Goran Bregović – Ambassador of Balkan(ism)

Abstract

This article is devoted to Goran Bregović, one of the most recognizable musicians from the ex-Yugoslav region. Since his immense popularity has always been surrounded by controversy, this text provides two contrasting points of view and tries to resolve the dilemma: is Goran Bregović ambassador of Balkans or Balkanism? After the introductory section, paper analyse representative elements of Bregović’s artistic work, firstly through affirmative lenses and then through the critical ones. Having in mind that concerts are his main channel of communication with the audience, the performative aspect of his career is emphasised. Both perspectives, affirmative and critical, are grounded in the existing theoretical argumentation within academic discourse, publicly available information from various media sources, and the author’s critical view of Bregović’s work.