[Commlist] New book: The Art of Czech Animation

New book
The Art of Czech Animation
A History of Political Dissent and Allegory
Adam Whybray

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-art-of-czech-animation-9781350104655/
Published: 	25-06-2020
Format: 	PDF eBook (Watermarked)
Edition: 	1st
Extent: 	288
ISBN: 	9781350104655
Imprint: 	Bloomsbury Academic
Illustrations: 	16 bw illus



The Art of Czech Animation is the first comprehensive English language 
account of Czech animation from the 1920s to the present, covering both 
2D animation forms and CGI, with a focus upon the stop-motion films of 
Jirí Trnka, Hermína Týrlová, Jan Švankmajer and Jirí Barta.

Stop-motion is a highly embodied form of animation and The Art of Czech 
Animation develops a new materialist approach to studying these films. 
Instead of imposing top-down Film Theory onto its case studies, the 
book's analysis is built up from close readings of the films themselves, 
with particular attention given to their non-human objects.

In a time of environmental crisis, the unique way Czech animated films 
use allegory to de-centre the human world and give a voice to non-human 
aspects of the natural world points us towards a means by which culture 
can increase ecological awareness in viewers.

Such a refutation of a human-centred view of the world was contrary to 
communist orthodoxy and it remains so under late-stage 
consumer-capitalism. As such, these films do not only offer beautiful 
examples of allegory, but stand as models of political dissent. The Art 
of Czech Animation is a unique endeavour of film philosophy to provide a 
materialist appraisal of a heretofore neglected strand of 
Central-Eastern European cinema.
Table of contents

Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Introduction
1. 'It's the simple things': Animated allegories against Nazi and Soviet 
oppression
2. Jan Švankmajer and the network of things
3. Jirí Barta and the rhythmic difficulties of living in, or with, time 
and space
4. Animators reconstructing Prague and Czech identity after the Velvet 
Revolution

Epilogue
Bibliography
Filmography
Notes
Reviews

“The Art of Czech Animation takes an innovative approach in re-examining 
the pioneering animators Trinka, Barta and Švankmajer. From a 
psychoanalytic perspective, Whybray explores these animators' works in 
light of politics and activism, resulting in a fascinating read.” –  Dr 
Caroline Ruddell, Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead in Film 
Production/Film and TV, Brunel University London, UK,

“This book provides a compelling investigation into Czech animation 
history. What makes Whybray's text particularly valuable is the 
insightful manner in which he unifies significant political and 
historical events with creative and thematic developments in animation.” 
–  Dr Dan Torre, RMIT University, Australia,


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