Review article
HOMELAND WAR AND THE WORK OF MEMORY: FROM COMMUNICATIVE TO CULTURAL MEMORY
Andriana Benčić Kužnar
; Javna ustanova Spomen-područje Jasenovac
Abstract
The paper includes an analysis of various narrative forms of memory within which the Homeland War is understood and collectively remembered in Croatian society. In order to provide a coherent framework for collective memories of the Homeland War, the analysis included chosen personal (communicative) and institutional (state-based) memories. The aim is to show the manner in which the narrative about the Homeland war came to be interpreted, presented and collectively remembered, moving away from previous historical memories about the Homeland War. While the paper includes the analysis of chosen personal and institutional memories, the research focus is placed on the social and cultural circumstances that influence the construction of personal wartime narratives. In the sphere of institutional memories, the emphasis is on political gestures and speeches at 2020 commemorations, whose analysis points to a possible shift towards recognizing the humanity and suffering of the other side as the most important steps towards solidarity and shared memories of war. Finally, the paper, by asking the question of how we will remember the Homeland War in the future, discusses the porous boundaries and thin lines of transition from communicative to cultural memory.
Keywords
Homeland War; collective memories of war; personal memories; communicative memories; institutional memories; distinction between communicative and cultural memory; relationship between memory and identity
Hrčak ID:
262945
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2020.
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