Jasmine Frantz's PortfolioHello! My name is Jasmine Frantz, and I am a math teacher at Apex Friendship High School (Go Patriots!). I teach everything from Foundations of Math 1 to AP Calculus BC.
I am a proud graduate from NC State! I graduated from NCSU in 2013 with degrees in Mathematics and Secondary Math Education. Outside of teaching and cheering for the Wolfpack, I enjoy traveling, hanging with my family, and eating food! |
Cultural Connections Project 1: Global Collaborative Project (Video Synopsis)
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Cultural Connections Project 2: Scripted Duologue Based on Meetup Group or AirBnb City Experience (GoAnimate)
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Cultural Connections Project 3: Experience-Based Travel Writing Based on Meetup Group or AirBnb City Experience - Pilsner and Microbrewery Tour (July 16)
We arrived at the Powder Tower, surveyed the area and immediately spotted two tired travelers. Alas, we had spotted Mike and Kevin their exhaustion was written all over their faces and slumped posture - Mike sitting on the ground and Kevin leaning against the building. While waiting for the rest of our group we chatted about our day and what we had been up to. All of a sudden a man in jeans approached us. The man said, “Hello, are you looking for someone?” in a Czech accent. We all replied, “yes!” He introduced himself as Tomáš our Pilsner and Microbrewery guide, also an occasional DJ. We each excitedly introduced ourselves. As we were were about to get started on our way, the sky turned an ominous grey. The wind picked up. Raindrops began to dance from the sky. Tomáš suggested that we walk quickly to our first spot and he would catch us up on the information regarding sites we pass at our first brewery. We briskly walked to our first brewery. Someone commented, “Well, at least it’s just spitting rain at us.” Almost on command rain started to pour from the sky. I quickly got out my green Frogg Togg rain poncho that I had been lugging around all day for this very moment. Alas, it has paid off to sacrifice the portion of space in my purse reserved for the poncho. Others opened their mini travel umbrellas all of which were inferior to the lightweight, breathable, stylish green Frogg Togg poncho. Although I looked like giant green tourist pouncing around Old Town Prague, I was dry; others in my group could not say the same. We arrived at Pivovar U Supa. We were ushered to a long table to fit our group and Tomáš expertly ordered a round of Pilsners for us. While we waited for our Pilsners, Tomáš expertly described the uniqueness of the Czech Pilsner and quizzed us on our knowledge of beer. He described the Pilsner in general and the beer at U Supa. You could tell that he enjoyed both his job, the Czech Pilsner, and the pivo from U Supa in particular. There was a sense of pride that he exhibited when describing the brewing process and the beer. I have found this to be common amongst the Czech people. They are loud and proud that they are responsible for the bottom fermented beer, known to us as the pilsner or lager, which is about 70% of the beer we drink. The Sup 12 Svĕtlý Ležák (light lager) arrived at our tables. All of our eyes grew wide with excitement and our mouths might have slightly began to water. Tomáš taught us how to cheers in Czech. We all said “Na zdraví” and clinked our glasses. Upon finishing our cheers, Tomáš informed us that we had all failed. We did not make enough direct eye contact upon clinking our glasses. He said that this was very important because the Czech people think that if you do not make direct eye contact that you are being dishonest and hiding something. So, take two… we passed! The Sup 12 Svĕtlý Ležák (light lager) was light and crisp with a higher bitterness flavor profile. There was lovely aroma of the mild hops used in this beer. Upon finishing our beers we were off to stop number 2. As we exited U Supa, it began to downpour. Soon members of the group realized that their mini travel umbrellas were useless. One member even had to result to her emergency superhero poncho. We briskly walked over the cobblestone that had now become slick with water. As we walked I quickly discovered a downside to the highly effective Frogg Togg poncho… a reduced vision of sight. Upon almost stepping out in front of a car a group member shouted to me. I put on my breaks, but with the reduced traction on the cobblestone my feet almost slipped right out beneath me. That was a close one! We finally arrived at our second stop. Upon entering we were informed that we had missed our reservation and were turned away. Onto a different stop. The rain did not let up. We briskly walked to our next spot (take 2). We had arrived and a few of us walked into what we thought was the entrance. Upon entering, we were harshly informed that it was actually a window (oops). We were ushered downstairs and were met with the typical Czech service. Tomáš informed us that this was not unusual to encounter even for native Czechs. Their service in restaurants is not impeccable. Tomáš ordered dark lagers for us this time. Our Kozel Černý arrived, said “na zdraví”, and enjoyed our dark lager. Onto our last and final stop. This one was a little bit of a longer walk. Luckily, the rain had finally stopped. I folded Frogg Togg and packed him back into my purse. We walked toward the Charles’ Bridge and then crossed. As we crossed the bridge, Tomáš described several of the statues several members of our group “oohed and aahed” at some of the dogs on the bridge. We walked on and turned the corner off the bridge and several members of our group began to laugh. They realized that our last stop was one of their favorite restaurants, Lokál. We