POLITICS
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Apparatchik- A member of the administration in a communist country.
Arctic Convoys- Shipments of weapons and supplies from the United States and Great Britain to Russia during the Second World War as part of the Lend-Lease Act.
Cambridge Union Labour Club- A debating society in Cambridge promoting free speech and open debate. It was founded in 1815 and is one of the oldest organizations of its kind.
Charter 77- An informal civic initiative in Czechoslovakia from 1977 to 1992. Members of the Charter 77 group, including Václav Havel, asked President Husák to abide by the Helsinki Treaty on human rights, which the government had signed. Their actions were inspired in part by the arrest and trial of Ivan Jirous of the Plastic People of the Universe. The government reacted swiftly: the official press described the document as "an antistate, antisocialist, and demagogic, abusive piece of writing." Many of its signatories were punished with imprisonment or exile. In the late 1980s, however, as the Communist government began to weaken, the group's members became instrumental in easing the transition from Communism to democracy.
Dubcek, Alexander- A Czech politician who attempted to reform the Communist regime. Though he remained devoted to the Communist party's rule, he sought to eliminate some of the most repressive aspects of the regime. This movement became known in 1968 as the Prague Spring. On August 20, 1968, Soviet forces invaded Czechoslovakia; in the months following, Dubcek's reforms were gradually repealed.
Eurocommunism- Referring to a distancing of European Communism from the policies of the USSR. It sought to work within a democratic system, rather than seek its overthrow.
FHB- An acronym for "Family Holds Back." When there is not much food, the family should wait for guests before having seconds.
General Instructions on Workers Control- Instructions issued by the new Bolshevik government that were meant to codify the framework in which workers would "control" their workplaces. In reality, it actually limited workers control in favor of a rigid hierarchy.
Grusa, Jirí- A Czech poet, writer, translator, diplomat, and politician. In 1968, he was banned from publishing in Czechoslovakia. He would become renowned for his secret writings, and would eventually become a signatory of Charter 77.
Havel, Václav- The former president of both Czechoslovakia (1989-1992) and the Czech Republic (1993-2003); also a playwright, poet, and political dissident. Born in 1936, Havel spent his young adulthood in the theatre; by 1968 he was resident playwright at the Theatre of the Balustrade. Because his plays satirize repressive political systems, they were banned in his home country for many years. After Prague Spring was suppressed in 1968, Havel spoke out against the repressive government, eventually co-authoring Charter 77. His dissident activities resulted in multiple arrests and nearly 5 years in prison. Meanwhile he earned a reputation as a firm moral authority and avid human rights activist. After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, Havel was elected president of Czechoslovakia, a position which he held until the Czechoslovak union dissolved in 1992. The following year he was elected president of the new Czech Republic, and was reelected for a second 5-year term in 1998. He stepped down in 2003.
Hübl, Milan- One of two men arrested in Czechoslovakia in 1972 and accused of distributing "provocative printed matter." Letters were written by many prominent intellectuals in protest to the arrests.
Husák, Gustav- The president and long-term communist leader of Czechoslovakia. He was installed into his position by the Soviet government as a response to Prague Spring in 1968. He would rule throughout the 70s and 80s in the period known as "Normalization," repealing many of the liberal reforms former President Dubcek had began. In the first years after his rise to power, Husák managed to appease the outraged civil population by providing a high standard of living. Eventually though, popular opinion would turn against him for curbing of civil rights.
Marxism Today- The theoretical journal of the Communist Party of Great Britain. It took a moderate or Eurocommunist stance, and abandoned lengthy, oblique Marxist prose for more accessible forms.
Masaryk, Tomáš Garrigue- The first President and founder of Czechoslovakia when the country was established following the First World War. He was a keen advocate of Czechoslovakian independence leading up to the war and helped provide Allies with intelligence through the informant network that he and other revolutionaries had built.
Morning Star- A daily left-wing newspaper that is now the official newspaper of the Communist Party in Great Britain. It is known for being largely uncritical of the Soviet Union's actions.
October Revolution- The communist Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917 that led to the Russian Civil War and eventually the formation of the Soviet Union.
Petrograd Factory Committees- Committees formed in March 1917, after the February Revolution in Russia. They were meant as a way to organize workers and lay the groundwork for the workers to take over the means of production.
"Poke flowers into the ends of their gun barrels"- A form of political protest made famous during the peace movement during the Vietnam War in America.
