The book Antologie 21/12/23 Anthology includes texts by the members of the academia at CU FA, relating to the mass shooting in the main building of CU FA on 21 December 2023. The anthology is dedicated to the cherished memory of the fourteen victims, and it hopes to console the twenty-five wounded and all others affected. The anthology has been co-edited by David Vichnar and Tomáš Hercík. The book is freely available on the website of the Faculty of Arts Press.
The anthology aims to serve three purposes. Firstly, it is an opportunity for therapeutic expression for all survivors, affected, and bereaved. Secondly, the book is a collection of texts spontaneously created in the aftermath of the tragedy, preserving the occasional writings and providing them with a context for dialogue. Last but not least, the anthology is a memorial for those who can no longer express themselves, presented through the memories of their loved ones, friends, and colleagues.
Given the diverse nature of the texts, the anthology is divided into three sections. Reportages informative texts by in/direct participants of the tragedy, who were present at the main building of CU FA or in its proximity on the given day. Reflections, literary texts contributed by people affected in various ways by the event, and finally, Reminiscences, a section dedicated directly to the victims, containing both their own creative works and memorial texts written by bereaved family members. This structure aims to assist readers in navigating the anthology more easily and reducing the risk of re-traumatisation when reading.
The texts within each section are arranged chronologically, by the date of their creation. The anthology is bilingual, presented in Czech and English (with the language of the original coming first). Unless stated otherwise, all translations in this anthology are the work of Dr David Vichnar from the Department of Anglophone Literatures and Cultures at CU FA. The authors of the contributions are identified solely by their initials and age – for those who may be interested, a key to their identities is available at the end of the anthology.