found two tables and sat down. Tomáš informed us that Lokál received its Pilsner Urquell from the brewery daily and that he would be ordering it šnyt style. Šnyt style references the pour of the beer. The beer is poured so that it is half liquid and half foam. This allows the beer to remain fresh underneath the foam. I thought the beer tasted smoother with this pour. There are technically four pours with varying amounts of foam (more info can be found here). This is not something that you normally see in the states. I found it fascinating to learn about the different pours. Once again we said, “na zdraví,” and enjoyed our šnyt pours of Pilsner Urquell. Tomáš asked us if we had any questions before his bid farewell to us. Upon Tomáš leaving we decide that we would stay and have dinner at Lokál. Ultimately, it was a grand night despite the rain. We left with our bellies full of delicious beer and yummy food. |
Cultural Collections Project 1: Mapping Culture (Google Maps)
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Cultural Collections Project 2: Timelining Culture (TimelineJS)
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Cultural Collections Project 3: Curating Cultural Objects (Voicethread)
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Cultural Reflections Project 1: The Last Word, Czech education articles
Teachers’ salaries remain low compared to other countries and the teacher population is ageing, requiring further measures to increase the attractiveness of the profession to talented young people. |
It was very interesting to read about the education system in the Czech Republic particularly looking at it through the lens of a product of the US education and now being apart of it as a teacher. I could not help but to note the similarities and differences between the two systems.
The similarities that stuck out to me the most where the challenges that both systems are facing in terms of teacher recruitment and retention. Here in the States, particularly in NC, the number of students entering into teacher preparation fields have decreased due to low teacher pay and lack of respect of the profession. It amazes me that despite differences in culture, politics, history, and a massive distance between the two countries we would share this similar problem. Hopefully, someone will be able to find a solution to this problem since it could have devastating effects on the future of our education systems. One difference that was notable was the tracking that takes place for Czech students in comparison to US students. From the age of 16 Czech students are tracked into which path they will take - vocational, pursuit of higher education, or a professional field. This tracking also involves a high stakes test that the students must take and pass in order to enter their desired track. This is different to the US education system. The vast majority of students are set on the collegiate path. The main tracking done here in the States is the honors/advanced placement or regular course load track. Ultimately, it was very interesting to learn about another country's education system from both articles and a Czech in person. I can't wait to learn more when we are in the Czech Republic. |
Cultural Reflections Project 2: Czech Book Club
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The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
My rating: 3 of 5 stars The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera is a book that details of the lives of two men, two women, and a lovable dog during the Soviet Union control of Czechoslovakia during the late 1960's and early 1970's. The book follows the "player" lifestyle of Tomas, a surgeon who is reduced to a simple window washer by the end of novel, his wife Tereza, Tomas' mistress Sabina, and Sabina's lover Franz. The novel describes the events of their lives in a non-linear manner. This was off putting to me as as a reader. I did not enjoy knowing the details of the deaths of Tomas and Tereza well before their journey in the book comes to an end. After learning this detail, I became slightly uninterested in their story line. All four of these characters lead lives that are not glamorous nor that anyone would envy. Yes, this is very revealing of the time period and the historical events, but none of the characters are very likable. The most likable character was Karenin, Tomas and Tereza's dog. Ultimately, the Unbearable Lightness of Being stretched me as a reader. I tend to gravitate toward story lines that are linear in nature, filled with likable characters, and their endings are tied up with a neat bow. Not only did this book stretch me in terms of the type of book, but also in a philosophical sense. Right from the start the book Kundera discusses the philosopher Friedrich Nietzche and this theme of Nietzche and his work is woven throughout the book. Kundera writes very philosophical throughout the book through the voices of the characters and his own on all sorts of topics, particularly the concept of kitsch and shit. Due to the philosophical nature of the book and some of the themes explored, I would not recommend this book to everyone. It was interesting, but not my "cup of tea." View all my reviews |
Cultural Reflections Project 3: Czech Film Club
