Original scientific paper

Cultural Optimism and Pessimism

Vjeran Katunarić ; Department of Sociology, University of Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

As a counterweight to ideologies of cultural pessimism and conservatism, cultural optimism appears as the main normative content of modernity. At the present moment in Croatia cultural optimism is noticeably deflated. Croatian art culture, however, is still the most creative and most diversified cultural capital. Croatian state cultural policy in the present phase selectively supports and directs cultural activities which are appropriate for the affirmation of national identity and cohesion, at home and abroad, and for incorporation into the most effective spheres of market economy, notably, tourism. Such a phase of cultural policy may be characterized as neo-conservative. In relation to the basic stance of cultural optimism, this phase is not regarded as final.
A new and more fruitful moment of Croatian culture and cultural policy will follow the linking of interest and creative effort of its two spheres, state and non-state (private, non-profit, and alternative). Future interaction within those two spheres and among them can create now cultural coalitions. They will, much better than the present ones, agree with the cultural tradition as well as the future cultural development in Croatia.

Keywords

cultural policy; cultural development; cultural optimism; cultural pessimism

Hrčak ID:

154436

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/154436

Publication date:

30.6.1998.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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