles University’s Faculty of Humanities and the Václav Havel Library and headed by sociologist Nicolas Maslowski.
Václav Havel writes to Alfréd Radok
December 3, 2014, 19:00
In connection with the 100th anniversary of the birth of the great Czech modern theatre and film director Alfréd Radok, the VHL has prepared an evening in cooperation with the Alfréd Radok Awards Foundation dedicated to the strong friendship between the emergent writer Havel and Radok, a theatrical wizard who was not popular with the regime. More
Cabinet Havel: Are we Safe?
December 4, 2014, 17:00
The second in a new debate series organised by the Divadlo Husa na provázku theatre and the Václav Havel Library entitled Cabinet Havel 2014/2015, or All we need is the truth. This year, a century after the outbreak of WWI, are we on the threshold of a new conflict? Can world wars be prevented? Can the Czech Republic feel safe? Guests: General Petr Pavel, chief of staff of the Czech Army, former defence minister Alexandr Vondra, and Jiří Rajlich of the Military History Institute. Chaired by Renata Kalenská and Petr Oslzlý. The entrance at the discussion is for free. More
Just Don’t Wake Me from My Dream
December 5, 2014, 19:00
Eugen Brikcius has brought out a new collection Jen se mi neprobuď ze sna (Just Don’t Wake Me from My Dream), whose vivid physicality corresponds to the title and spirit of his previous volume. More
Natural Architecture – The Quest for a Future
December 8, 2014, 18:00
Architect Martin Rajniš and a group of collaborators have for more than a decade created experimental buildings and sought possible paths towards the future development of architecture. More
The Iron Curtain – Horrors of the Past and Terrifying Visions of the Future
December 9, 2014, 19:00
A presentation of Czech translations of Anne Applebaum’s The Iron Curtain and Between East and West. The author explores the process by which communism was introduced in democratic societies after WWII, describing in a calm but devastating manner how political parties, churches, the media and other institutions of civic society were weakened and destroyed. More
The Sun Sets in the Morning
December 10, 2014, 19:00 Participation on local events
Presentation of a new volume in the Václav Havel Library Notebooks series, an anthology of contemporary Romany prose entitled Slunce zapadá už ráno (The Sun Sets in the Morning), by the female writers Eva Danišová, Irena Eliášová, Jana Hejkrlíková and Iveta Kokyová. Editor Karolína Ryvolová will introduce the book. More
Debate with Respekt: November 89, the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes and the Dispute over the Interpretation of History
December 11, 2014, 19:00
The current disputes at the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes have reopened the issue of where, 25 years after the fall of communism, Czech society stands with regard to totalitarianism and its interpretation. Monika MacDonagh-Pajerová, Adrian Portmann, Jaroslav Spurný, Michal Uhl have confirmed their participation. Chaired by Tomáš Sacher.
Václav Havel in Photography and Film
December 13, 2014, 14:00
The launch of an exhibition of photographs by Karel Cudlín at Dačice’s Old Chateau will be followed by a screening of Andrea Sedláčková’s film Life According to Václav Havel at the local cinema. In cooperation with the town of Dačice.
Women in Politics After ‘89
December 15, 2014, 19:00
A debate, chaired by Jana Šmídová, considering the last 25 years from the perspective of female participation in political events. Women who were engaged in public matters prior to November 1989 and in the course of the last quarter century will share their experiences. More
Josef Topol: What a Poet Knows About
December 16, 2014, 19:00
Presentation of O čem básník ví (What a Poet Knows About), a freshly published book by dramatist and poet Josef Topol (b.1935), a life-long friend of Václav Havel’s. More
Memory of Dissent VI – Collective memory
December 17, 2014, 10:00
The lecture series Memory of Dissent is organised by the Historical Sociology department at Charles University’s Faculty of Humanities and the Václav Havel Library and headed by sociologist Nicolas Maslowski.
Cabinet Havel: Do We Need Heroes? Do We Need Authorities? Do We Need a Vision?
December 17, 2014, 17:00
On courage and cowardice, heroism and treason… respect and disrespect, esteem and contempt… with vision and without vision… Jiří Stránský and Jan Urban have promised to take part. Chaired by Renata Kalenská and Petr Oslzlý. More
Shared Space – The Creation of the City as Dialogue V
December 17, 2014, 19:00
Another in a series of popularising events focused on the main paradigms in the creation of cities of the 21st century. The evening is taking place in cooperation with the Prague Institute of Planning and Development.
Challenges, Paradoxes, Plays: Václav Havel – Protest
December 18, 2014, 18:00
To sign, or not to sign? A play on a complicated question with an even more complicated answer. This one-act play concerns a persistent dilemma which is just the kind of devilish question that characterises the writer’s work as a dramatist. On the third anniversary of Václav Havel’s death we remember the lesser-known “Vaněk play” Protest from 1978. Staging by the Divadlo na tahu theatre. Directed by Andrej Krob and featuring Karel Beseda and Radek Bár. More