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The film Anthropoid depicts the events surrounding the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich in Prague during WWII, Operation Anthropoid. We see the return of two exiled soldiers, Jan and Jozef, to Prague, the happenings before the assassination of the "Butcher of Prague," and the aftermath. Along the way, we are introduced to other characters of the Czech Resistance, notably Marie and Lenka. Throughout their mission and planning of the assassination, Jan and Jozef romantically fall for Marie and Lenka respectively. The film climaxes when Jozef steps into the street to shoot Reinhard Heydrich, but his machine gun jams. Consequently, Jan throws a grenade and the car explodes. Reinhard is wounded and the men involved in the assassination plot are on the run. The men take refuge in Catholic Church. While in hiding they hear reports of the retaliation made by the Germans on their fellow Czech citizens. The film ends with a fellow conspirator betraying Jan and Jozef by telling the Germans where they are being hidden. Firefight pursues and the men are depicted as bravely standing their ground until they must take their lives to avoid capture.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the film. I found it both entertaining and educational. I did not know all the details that surrounded the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich. I found myself doing further research after finishing the movie to learn more about Operation Anthropoid and also to see how closely the film depicted the actual events. Ultimately, the movie held my attention. I thought it was well written, directed, and acted. Unfortunately, there was a small portion of the movie that did not care for - the final scene right before Jozef took his own life. I could have done without the image of Lenka reaching for him as if calling him to death. I felt as though it was a little to artistically dramatized for a film depicting true events. |
Cultural Reflections Project 5: Urban Neighborhood Analysis (July 9)
Praha 7 - Letná is a neighborhood just across the river from Old Town nestled on the hillside. It is a diverse area that has a lot to offer people from all walks of life - from the local to the tourist. It houses many attractions for both, most notably the Letna Park (Letenské Sady), the Letná Beer Garden (Letná Zahradní Restaurace), National Technical Museum, National Gallery, and Generalí Arena (home to AC Sparta Prague Football Club). Beyond these great attractions, the neighborhood is mostly residential with a few commercial buildings and green space. It is very peaceful and offers a great mix of views of the Old Town, Residential buildings, and nature.
Upon entering into the Letna Park, I first noticed the open space and vastness of space, it was never ending. Having looked at the size of the park on a map, I knew it was big, but the end was not in sight and as we walked through the Park it felt like it would never end. It was certainly the largest Park that I have been in. Not only was the size of the park impressive but also the diversity of activities located within the Park, the upkeep of the Park, and abundant statues with beautiful floral planters. From the moment you stepped into the Park you could tell that it was a treasured space with a diverse group of people present. Mothers and their children were playing in the open grass area, children were playing on the several playgrounds, people were relaxing on benches and in the grass under trees, joggers came running by, and it was a common place to find dogs roaming the lay of the land with their owners in tow.
Beyond the Park itself, the views from the Park were absolutely breathtaking. From the hilltop you could see all of the Old Town. It was a lovely scene to gaze upon as you sat in the Beer Garden peacefully sipping on a beer. The Beer Garden is clearly a popular place due to the number of tables present underneath the natural shading of chestnut trees. One could only imagine its popularity in the evening. However, during the afternoon, all sorts enjoyed the pleasantries of the Garden. Parents enjoyed a beer while watching their children play on the adjacent playground, a couple of business lunches took place in the garden, teens played cards, tourists strolled about, and students worked on laptops. It was quite an impressive space that seemed to unite people in great views and great beer.
Upon exiting at the other end of the Park, we entered into a residential area sprinkled with a few small shops and cafes. Continuing on our journey we ventured to Generalí Arena where the football club AC Sparta play. It appeared that the stadium and compound took up most of the block. Unfortunately, the stadium itself was closed due to cleaning (we think they were power washing it). However, we did manage to find the AC Sparta gear shop and score some gear. The enormity of the stadium and the accompanying logos and such demonstrated that the team seems to be a piece of pride for the community. Following our adventure to the the stadium we hopped on a tram conveniently located in front and we were off back to the hotel!
I thoroughly enjoyed being an observer for the afternoon in Praha 7. It allowed me to be at peace in the park away from the hustle and bustle we saw in the morning on our tour of Old Town. I gained a new perspective of Prague - it is more than just the old buildings with historical meaning. I left feeling rejuvenated and wanting to explore the other neighborhood!
Praha 7 - Letná is a neighborhood just across the river from Old Town nestled on the hillside. It is a diverse area that has a lot to offer people from all walks of life - from the local to the tourist. It houses many attractions for both, most notably the Letna Park (Letenské Sady), the Letná Beer Garden (Letná Zahradní Restaurace), National Technical Museum, National Gallery, and Generalí Arena (home to AC Sparta Prague Football Club). Beyond these great attractions, the neighborhood is mostly residential with a few commercial buildings and green space. It is very peaceful and offers a great mix of views of the Old Town, Residential buildings, and nature.
