In this case, Ztohoven, a group of Czech artist-pranksters hacked into a TV weather report's countryside video feed to show a pretty clearly fake mushroom cloud (their URL on screen and the small size of the cloud are hints). Rather than panic, the morning stunt elicited a few queries from confused hikers -- hiking is very big there -- who were preparing for their day's recreation.
Some Czechs expressed outrage over Ztohoven’s action, naturally, but in general it drew a mild, tolerant, even amused public response, in contrast to how terrorism-related pranks, or what might seem like them, have been widely greeted elsewhere. The incident instead has highlighted an old Czech tradition of tomfoolery that is a particular matter of national cultural pride.
For the prank, the National Gallery in Prague gave the group a prize. But the offense landed them in court proceedings that even the victimized TV station regrets.
Now, terrorism and actual public panic aren't generally funny. So why the bemused response? One, as intended, it wasn't taken seriously. Two, Czechs as a nation seem to self-identify with humorous insignificance. It's like the prospect of someone setting off a nuke in the Kansas plains: It just wouldn't happen -- why would someone waste the effort? Except here, more people would be duped and call their congressman anyway. And the mid-day talking heads would go on in outrage for weeks.
The article delves further into this Czech sense of identity and humor:
Ztohoven’s work has a larger context, in other words. It belongs to a history of Czech literary and artistic mystification and sly, deadpan humor that is the expression of a small, underdog nation dominated for generations by outsiders, one after another...
... From Svejk’s example derived the fictional Jara da Cimrman, a kind of kitsch anti-Svejk, concocted by a group of writers and actors partly as a protest against authority during the communist era. In a country that claims no towering inventors or explorers, Cimrman became the quintessential Czech hero, a Zelig who trekked to the North Pole but missed it by several yards, who advised Chekhov, but failed to get credit. (“Two sisters?” he asked the Russian. “Isn’t that too few?”)
It goes on. Good stuff. This is why -- more than out of ancestral pride or association -- I try to catch every Czech film that comes through our local film series. They're usually damned funny, in this way that isn't made in American films. (Speaking of which, they haven't shown one in a while, dammit.)
I have no idea if this has shaped my own sense of humor -- whether via genetics, subliminal nurture/exposure and "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" and so forth. or just plain reaction to life under the thumb of our own father. Maybe it's just coincidence. Either way, it's up my alley.
ps, on an entirely different note, why is KayO's blog called Dear Dominik? and is he/she a scientist or a doctor or a sociologist or a psychologist...or a biker chick ...? on rare occasion I visit the blog but have not had the time to give it enough effort to figure out what it is and why it's dear Dominik. what's the connection?
By no one you know - 1/25/2008 6:57 AM
It is a paid sponsorship deal. She's actually Kay O'Because, so it's cross-promotional. :)
No, truly I inspire fan mail from all, so a "Dear Dominik" site was just inevitable. There's hundreds out there.
Gosh, it's so tempting to make up stories!
Truthfully, honest engine, she's a friend and former co-worker, and we used to trade missives and stories via email while working in the wee hours. (Part of the news-gathering/disseminating/summarizing role involved shooting tons of email to and fro, so smart-assed comment and stories were inevitably mixed in.) So her stories on her blog (created after I left) took on a "dear Dominik," story-time feel.
She is neither a scientist nor doctor, but perhaps armchair -ologist. Mischievous enough to hilariously pose as one at a symphony party, though -- a side I think you'd appreciate! A Biker Chick in spirit, I'd say, but Biker Chick is actually the story name for one of her friends. (Imaginary Lisa is another, which is why mine is P-Lisa or Physical Lisa.)
She may see this and chime in for herself, but I thought I'd fire the first volley.
Everybody funny. Now you funny, too.
By Dominik - 1/25/2008 7:51 AM
...here's a Czech Film for you. Czech it out -- hopefully at a college near you:
*laughing with delight* Hullo, Ms. Leaving. Sorry I didn't meet you at Meet the Czech night.
Short answer: Dominik is my target audience for my blog. Of course, through unremitting diligence, I've managed to expand my actual readership to at least six, counting family members and their imaginary friends.
I decided this question was worth blogging about on my own site, where "Because" doesn't fall so hard and the TSO fans don't rise up in anger.
There is a really cool Humane Society logo at the bottom of this screen.
By KayO - 1/30/2008 4:08 PM
P.S. I am neither a doctor nor a scientist. *strikes pose* I am a student of human nature, but I usually forget to do the homework.
By KayO - 1/31/2008 2:29 AM
"Ms. Leaving," heh. Now say goodbye to Ms. Lost.
Thanks for the Havel film link, Great Northern One.
By Dominik - 1/31/2008 4:28 AM
Very good.
As someone long prepared for the occasion, in full command of every plan you erect, you did not choose a coward's explaination, that hides behind the cause and the effect.
And you who were bewildered by my meaning, whose code was broken, crucifix uncrossed. Say goodbye to Ms. Leaving, and say goodbye to Ms. Lost.
I hope you've had your honor restored by this little encounter.
As you may have noticed, the site has changed. Sampa, the free-site host, did a version 2 of some sort.
Despite an FAQ that made it sound like allowing one's site to go through v.2 surgery would be okay, there were several flexibilities that surprisingly disappeared with the click of a button. (e.g. I cannot believe sidebars like this one are even narrower than before.)
And I'm told -- miraculously! -- that the conversion cannot be undone. Truth be told, I'm actually quite pissed. But free is free. Sampa has otherwise been good to me.
So I need to sort through site "features" to see how I can make do. Except that I don't have the time at the moment, in the middle of graduate classes and Lighthousehockey.com. (btw, I've removed that Lighthouse RSS feed so that you're not clogged with random Islanders hockey gibberish).
But I promise to touch up the accessories when I get a chance, and return to irregularly scheduled blogging.
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-- 'cause that maneuver is actually intended by 
Comments (7) for "'Attempted scaremongering'"
February, 2008