CORE138 We and Others. Otherness as a cultural construct

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Daniel Drápala, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Alena Křížová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. Eva Kuminková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Barbora Navrátilová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Martina Pavlicová, CSc. (lecturer)
PhDr. Mgr. Oto Polouček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Marie Novotná (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Daniel Drápala, Ph.D.
Department of European Ethnology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: prof. PhDr. Daniel Drápala, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of European Ethnology – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Thu 12:00–13:40 C33, except Mon 20. 4. to Fri 24. 4.
Prerequisites (in Czech)
TYP_STUDIA(BM) && FORMA(P) && !(PROGRAM(B-ET_) || OBOR(FBETpV)) && MAXATR(3, core)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 100 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 74/100, only registered: 5/100, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/100
Abstract
The course focuses on the illumination of otherness as a cultural construct that is reflected in many aspects of the everyday life of individuals, differently profiled social groups and society as a whole. Understanding and contextualizing different approaches to the perception of the Us versus Them relationship will contribute to a deeper understanding of a range of historical and contemporary social and cultural processes of which exclusion from another society or culture is an integral part. The issues will be approached on the basis of the principles of emergence, discursive practices and the subjective and objective approaches of their bearers and creators. In the first thematic part, the lectures will focus on the issue of self-identities formed on the basis of different principles (e.g. ethnicity, class, community, language, situational social groups) and demonstrated by specific forms of behaviour. The second block will deal with the creation of the image of the Other, both in the non-European space, within Europe and within the population of Czech countries. The third part of the lecture series will turn its attention to the ethnic, linguistic, cultural diversity of Europe and the regional and social diversity of the population of Central European countries demonstrated through selected historical cultural forms and contemporary evidence. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Learning outcomes
At the end of the above subject cycle, the students will have the capacity of basic orientation in the categories and terms which are associated with the principles of cultural otherness built on the study of society and its culture. When graduating from the subject, the students will be directed to understanding the principles of cultural otherness, and they will be able to describe these aspects using concrete examples.
Key topics

1. Introduction to the issue, culture and diversity, its perception, formation and application of stereotypes

2. Identity – its perception, means

3. (Not only) Europe and its stereotypess

4. Ethical aspects of the current perception of the representation of otherness in traditional culture 

5. National identity, folk culture, and us and "the others" in the East

6. National identity, folk culture, and us and "the others" in the Balkans

7. Whose cultural heritage is it – an ethnic perspective on dealing with the cultural heritage of "others"

8. Colonialism and the decolonization of museums – the museum as a center for discussion on the repatriation of cultural heritage 

9.  Folk and popular culture

10. Regional differentiation using examples from material culture

11. Regional differentiation using examples from intangible culture

12. (Non-)nostalgia for socialism in local and social contexts

13. Memory of Czech (post-)socialism



Study resources and literature
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Lectures, reading, discussion.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Colloquium with elements of a moderated discussion on a selected topic reflecting the basic thematic areas of the lecture (the student will register for the selected topic).
Language of instruction
Czech
Study support
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/phil/jaro2026/CORE138/index.qwarp?mode=edit
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
The structure and required or recommended reading for each topic are available in an interactive syllabus in the Masaryk University information system.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2025, Spring 2027.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2026/CORE138