Prague Yale Summer Session Program 2009
In Kafka's Spirit: Prague Film and Fiction
Five-week program July 4 – August 8, 2009
Live in Prague, the most picturesque city in the world, while absorbing the culture of modern Central Europe: Prague - the capital of the Czech Republic.
Address questions concerning this course to karen.vonkunes@yale.edu, but questions regarding application procedures or billing matters to summersession.abroad@yale.edu
Program Description
Officially the Yale Summer Session B begins on Monday, July 6. The Prague Program participants are expected to arrive in Prague on Saturday, July 4 but not later than Sunday, July 5. A cab transfer is about $25.00, and takes about half an hour from Prague Ruzyně Airport to our accommodations, Univerzita Karlova v Praze Evangelická teologická fakulta. Černá 9, 115 55 Praha 1. It is located in downtown Prague close to the Vltava riverfront and to Prague main boulevard Václavské Náměstí.
Click here to see enlarged pictures
In the 5-week program, you will be introduced to Prague Jewish Heritage, and retrace Franz Kafka's Prague Physical & Spiritual Journey under the direction of our guides.
In a seminar-style group you will analyze the greatest works by modern Czech film directors, writers and playwrights. You’ll be inspired by the writers and artists’ insight into human condition, and provided with an opportunity to meeting artists at informal discussions, and in Barrandov Film Studio (the Prague Hollywood).
In a 4-day practical filmmaking workshop (offered in conjunction with the Prague Film School specialists, and directed by Josef Lustig, a well-known Czech film-maker) you will make a short film, based on your own 5-page screenplay. Please see the Academy of Performing Arts website.
Through readings and viewing the films, you will be introduced to two Czech giants, Milan Kundera and Milos Forman. You’ll get an insight into their life and work and be encouraged to produce your own 7-page story based on the principles of writing by Milan Kundera and/or Bohumil Hrabal. You’ll be exposed to the idea of responsibility as promoted by playwright and former president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel. You will have an opportunity to meet with Tomáš Sedláček, Mr. Havel’s former economic advisor, and former Yale World Fellow.
You will learn elementary Czech grammar: you will develop conversational survival skills and basic speaking, reading and writing skills. By the end of the course you will be able to order food in Czech, ask for directions, invite a Czech for a date, and you will be able to read in Czech an excerpt from Czech magazines. Your book “Fun & Easy Czech” by Karen von Kunes takes into accounts your interests and needs (please feel free to suggest any topic for the book in progress). Dr. von Kunes will write a laughable dialogue about each of you, so you can be inspired and laugh about yourself in Czech. In addition to the intellectual exposure, your Prague visit will be a journey of discovery. You’ll discover that Pilsner, a genuine beer, is cheaper than water, and that Moravian wines are produced following centuries-old recipes. You’ll visit Moravia, a birthplace of Milan Kundera, Sigmund Freud, and Tom Stoppard. You’ll hang in Czsch cafés, meeting fascinating Czechs and meeting with Prague nobility, as well as with children in orphanage. You’ll dine in mediaeval pubs and taste food that people used to consume as far ago as the 14th century.
You will have enough free time to explore and have fun on your own. You’ll swim in Vltava River (celebrated in Bedřich Smetana’s Symphony) in Yellow Spa, a favorite place of Franz Kafka, and Kundera’s fictional characters. You’ll be thrilled to have a canoe river ride in Český Krumlov in South Bohemia.
The highlight of our program is the 44th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival where you’ll rub shoulders with the rich and famous from all over the world. In Barrandov Film Studio (“Dream Factory”), you will examine (and, hopefully will try on) the costumes of famous actors, and hats that Elizabeth Berridge wore in her role of Constanze in Forman’s famous film Amadeus. You will meet and take a picture with the most prominent Czech film director, Jiří Menzel.
Additional highlights of our program are the visit of Czech castles, and museums. You’ll be amazed by a shrine, an ossuary, made of real human bones from forty thousand people dating back to the 14th century (you can even touch the bones!) Kostnice Ossuary Beinhaus, and the 2-day trip to Vienna, Austria, a birthplace of “Amadeus,” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Pictures of Vienna
You will be touched by the grim side of Czech history: you’ll visit Terezín Ghetto, departing station for concentration camp during the Holocaust. You’ll wander in Prague Jewish quarters, visit Jewish museums and Jewish monuments. You will come across the legends and myths about the mysterious Golem, whose story began in Prague: Jewish Virtual Library
And the last but not the least, you will have lot of fun and flexibility. You’ll appreciate an individual intellectual & friendly approach to learning by Dr. Karen von Kunes. After the completion of the program you’ll hopefully say, just like previous participants: “THIS WAS MY BEST SUMMER EVER!”
Join us. You’ll LEARN, DISCOVER, have FUN and RELAX. See you, AHOY!
In Kafka's Spirit: Prague Film and Fiction
This 2-credit course comprises several distinctive, and yet interwoven areas of study that are representative for Prague culture and its heritage. Students interested in one or more areas are encouraged to apply. All these areas are studied as a part of the 2-credit course.
- Prague’s Jewish Heritage
- Franz Kafka’s Impact on Prague
- Milan Kundera’s Prague Intellectualism
- Václav Havel’s Velvet, and post 1989-Prague
- Prague exposure to screenwriting and/or short story writing
- Prague exposure to practical filmmaking (4-day program)
- Czech Language, survival tool in Prague
Fees and Expenses
Two-Yale Credit Tuition: See official YSS site.
Accommodation, Breakfast, Program Visits, Discussion Lunches & Dinners: See details
Currency Exchange Rate: US $1.00 = 20.00 Czech Crowns (Kč)
Registration
Between now and March 15, 2009. Encouraged to apply are Yale and non-Yale affiliated participants of any age, country, and national origin. Prerequisites: minimum 18 years old by July 4, 2009, and must have completed one year of college or university. Enrollment limited to 20 participants.
VISA Procedures
To enter the Czech Republic you need a valid US or Canadian passport. Citizens of any other country please contact the Czech Consulate to see whether you need an entry visa. If you need a visa, you also need a letter of invitation, which will be issued to you by our Czech representative.
Things to Bring
Your wireless laptop, and plug for electrical outlet in Czech Republic (available in Radio Shock). Bring several sets of clothes (at least one nice shirt, and/or dress) for warm and cooler weather, two pairs of comfortable shoes, a bathing suit, and your personal items, such as contact lenses solution. Any appliances (radio, hair dryer) should be battery operated since Europe is on 220 V. Bring cash (you’ll get best exchange rate) and travel checks; regular checks are not always accepted. Credits cards are accepted in tourist business only. Plan to purchase a second-hand mobile phone in Prague, which you can resell at the end of the stay.
Medical Care
While in Prague, you will be covered by Yale Health Plan. You must pay for doctor’s visit in local currency, the amount which should be reimbursed to you. In case of emergency or any other urgent medical need, you will be taken to an English speaking Czech Hospital.
Faculty
Dr. KAREN von KUNEŠ, Yale University Senior Lector in the Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures, and Film Studies, is author of Beyond the Imaginable: 240 Ways of Looking at Czech, and Czech-English English-Czech dictionary. Dr. Karen published articles on Czech literature and film (Kundera, Forman and Havel), fiction, and is an author of screenplay. She wrote textbooks Czech Step By Step and Check Your Czech, and her Fun & Easy Czech is in progress. Slavic Languages & Literatures website.
Prague 2009 schedule
Saturday, July 4 - Saturday, August 8, 2009
Click here for Day-to-Day schedule