Upon entering into the Letna Park, I first noticed the open space and vastness of space, it was never ending. Having looked at the size of the park on a map, I knew it was big, but the end was not in sight and as we walked through the Park it felt like it would never end. It was certainly the largest Park that I have been in. Not only was the size of the park impressive but also the diversity of activities located within the Park, the upkeep of the Park, and abundant statues with beautiful floral planters. From the moment you stepped into the Park you could tell that it was a treasured space with a diverse group of people present. Mothers and their children were playing in the open grass area, children were playing on the several playgrounds, people were relaxing on benches and in the grass under trees, joggers came running by, and it was a common place to find dogs roaming the lay of the land with their owners in tow.
Beyond the Park itself, the views from the Park were absolutely breathtaking. From the hilltop you could see all of the Old Town. It was a lovely scene to gaze upon as you sat in the Beer Garden peacefully sipping on a beer. The Beer Garden is clearly a popular place due to the number of tables present underneath the natural shading of chestnut trees. One could only imagine its popularity in the evening. However, during the afternoon, all sorts enjoyed the pleasantries of the Garden. Parents enjoyed a beer while watching their children play on the adjacent playground, a couple of business lunches took place in the garden, teens played cards, tourists strolled about, and students worked on laptops. It was quite an impressive space that seemed to unite people in great views and great beer.
Upon exiting at the other end of the Park, we entered into a residential area sprinkled with a few small shops and cafes. Continuing on our journey we ventured to Generalí Arena where the football club AC Sparta play. It appeared that the stadium and compound took up most of the block. Unfortunately, the stadium itself was closed due to cleaning (we think they were power washing it). However, we did manage to find the AC Sparta gear shop and score some gear. The enormity of the stadium and the accompanying logos and such demonstrated that the team seems to be a piece of pride for the community. Following our adventure to the the stadium we hopped on a tram conveniently located in front and we were off back to the hotel!
I thoroughly enjoyed being an observer for the afternoon in Praha 7. It allowed me to be at peace in the park away from the hustle and bustle we saw in the morning on our tour of Old Town. I gained a new perspective of Prague - it is more than just the old buildings with historical meaning. I left feeling rejuvenated and wanting to explore the other neighborhood!
Cultural Reflections Project 6: Czech Education Analysis (from Field Research, July 11)
Memoir of a Czech Student (1925)
It was a brisk Tuesday morning in Prague. Like any other day I arrived at school ready to learn. As I enter through the doorway, my senses are overloaded. My ears pick up the sound of other children readying for the day, my eyes see the orderly room with desks and benches in rows, my nose picks up the smell of wood and a new smell… the lack of dust! Upon sensing this smell, my eyes are in search for the cause. After a brief glance about the classroom I see the culprit. We have returned to a school room with brand new floor! The old creaky plank flooring has been replaced with smaller intricate pieces of wood laid in a geometric pattern. Ahhh, alaas! This must be the parquetry they had informed us about prior to our break. It is certainly doing its job since I haven’t sneezed once form dust since entering into the classroom.
After hanging my coat on one of the orderly hooks on the wall, I made my way to my desk. The room is divided into two columns of rows of desks. From above, I always imagine that the desks and benches look like an open book with the spine being the walkway between the sections and each row of desks representing the lines of words. Since I am still young, my desk is toward the front of the room near the chalkboard; the older children are in the back. My classmate is already at our desk. His textbook is resting at the center of his desk, to the right and up of his textbook sits his inkwell with its mouth open wide almost inviting his pen to take a dip. I slide into the bench and greet him good morning and arrange my materials to match his.
As the teacher approaches the chalkboard and slides a clean one into place, I survey the entire classroom. Sitting on the wall opposite the sliding chalkboard is the wooden cabinet that houses books and other materials for the lessons throughout the day. My mind wanders to the next eye catching thing in the room - the world map. The map that etches out all the boundaries of different countries and continents sits on the wall opposite the coat hooks to my immediate left. Many times throughout the day I find myself picking out countries that I might want to visit one day in the future. As my mind wanders to the magical map, I hear our teacher starting our lesson. I wonder what we will learn today?
