Description
Object description
Czech schoolchild and student living in Otinoves, Moravia, Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, 1973-1989
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as schoolchild in Otinoves, Moravia, Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, 1973-1989: family origins; father's employment; grandfather's internment in concentration camp during Second World War; growth in awareness of politics at school; learning about Communism; nature of education system including languages learnt and history; image of West and Czechoslovakian state promoted in schools; absence of privately owned business; attitude towards Communism; official account of Prague Spring, 1968 as taught in schools; state image promoted of United States of America; desire for western consumer goods particularly jeans.
REEL 2 Continues: obtaining pair of western jeans from family friend; membership of Czech Young Pioneers; role directing slogan sessions; activities of Czech Young Pioneers; importance of membership of Communist youth groups for future career; father's political stance during 1968; necessity of membership of Communist Party of Czechoslovakia; attitude towards Communist system; opinion of premiership of President Gustáv Husák; lack of knowledge of Alexander Dubcek and Václav Havel; uniformity of everyday life; problems caused by state run business monopolies; existence of black market; lack of contact with the West; degree of contact with Eastern Block; reaction to visiting Vienna, Austria after 1989; degree of awareness of events leading up to Velvet Revolution, 1989; impact of Velvet Revolution on her village and on school; studying accountancy.
REEL 3 Continues: accountancy job helping new private businesses; difficulties adapting to capitalist system and privatisation; influx of consumer goods; changes in traditional lifestyle; lack of knowledge of western music under Communism; degree of access to culture under Communist system; opinion of President Václav Havel; father's situation on fall of Communist regime; decision to leave Czech Republic, 1992. Recollections of period living in London, GB, 1992-2000: initial impressions of London; employment as au pair; meeting and marrying husband; contrast in her attitude and that of her Czech friends; attitude towards capitalist system; western attitudes towards people from former Eastern Bloc.
REEL 4 Continues: family's attitude towards her marriage to Englishman; impressions of Czech Republic, 2000; impact of capitalist system on Czech society; work as press officer for Imperial War Museum; memories of school visits to Lidice; attitude toward division of Czechoslovakia; prior recollection of nuclear attack drill at her school in Otinoves, Czechoslovak Socialist Republic.