The inextricable link to whiteness is ubiquitous in artistic fields commonly perceived as part and parcel of Czechia’s “cultural heritage,” such as classical music or theatre. While focusing on racial profiling, especially prominent within the performative arts, the research examines how black artists carve out spaces for themselves and how it affects their artistic practice. The racial profiling, primarily executed through the lens of racial othering, creates problematic identity politics, and some individuals feel pressured to limit themselves to artistic fields where the colour of their skin defines them. Next to discussing these challenging dynamics, this chapter also aims to demonstrate how the rootedness in Czechness among black Czech artists can foster a more open and eclectic portrayal of Czech culture, e.g., folklore music and dance, as well as classical theatre. Methodologically, the chapter employs several tools: auto-ethnography, semi-structured and narrative interviews, and the analysis of the Czech online space.

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Black Czech Arts in the Making? Disrupting Racial Profiling

  • Angela Nwagbo,
  • Stephanie Rudwick

摘要

The inextricable link to whiteness is ubiquitous in artistic fields commonly perceived as part and parcel of Czechia’s “cultural heritage,” such as classical music or theatre. While focusing on racial profiling, especially prominent within the performative arts, the research examines how black artists carve out spaces for themselves and how it affects their artistic practice. The racial profiling, primarily executed through the lens of racial othering, creates problematic identity politics, and some individuals feel pressured to limit themselves to artistic fields where the colour of their skin defines them. Next to discussing these challenging dynamics, this chapter also aims to demonstrate how the rootedness in Czechness among black Czech artists can foster a more open and eclectic portrayal of Czech culture, e.g., folklore music and dance, as well as classical theatre. Methodologically, the chapter employs several tools: auto-ethnography, semi-structured and narrative interviews, and the analysis of the Czech online space.