Memoir of a Czech Student (1925)
It was a brisk Tuesday morning in Prague. Like any other day I arrived at school ready to learn. As I enter through the doorway, my senses are overloaded. My ears pick up the sound of other children readying for the day, my eyes see the orderly room with desks and benches in rows, my nose picks up the smell of wood and a new smell… the lack of dust! Upon sensing this smell, my eyes are in search for the cause. After a brief glance about the classroom I see the culprit. We have returned to a school room with brand new floor! The old creaky plank flooring has been replaced with smaller intricate pieces of wood laid in a geometric pattern. Ahhh, alaas! This must be the parquetry they had informed us about prior to our break. It is certainly doing its job since I haven’t sneezed once form dust since entering into the classroom.
After hanging my coat on one of the orderly hooks on the wall, I made my way to my desk. The room is divided into two columns of rows of desks. From above, I always imagine that the desks and benches look like an open book with the spine being the walkway between the sections and each row of desks representing the lines of words. Since I am still young, my desk is toward the front of the room near the chalkboard; the older children are in the back. My classmate is already at our desk. His textbook is resting at the center of his desk, to the right and up of his textbook sits his inkwell with its mouth open wide almost inviting his pen to take a dip. I slide into the bench and greet him good morning and arrange my materials to match his.
As the teacher approaches the chalkboard and slides a clean one into place, I survey the entire classroom. Sitting on the wall opposite the sliding chalkboard is the wooden cabinet that houses books and other materials for the lessons throughout the day. My mind wanders to the next eye catching thing in the room - the world map. The map that etches out all the boundaries of different countries and continents sits on the wall opposite the coat hooks to my immediate left. Many times throughout the day I find myself picking out countries that I might want to visit one day in the future. As my mind wanders to the magical map, I hear our teacher starting our lesson. I wonder what we will learn today?
Cultural Reflections Project 7: Czech Literature Analysis (from Field Research)
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Cultural Reflections Project 8: Czech Art/Visual Analysis (from Field Research, 7/18)
Today we went to Museum Kampa, which is a museum of modern art in Prague. We saw works of arts from several Czech artists - paintings, sculptures, collages, and sketches. Their collection is quite extensive and it is all due to a single woman, Meda Mlàdek. Meda is an art historian, collector, patron, and the founder of the Jan and Meda Mládek Foundation and Museum Kampa. Meda moved abroad due to World War II and remained abroad during Communist rule. While abroad she travelled and began to grow her collection of Czech art. She returned to Prague with her collection at the fall of Communism and founded Museum Kampa. We saw many pieces of artwork from many artists - Rudolf Nĕmec, František Kupka, and Jiří Kolář to name a few. Below are some examples from our tour.
Rocket Start by Rudolf Nĕmec (1970)
As seen tot he left, Rocket Start, is a dark abstract painting by Rudolf Nĕmec on an oval canvas. It is predominately grey, dark purple, black, and blue with a few accents of orange and fuchsia. It is a very abstract piece that required me to really stare and ponder what what going on in the painting. While going through the Visual Thinking Strategy (VTS) protocol, one person stated that the painting looked like a man standing on a shore (the fuchsia figure) looking out over the water (orange area) where there was some sort of explosion. She stated that the cloud figure in the middle reminded her of a mushroom cloud created by a nuclear explosion. I tended to agree with her because the piece is very abstract and kind of remind me of the same thing.
Today we went to Museum Kampa, which is a museum of modern art in Prague. We saw works of arts from several Czech artists - paintings, sculptures, collages, and sketches. Their collection is quite extensive and it is all due to a single woman, Meda Mlàdek. Meda is an art historian, collector, patron, and the founder of the Jan and Meda Mládek Foundation and Museum Kampa. Meda moved abroad due to World War II and remained abroad during Communist rule. While abroad she travelled and began to grow her collection of Czech art. She returned to Prague with her collection at the fall of Communism and founded Museum Kampa. We saw many pieces of artwork from many artists - Rudolf Nĕmec, František Kupka, and Jiří Kolář to name a few. Below are some examples from our tour.
Rocket Start by Rudolf Nĕmec (1970)
As seen tot he left, Rocket Start, is a dark abstract painting by Rudolf Nĕmec on an oval canvas. It is predominately grey, dark purple, black, and blue with a few accents of orange and fuchsia. It is a very abstract piece that required me to really stare and ponder what what going on in the painting. While going through the Visual Thinking Strategy (VTS) protocol, one person stated that the painting looked like a man standing on a shore (the fuchsia figure) looking out over the water (orange area) where there was some sort of explosion. She stated that the cloud figure in the middle reminded her of a mushroom cloud created by a nuclear explosion. I tended to agree with her because the piece is very abstract and kind of remind me of the same thing.
