Komediantství a cirkusy mezi tradicí a modernitou na příkladu vybraných pramenů z fondu Policejní ředitelství Praha
Comedianship and circuses between tradition and modernity exemplified on selected sources from the Prague Police Headquarters Archive

Summary/Abstract: The paper on example of comedianship and circus culture analyses one segment of the transformation process from the traditional community to the modern society as perceived through the primary sources of the Prague Police Headquarters Archive I (1769–1855). In a brief summary, based on a large scope of the both local and foreign literature, a basic ideal typology of the traditional comedianship is given in the context of the medieval and early modern vagrant culture on one side, and a modern circus culture as developed throughout the 19th century into the form of a big wandering circuses and variety shows on the other side. Apart from outlining basic dichotomy between the traditional (vagrant groups) and the modern (circus societies), the paper tries to demonstrate the transition elements, while a selected specimen of primary police sources shows how the modernisation process, especially the development of disciplinary techniques during the formation of the modern police apparatus, changed the character of originally defamed groups and integrated them into the structures of modern capitalist state. As a result, the text touches upon a broad spectrum of issues, especially the similarities and differences among various vagrant groups, the contradiction between the disciplining and economic emancipation, and questions of the character and development of the spectacular amusement.

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