Martin Pelc
Šlarafie prankster societies – the playful element in 19th century culture
In German-speaking areas the Schlaraffia prankster societies date from 1859, when Schlaraffia Praga was set up as the first of its kind. Then came the establishment of several hundred societies which were separate, but recognized uniform principles, communicated closely with one other and created their own social network exclusively made up of men from the middole and upper classes of society. Despite a number of divergences they had their Czech equivalents, which were known as ‘blackbird associations’. Humour in the Schlaraffia consisted in an elaborate fictional world order, inspired in many respects by the medieval estates. The historicism of the Schlaraffia was reflected in its complicated ceremonial, membership hierarchy and nomenclature of membership types, given comic ‘knightly’ sobriquets, as well as the mock courtly poetry genres in Schlaraffia ‘art’. Also common were numerous anachronisms, which were one of the sources of humour and the apotheosis of absurdity and tastelessness. With its emphasis on the polarity of the solemn and the profane the Schlaraffia appears to be more than just a (psychological) compensation for the everyday professional lives of the members, as is often the interpretation, and it fulfils the role of ‘play’, as discussed by philosopher Eugen Fink, Roger Caillois and also indirectly by philosopher of religion Mircea Eliade.
Schlaraffia – Šlarafie – prankster societies – humour
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