Original scientific paper
Charismatic Fauna in the Service of Constructing Local Identity
Zdenko ZEMAN
Marija GEIGER
Abstract
Drawing on the basic premise that social actors are free of
metaphysical predestination in shaping identity, but relatively
closely determined by parameters of social-historical and
natural contexts, the authors are examining the role of the
so-called charismatic fauna (imposing animal species that
mark a certain territory by their presence) in constructing
local identities. In analysing the process of creating and
articulating local culture (characterised and formed by a
close connection with its immediate natural surroundings),
especially fruitful is the bioregional perspective, which also
enables a more complete understanding of the relationship
between the animal and human community on a certain
territory. The authors indicate that these relationships are, as
a rule, ambivalent and dynamic – imbued with respect, but
also conflicts, persecutions and truces, which is persuasively
illustrated by examples from Norwegian and Slovak ethnic
heritage as well as that of Croatia’s Lika region. The analysis
of contemporary examples indicates that the identity image
of the locality, based on imposing domicile animal species,
as a rule, is constructed for the purpose of tourist industry
promotion, and this has been illustrated by specific examples
from Croatia ("the Istrian menagerie", the island of Lo{inj
and the dolphin; the island of Cres and the griffon vulture;
the Lika bear). The authors also conclude that the
contemporary man and woman, in accordance with lessons
from the bioregional perspective, should, apart from making
banal (financial) profit from these attempts, also gain a far
greater inconsumable advantage – the raising awareness of
one’s own (forgotten, but constitutive) naturalness and the
inimitable commitments emanating from it.
Keywords
identity; local culture; local identity; bioregionalism; charismatic fauna
Hrčak ID:
19248
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2007.
Visits: 1.984 *