Portrait by Jiří Kolář (1967)
Portrait is a collage by Jiří Kolář that has a three dimensional aspect. The collage depicts the profile view of a man’s head. The right half of the head is formed by words in black print while the left half is formed of words in red print. The two halves are divided by a vertical line of musical notes. The profile view of the head was also enhanced by the three dimensional aspect of the piece. The surrounding space was raised about a half of an inch in comparison to the the profile view. This created a height difference causing a visual effect that allowed one to see the profile view of a head.
While going through the VTS protocol, one Kelsie interpreted the difference in color as a difference in what one thinks (black lettering) versus what one actually verbalizes (red lettering). Both Kathleen and myself agreed with Kelsie. I added that the musical notes separating the two halves represented the vocalization of certain thoughts.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I thought that the museum was very telling of Czech culture. For instance, the mere fact that it even exists can be attributed to Meda Mlàdek. She was so passionate and proud of Czech art that she made it possible for art to be created and for it to survive the different rulers of the Czech Republic. This act and the pieces exhibited in the museum themselves also speak to the passive resistance that the Czech people have demonstrated throughout history. They may not have been a fighting people but they did resist in their own ways - like art. Lastly, I think that the diversity of the art pieces and artists speaks to the creativity that the Czech people possess.
Portrait is a collage by Jiří Kolář that has a three dimensional aspect. The collage depicts the profile view of a man’s head. The right half of the head is formed by words in black print while the left half is formed of words in red print. The two halves are divided by a vertical line of musical notes. The profile view of the head was also enhanced by the three dimensional aspect of the piece. The surrounding space was raised about a half of an inch in comparison to the the profile view. This created a height difference causing a visual effect that allowed one to see the profile view of a head.
While going through the VTS protocol, one Kelsie interpreted the difference in color as a difference in what one thinks (black lettering) versus what one actually verbalizes (red lettering). Both Kathleen and myself agreed with Kelsie. I added that the musical notes separating the two halves represented the vocalization of certain thoughts.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I thought that the museum was very telling of Czech culture. For instance, the mere fact that it even exists can be attributed to Meda Mlàdek. She was so passionate and proud of Czech art that she made it possible for art to be created and for it to survive the different rulers of the Czech Republic. This act and the pieces exhibited in the museum themselves also speak to the passive resistance that the Czech people have demonstrated throughout history. They may not have been a fighting people but they did resist in their own ways - like art. Lastly, I think that the diversity of the art pieces and artists speaks to the creativity that the Czech people possess.
Cultural Reflections Project 9: Czech Site Analysis, Site-Based Travel Writing
St. Ignatius Church, Prague (July 15) Having looked at a Google map of Prague I noticed the vast number of Catholic Churches in Prague. I knew that I wanted to attend a Sunday mass. Genevieve and I set off to attend the 11 am service in Latin on the 15th of July at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Prague. It was a beautiful day so Genevieve and I decided to walk to church. We walked out of the hotel and crossed one of the several bridges over the Vlatava River. We came upon a park and crossed through it as a shortcut to get to church. |
We first surveyed the church and took a few pictures prior to the start of church. The pews where in quadrants and a few of them had small black books on them. Not knowing what the books were for or if they were reserving seats, Genevieve and I took a seat in the back left quadrant without books. We both sat in awe of our surroundings. An older man walking with a cane walked up to us and said something in Czech to us. Not knowing what he said, both Genevieve and I looked at him with a quizzical look and said, "English?" He pointed to the front right quadrant and Genevieve asked, "Sit up there?" and he kind of nodded. So we moved ourselves up toward the front half of the church in a pew with the books.
Now settled in our new seats, Genevieve and I continued to look around and take in all the beauty. St. Ignatius is a Baroque style church with guiding on statues and beautiful frescoes around the the inside of the building. It is so ornate and detailed that I was still noticing new things throughout the entirety of the mass. In fact, my mom would probably say that I needed to attend mass again ;) The mass started and I grabbed one of the black books to see if it would help us understand and be able to participate in the mass since I had never attended a mass in Latin before. Score! The black book contained the songs in Latin and a pamphlet with the responses in Latin. This made mass much easier to follow. |
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A much older priest celebrated mass. He remained seated throughout much of the mass. Another priest even came to administer the Eucharist to the congregation. Ultimately, it was a beautiful mass that took place in a gorgeous church. I recommend visiting it if you have a chance!