Karel Plicka
Encyclopedia
Karel Plicka (14 October 1894 - 6 May 1987) was a Czechoslovak
photographer, film director
, cinematographer
, folklorist and pedagogue. He is considered a founder of Slovak film education and filmmaking
. He helped establish the genre of ethnographic film in Czechoslovakia.
. He spent his childhood in the Austro-Hungarian metropolis and in Česká Třebová
(from 1900 to 1909).
Following his graduation at the Teachers Institute in Hradec Králové
(1909–1913), Plicka studied violin
and music theory
privately in Prague
and Berlin
. His early interest in music resulted in founding various choirs in Úpice
and Nové Město nad Metují
, and most importantly he co-founded the choir of the Czech Philharmonic, together with conductor Václav Talich
and composer Jaroslav Křička
. He was the artistic director of the choir from 1920 to 1924. During World War I
, he was engaged as a singer in the Court Opera in Vienna. Additionally, Plicka focused his interest on collecting Slovak folk songs. From 1919 to 1938 he managed to collect 64,000 melodies and about 100,000 texts of folk songs. His ethnographic works made during that period include over 22,000 photographs and 30 km of film material. During his travels, Plicka also visited exiled Slovaks in Romania
, Austria
, Yugoslavia
and the USA
. His stays were arranged by Matica slovenská
in Martin
.
In the late 1920s, Plicka began using a camera on his travels. He created his first silent film
s in 1928 (Za Slovenským ludom) and in 1929 (Po horách, po dolách). The latter received a Gold Medal at the 1st Venice International Film Festival
, held in 1932. In 1932, he met and befriended the photographer and filmmaker Alexandr Hackenschmied
, with whom he co-created the "film poem" Zem spieva (The Earth Sings), considered a magnum opus of Czechoslovak documentary film. In the 1930s and 40s, he collaborated as an expert assistant in production of Slovak and Soviet films (e.g. Jánošík (1935) by Martin Frič
and films by Ilya Kopalin and Vasily Belyayev). In 1938 he founded the courses of photography and cinematography at the Škola umeleckých remesiel (School of Applied Arts) in Bratislava
. It was the first attempt at film education in Czechoslovakia. Later, in 1946, he co-founded the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague
(FAMU), of which he became the first dean.
However, in 1950 Plicka left FAMU due to health issues, and devoted himself mainly to landscape and architectural photography. His photographic and ethnographic work was published in many books and was highly regarded both by public and experts. In his books, Plicka concentrated on documenting folk traditions, Slovak landscape, and Prague.
During his life, Plicka received the highest state awards, such as Řád práce (Order of Work) (1954), National Artist
(1968), Prize for the Best Book of the Year (1971), National Prize of the Slovak Socialist Republic (1975) and Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (in memoriam, 1991).
Karel Plicka died in 1987 in Prague. He is buried in the Slovak town of Martin. Since 1988 there has been a museum dedicated to his work in the Slovak village of Blatnica
.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
photographer, film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
, folklorist and pedagogue. He is considered a founder of Slovak film education and filmmaking
Filmmaking
Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, directing, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program...
. He helped establish the genre of ethnographic film in Czechoslovakia.
Biography
Plicka was born to Czech parents in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. He spent his childhood in the Austro-Hungarian metropolis and in Česká Třebová
Ceská Trebová
Česká Třebová is city in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic.-External links:* *...
(from 1900 to 1909).
Following his graduation at the Teachers Institute in Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Hradec Králové Region of Bohemia. The city's economy is based on food-processing technology, photochemical, and electronics manufacture. Traditional industries include musical instrument manufacturing – the best known being PETROF pianos...
(1909–1913), Plicka studied violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
privately in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. His early interest in music resulted in founding various choirs in Úpice
Úpice
Úpice is a town in the Czech Republic....
and Nové Město nad Metují
Nové Mesto nad Metují
Nové Město nad Metují is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It had 10049 inhabitants in January 2007. The Metuje River flows through the town.Nové Město nad Metují was founded by Jan Černčický of Kácov in 1501....
, and most importantly he co-founded the choir of the Czech Philharmonic, together with conductor Václav Talich
Václav Talich
Václav Talich was a Czech conductor, violinist and pedagogue.- Life :Born in Kroměříž, Moravia, he started his musical career in a student orchestra in Klatovy. From 1897 to 1903 he studied at the conservatory in Prague with Otakar Ševčík...
and composer Jaroslav Křička
Jaroslav Kricka
Jaroslav Křička was a Czech composer.He was born in Kelč and died in Prague.In 1936 he won a bronze medal in the art competitions of the Olympic Games for his "Mountain Suite".-External links:*...
