Circus ÚSTR: The Culture of Memory, Patriotism and a Resilient Society

What is the culture of memory? How do the political and intellectual elite (and Czech society) deal with historical memory? In what direction is the staging of Czech remembrance headed? Can we create living places of memory? Are they a source of healthy and self-confident patriotism? What can fiction, cinematography and documentary film contribute to the culture of memory? What are the strengths and weaknesses of Czech reflection on 20th-century history and experiences with totalitarian regimes? What contributes to the resilience of civil society in the face of the misinterpretation of history by opponents of freedom and democracy? Where in Europe can we look for inspiration and lessons? Guests: writer and journalist Tereza Boučková, screenwriter and director Václav Marhoul, and director and documentary filmmaker Pavel Štingl. Chaired by historian and philosopher Petr Hlaváček, director of the Department of Research and Education at the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes.