The reflection of the south slav in Czech social magazines of the second half of the 19th century as a source of study of the formation of ethnic images

Social magazines contributed to a great extent to the image of South Slavs which was formed in the consciousness of Czech society in the second half of the 19th century. The period after the fall of neo-absolutism (1860), accompanied by relaxation of political rigour, meant a new stage in the development of Czech national life. Czech periodicals of social character come into existence together with the above mentioned development of national life; they were to replace German papers in bourgeoisie circles. They included e.g. Besedy lidu, Čas, Květy, Obzor, Osvěta, Světozor and Zlatá Praha. Slavic subject matter played an important part in the profile of the individual periodicals. The image of South Slavs, which social periodicals in the Czech society were creating by means of fiction, travel stories, historical and ethnographic scientific literature and, last but not least, by means of illustrations production and reproduction of works of visual artists, was in the spirit of Slavic mutual cooperation. Armed conflicts for the sake of gaining national independence, which create the icon of the South Slav as a fearless fighter for freedom, won the heart of the public. Analogously, archaic autochthonous manifestations the Czech society lacked are sought in the folk culture of South Slavs. Czech society thus created a largely idealized and romantic image of the life and culture of South Slavs, into which it projected its own ideals and desires.