. He was the artistic director of the choir from 1920 to 1924. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he was engaged as a singer in the Court Opera in Vienna. Additionally, Plicka focused his interest on collecting Slovak folk songs. From 1919 to 1938 he managed to collect 64,000 melodies and about 100,000 texts of folk songs. His ethnographic works made during that period include over 22,000 photographs and 30 km of film material. During his travels, Plicka also visited exiled Slovaks in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. His stays were arranged by Matica slovenská
Matica slovenská
The Matica slovenská Mother) is Slovakia's public-law cultural and scientific institution focusing on topics around the Slovak nation. It is based in the city of Martin...
in Martin
Martin, Slovakia
Martin is a city in northern Slovakia, situated on the Turiec river, between the Malá Fatra and Veľká Fatra mountains, near the city of Žilina. The population numbers approximately 58,000, which makes it the eighth largest city in Slovakia...
.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s in 1928 (Za Slovenským ludom) and in 1929 (Po horách, po dolách). The latter received a Gold Medal at the 1st Venice International Film Festival
1st Venice International Film Festival
The 1st Venice International Film Festival was held on 6–21 August, 1932. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was the first film to be screened at the festival. No official prizes were awarded, so an audience referendum took place to determine the winners.-Awards:...
, held in 1932. In 1932, he met and befriended the photographer and filmmaker Alexandr Hackenschmied
Alexandr Hackenschmied
Alexandr Hackenschmied was a leading photographer and filmmaker in Czechoslovakia between the two world wars. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1938 and became involved in American avant-garde cinema...
, with whom he co-created the "film poem" Zem spieva (The Earth Sings), considered a magnum opus of Czechoslovak documentary film. In the 1930s and 40s, he collaborated as an expert assistant in production of Slovak and Soviet films (e.g. Jánošík (1935) by Martin Frič
Martin Fric
Martin Frič was a Czech film director and screenwriter. He had over 100 directing credits between 1929 and 1968, including feature films, shorts and documentary films.-Filmography:* Páter Vojtěch...
and films by Ilya Kopalin and Vasily Belyayev). In 1938 he founded the courses of photography and cinematography at the Škola umeleckých remesiel (School of Applied Arts) in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
. It was the first attempt at film education in Czechoslovakia. Later, in 1946, he co-founded the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague
Film and TV School of The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague
The Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague or FAMU is one of the oldest film schools in Europe. Located in Prague, Czech Republic, FAMU was founded in 1946 as one of three branches of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague...
(FAMU), of which he became the first dean.
However, in 1950 Plicka left FAMU due to health issues, and devoted himself mainly to landscape and architectural photography. His photographic and ethnographic work was published in many books and was highly regarded both by public and experts. In his books, Plicka concentrated on documenting folk traditions, Slovak landscape, and Prague.
During his life, Plicka received the highest state awards, such as Řád práce (Order of Work) (1954), National Artist
People's Artist
People's Artist is a honorary title in the Soviet Union, Union republics, in some other Eastern bloc states , as well as in a number of post-Soviet states, modeled after the title of the People's Artist of the USSR....
(1968), Prize for the Best Book of the Year (1971), National Prize of the Slovak Socialist Republic (1975) and Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (in memoriam, 1991).
Karel Plicka died in 1987 in Prague. He is buried in the Slovak town of Martin. Since 1988 there has been a museum dedicated to his work in the Slovak village of Blatnica
Blatnica, Slovakia
Blatnica is a village and municipality in the Turiec region of Slovakia. Administratively it is a part of the Martin District in the Žilina Region. The village is situated under the Greater Fatra Range, at the opening of the spectacular karst Gader and Blatnica valleys...
.
Photography
- City of baroque and gothic: 208 photographs. London: Lincolns-Prager, 1946. Views of Prague.
- Prague en images / Prague in photographs. Prague: Orbis, 1950.
- Prague in photographs / Prague en images. Prague: Artia, 1954.
- Praga regia: Das königliche Prag. Royal Prague. Prague royale. Prague: Orbis, 1955.
- Prague in photographs. Prague: Artia, 1961.
- Prague: The golden city. London: Hamlyn, 1965.
- VLTAVA. Prague: Orbis, 1967.
- 7 procházek Prahou: fotografický pru̇vodce městem. Prague: Orbis, 1966.
- Levoča: klenotnica umeleckých pamiatok. Martin: Vydavatel̕stvo Osveta, 1980.
- Československo. Prague: Orbis, 1974.
Other
- Eva Studeničová spieva: z piesňovej zbierky Karola Plicku. Martin: Vydatelʹstvo Osveta, 1984. A collection of folk songs.
Filmography
- Za slovenským ľudom (1928)
- Po horách, po dolách (1929)
- Jaro na Podkarpatské Rusi (1929)
- Zem spieva (1933)
- Prezident republiky Dr. Beneš u nás (1935)
- Za Slovákmi od New Yorku po Mississippi (1936)
- Věčná píseň (1941)
- Praha barokní
- Chebsko (1943)
- Pán prezident na Slovensku (1945)
- Roľnícky deň vo Zvolene (1946)
External links
- Karel Plicka at the Czech and Slovak Film Database
- Múzeum Karola Plicku (Karol Plicka Museum). Website of Blatnica.