Essays
VUKOVAR '91 AND THE CROATIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY
Ivan Rogić
; Faculty of Architecture, Zagreb
Abstract
The author analyzes ways in which the collective designative and
semantic structure of the Vukovar events have been formed. By
examining the designative structure, the author concludes that the
events in Vukovar still do not bear other designators than those of
a conventional, tautological and documentary nature. Therefore,
he concludes that the Vukovar drama is not yet designated within
the collective Croatian remembrance. In the process of analyzing
modes of semantic field formation, the author suggests two types
of opposition. In the first type of opposition changes permitting
the opposition to be transformed into the domination of the
stronger side are being developed. Due to this mechanism,
Vukovar is semantically defined as the town-victor, town-judge,
town-hero, and finally as the town founded on reversible history,
in which all damage is rectifiable. In the second group of
oppositions changes strengthening the initial contrasts and
stressing the differences are developed. This is the basis upon
which one forms semantic spots identifying Vukovar as an
independent town in which the demon ic forces from the East are
successfully being put under control. The described mythological
projection of the Vukovar identity is also essentially influencing the
relations between other composite elements in the Croatian
national identity structure. In the first place it determines the new
territorial integrity of Croatia and the real/symbollic end of the war
against Croatia.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
32538
URI
Publication date:
1.3.1993.
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