Original scientific paper
"LET'S TAKE A TRAIN FORA WEEKEND EXCURSION" - SOCIAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF FREE TIME IN CROATIA DURING THE 1960'S
Igor Duda
; Faculty of Humanities, Pula, Croatia
Abstract
After the widespread destruction caused by World War II, European countries began rebuilding and reconstructing, although the Europe was soon divided by the Iron curtain. Croatia, as a part of the newly established socialist Yugoslavia, experienced a similar social, economical and political developments. During the 50's and 60's post war reconstruction achieved good results, the process of industrialization and economical growth was accompanied by economical reforms and social welfare measures. Everyday life was improved by the growing standard of living. Although Croatia was part of a socialist Yugoslavia, mass consumer society began establishing itself along the lines of the western world. Free time became increasingly important, because it offered possibilities to spend the earned money. During the 1965-1970 period Croatian workers legally achieved rights to work 42 hours a week including free weekend and holidays. Statistical data, sociological and ethnological researches, works of literature and movies, contemporary press all contain in-formation about the social and cultural history of that period. We can find out how people understood and used their free time, and what amount of money they invested in it. In 1968 a new weekly magazine Vikend appeared. It was obviously intended for readers who had a developed consumer culture and who wanted to travel in their free time. Vikend organized a propaganda campaign of the state railway company in order to motivate people to travel by rail in their free time.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
206895
URI
Publication date:
2.12.2002.
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