Prague Stories

I love how many of the metro stations are designed! When I first arrived to Prague, these stations caught my eye immediately. Living in the northwest of Prague (Dejvická) I’ve relied on the green line, specifically from Staroměstská to Malostranská to Hradčanská to Dejvická. These stations, I think, are designed so well. Perhaps it’s because I come from Austin, where there is no underground transport system that I am more inclined to noticing how a subway station looks. Yeah it’s functional, but is it pretty? Either way, I like the aesthetic choices made behind them, and I commend the designers for not only throwing up advertisements instead.
Added to this observation, though, are the advertisements that are in the underground tunnels. There are limited ad spaces here, with a majority of them lining the escalators. These posters advertise art exhibitions, galleries, musical performances, and other cultural events. Instead of ads for Tesco or Kofola (Czech Coca-Cola), the city seems to push art and culture. That’s wonderful.
Today after class I took a stroll down the Vltava River near the Charles Bridge and FAMU. Finally, the weather has lightened up a bit on the heat. That was one reason I left Texas, to escape those oppressive temperatures! But for the first few weeks here, it felt like that hellish heat had followed us. Now with what I’d consider a pitch perfect climate, I am ready to finish my stay in Prague with a bang, doing as much as I physically and mentally can. Tomorrow is my birthday. It will be interesting to experience it in a foreign place. But for the rest of my day, it’s back to menial activities such as laundry, editing the final project, napping, and having at least one pre-birthday pivo before the night ends.

Staroměstská metro station

Inside a tram

Announcement

Today was filled with exploration in the Žižkov and Karlín districts. On a quiet Sunday afternoon, theses areas were calm with many stores and businesses closed for the day. People strolled the streets casually under the warm sun, going about their own business. I ventured there to visit an old Jewish cemetery named Židovské hřbitovy. It opened in 1890, and it encompasses a very large plot of land in the area. Walking into it, I was overcome by its size, the towering trees, and the impressive tombstones and wrought iron work. Some of these graves dated back to the 1800’s, others to the present day. An attraction for the cemetery is Franz Kafka’s tombstone. Passing it by, I noticed that the ground over his grave was covered in personalized notes and gifts from fans of his. Leaving the cemetery, I was revitalized by the quiet solitude the atmosphere provided, enough to help me get through the crowded Old Town, which was where I headed to next.
Right now the city of Prague is sponsoring an art program called Sculpture Grande. In Wenceslas Square, sculptures and other large structures have been set up for public viewing. One artist from the U.S. has suspended in the air sink basins, bathtubs, and toilets attached to metal rods. They’re interesting to see yet I’m a little baffled by them at the same time. One thing, though, I think it’s great that the city puts together these annual public art displays.

Kafka’s final resting place

Public art in Wenceslas Square

Audience

The second course that I am taking here in Prague is centered on Czech Film History. Today, Professor Michal Bregant screened for us a 1966 film called Daisies. Directed by Vera Chytilová, the film was made and released in a time considered to be the second New Wave of Czech cinema. To say the least, the film was a trip! It focused on two young girls (feminist anarchists?) who viewed themselves as outcasts unseen by society. To encourage this mentality, their lifestyle overflowed with self-indulgence and reckless, irresponsible behavior. After its release, the film was banned, with many parliament members objecting the large waste of food in the film (one specific food fight is of epic proportions). Bottom line though, I was exhausted by the end of it, especially since it was an early morning class. A great way to start the day…
The rest of my day was an adventure. Since living in Prague, I have comfortably found routes on the tram and metro lines that I most rely on to get to the places I most often need to be. Finally today, though, I ventured on one of the metro lines to take me as far as it would allow. This was the red line I traveled on, and it headed south. The purpose of this excursion was to discover a part of Prague I had not yet discovered. Also, it was to serve as inspiration, to find a subject for the next documentary project. What I ended up finding were malls and suburban home complexes and buildings. Many of the areas were rather deserted, a result, I assume, from people being at work. I’m glad to have gone out there. Though I did not find my next topic or theme, it was nice to get away from the bustling center city that is usually thriving with people and tourists.

Prague Suburbs

FAMU Classroom