Prague Spring- The name given to Alexander Dubcek's reforms in Czechoslovakia in early 1968. New policies included industrial and agricultural reforms, the relaxation of censorship laws, the promise of a revised constitution that would guarantee civil rights and liberties, and the assurance of equality between Czechs and Slovaks. For a few brief months, Czechoslovakians enjoyed reduced travel restrictions, increased freedom of speech, and imported and local theatre, music, art, and fashion. These changes concerned the Soviets, who soon quelled the reforms.
Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia- On August 20th, 1968, the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia to squash what they considered to be a capitalist counter-revolution in the country (Prague Spring). The Soviets expelled President Dubcek, who had introduced those reforms, and replaced him with the hard-liner Gustav Husák. Though it was originally thought by some that Husák would continue Dubcek's reforms, he instead began repealing them in a process referred to as "Normalization." 72 Czechoslovakians died in the invasion; the most famous martyr was Jan Palach, a 21-year-old student who set himself on fire in protest in the middle of Wenceslas Square.
Státní Bezpecnost or StB- Czech secret police.
Tankies- Hardline Stalinists who believe in and defend the actions of the Soviet Union, even when other communists criticize their policies and actions. The term is used to distinguish between these rare beliefs from those more popular in communism.
Teach-In- A method of non-violent protest first used in America during the Vietnam War. Teachers and students at universities would meet, often late at night, to provide a forum for opposition to conflict. Participants would argue, ask questions, challenge assumptions, and learn about the issue at hand. The movement would become a popular form of political protest throughout Europe during the Communist Era.
Vaculík, Ludvík- A Czech journalist known for his banned writing. One of the more liberal members of the Czech Communist Party, he wanted Dubcek's reforms to go even farther, writing his famous "Two Thousand Words" manifesto during Prague Spring. He would eventually become a founder of the Chartists in 1977.
Vitak, Robert- Author of a 1971 article entitled "Worker's Control: The Czechoslovak Experience" in the journal Social Registrar.
BANDS AND MUSICIANS
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Barrett, Roger "Syd"- A singer, songwriter, and guitarist in the 1960s. He is most well-known for forming the band Pink Floyd and writing most of their early material. Barrett struggled with drug addiction, using LSD almost constantly and behaving erratically during concerts. Unable to rely on his performance, the other band members stopped taking him to gigs. Though the band gained most of its popularity after Barrett left, there are some who believe that it was the original incarnation of Pink Floyd, including Barrett, that produced the greatest music. Barrett produced two moderately successful solo albums in the 1970s, Madcap Laughs and Barrett, before going into seclusion in his hometown of Cambridge, England. Barrett died on July 7th, 2006, three weeks after Rock 'N' Roll premiered in London.
Jirous, Ivan- The artistic director and manager of the Plastic People of the Universe, and an avid proponent of free expression during the Communist regime. He trained as an art historian, but he could find no work in that field after the Soviet takeover in 1968. Instead, he managed the Plastics, organized music festivals, and edited books of banned poetry. In 1976, after an underground Plastics concert, he and several members of the band were jailed, along with other musicians and dissidents. These arrests and others inspired the writing of Charter 77.
Mothers of Invention- A rock band active from 1964 to 1975 founded by famous composer and musician Frank Zappa. The band is well-known for their music's satire of American culture. The Plastic People of the Universe took their name from the song of the same name in the Mothers of Invention's album Absolutely Free.
Music F Club- A music club in Prague. Two Plastic People of the Universe songs were recorded here in 1971.
Plastic People of the Universe- A Czech rock band that was formed immediately after the Soviet Union's invasion of Czechoslovakia, consisting of bassist Milan Hlavsa, guitarist Josef Janicek, and violist Jiri Kabes. They were heavily influenced by Frank Zappa and the Velvet Underground; their artistic director and manager was Ivan Jirous, a Czech art historian and cultural critic who would become a prominent dissident in Czechoslovakia. The Plastics' concerts were multimedia extravaganzas of psychedelic lights and outrageous costumes and makeup. Their style was too extreme for the Communist government, who revoked the band's license in 1970. The Plastics played underground until their 1988 breakup, rapidly becoming icons of the dissident and youth movements in Czechoslovakia. The band members, however, were unwitting protestors: as found member Milan Hlavsa later explained, "The Plastic People emerged just as dozens and hundreds of other bands—we just loved rock 'n' roll and wanted to be famous. We were too young to have a clear artistic ambition. All we did was pure intuition: no political notions or ambitions at all." In 1997, President Václav Havel invited the group to reunite for a concert in honor of the 20th anniversary of Charter 77. The Plastics performed in the Spanish Hall of the Prague Castle—the very room where the Communist party had held many of its conferences. Milan Hlavsa died in 2001.
Richard, Cliff- An English singer, actor and musician in the British pop music scene in the late 1950s and early '60s. He was originally marketed as a British Elvis Presley.
Velvet Underground- An American rock group from 1965 to 1970. The best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale. The band was managed by Andy Warhol, who brought in German-born singer Nico for several songs on their debut album The Velvet Underground and Nico. Warhol also designed the cover for this album: it featured a bright yellow banana with the words "peel slowly and see" printed near a perforated tab. Those who peeled found a pink, peeled banana underneath. Though not commercially successful, the Velvet Underground were often cited by critics as one of the most influential groups of the era. A famous remark attributed to British musician Brian Eno is that while only a few thousand people bought the first Velvet Underground record upon its release, almost every single one of them was inspired to start a band.
PLACES
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Ashmolean- Museum of art and archaeology in Oxford, England. It is the world's first University museum.
Chelsea Girl- A vintage clothing store in London.
Corn Exchange- A concert venue in the UK.
Dandelion- Another concert venue in the UK
Gottwaldov- The name for the city of Zlín under the Communist government. Gottwaldov was named after Klement Gottwald, the first Communist president of Czechoslovakia. The name Zlín was restored in 1990. Incidentally, Tom Stoppard was born in Zlín; his family fled soon after his birth when the Nazi occupation began.
King's Parade- A street in Cambridge.
Kosire- A part of Prague.
The Lucerna- Prague's first multi-purpose complex built at the beginning of the 20th century and at one point partially owned by Václav Havel's family. It is one of the best-known of Prague's "cultural palaces."
Newnham College- A women's college at the heart of Cambridge University.
Strahov- A large stadium located in Prague. Though it is now a music venue, under Communism it was most spectacularly used for the Spartakiada, a massive show of synchronous exercises held every four years.
Tatra- A Czech car company.
MYTHOLOGY AND LITERATURE
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Amazons- Female warriors of Greek myths and stories whose legend persisted into the time of Julius Caesar. The Amazons are associated with the area between the Sea of Azov and Eastern Turkey, and are often mentioned in connection with the Samaritans and Scynthians. Modern archaeology has found some for the existence of "amazons:" mounted women warriors, often archers, were very common in Scynthian and Samaritan armies.
Fragment 130-
Eros the melter of limbs (now again) stirs me—
Sweetbitter unmanageable creature who steals in
translated by Anne Carson
I Ching- An Ancient Chinese text called the "book of changes" that outlines a system of cosmology and philosophy intrinsic to ancient Chinese cultural beliefs.
Lacuna- A gap, or missing piece, often associated with fragments of ancient texts.
Pan- The Greek God of shepherds, flocks, hunting, and rustic music. He has long been associated with paganism and instinct, as opposed to Christianity and reason. Pan is also associated with erotic power; his sweet pipe music is seductive and sometimes manipulative. Though he walks upright, Pan is always depicted as having the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat.
Philology- The study of the structure and historical development of languages; the precursor to modern linguistics. In the academic world, philology usually refers to the study of ancient texts, especially the deciphering of unknown languages. Conversely, linguistics investigates contemporary spoken language.
Pikros- "Bitter" in Greek.
Sappho- An Ancient Greek lyric poet born on the island of Lesbos whose poetry was famed throughout antiquity. Born between 630 BC and 612 BC, she is one of very few well-known female writers in the ancient world. Most of her poetry, which was greatly admired throughout antiquity, has been lost, but her reputation endures through surviving fragments. She is often associated with lesbianism.
Toxophily- The love of archery. Supposedly, the Amazons cut off their left breasts in order to be better archers.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance- Robert M. Pirsig's 1974 exploration of the "Metaphysics of Quality." The novel depicts a 17 day motorcycle journey across the United States with the author and his son, punctuated by numerous conversations on philosophy and metaphysics.
BRITISHISMS
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"A" levels- The more difficult level of pre-college education in England. Roughly equivalent to honors or advanced placement classes in America.
Bunfight- An academic free-for-all.
"O" Levels- The ordinary level of education in each subject, as opposed to the advanced or "A" levels. Every British student is required to complete "O" levels.
Swanking- Swaggering.