Heritage Of Serbia Research Articles

Ottoman heritage in Serbia on a cultural route: students’ attitudes

Cultural heritage is an important part of the cultural identity of any nation. The care of cultural heritage includes the protection and preservation of the material heritage of the majority nation and the heritage of all other ethnic communities that have left their cultural traces in the area under consideration. The protection of cultural heritage reflects the maturity of a society. That’s why the approach to the protection of cultural monuments should not be selective, narrow and strictly national, but comprehensive, preserving the cultural values of earlier eras and peoples as a general civilisational asset. The research aims to reveal how today’s youth perceive the Ottoman heritage in Serbia, their emotional relationship with it, and whether they recognise the Ottoman heritage as a possible resource for tourism in Serbia. The results indicate that the student population perceives the positive aspects of the Ottoman era in this region, as reflected in the legacy of Oriental culture and the multi-ethnic and multicultural order, to a large extent. Architectural heritage, gastronomy and intangible heritage (language and literature, legends, music, dances, traditions) are largely recognised as representative of the Ottoman cultural heritage and foreign influences on national culture. Their potential for tourism has also been recognised. However, the possible obstacles in the development process of the cultural route are foreseen in strong nationalism and negative collective memory, which were identified as key barriers.

Damnatio Memoriae of Serbian Culture: The Institute for the Preservation of Antiquities of Milan Nedić's Government, Precursor of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments

Currently, the conservation activities in Serbia are conducted by the institutions for the protection of cultural monuments. It is widely accepted that the first institute of the kind was The Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, established in 1947, during the enactment of several heritage laws, which were also presented as the first of their kind. The main contribution for the establishment of the Institute was attributed to its first director, Milorad Panić-Surep.
 During the Second World War, in the spring of 1942, at the initiative of the occupiers, the collaborationist government of Milan Nedić enacted the Regulation on the Preservation of Antiquities. It was the first legal act aimed at protecting cultural heritage in Serbia. On this basis, the Institute for the Protection of Antiquities was established, which actively operated despite the wartime conditions. From its establishment until the founding of the post-war Institute in 1947, there was an uninterrupted continuity, marked by several transformations due to the turbulent post-war events.
 Towards the end of the war, in early 1945, the Institute for the Protection of Antiquities ceased its operations but was not dissolved, it was merged with the Art Museum instead (formerly the Museum of Prince Paul, now the National Museum of Serbia). Thus, both before and after the war, in addition to its regular activities, the Museum also engaged in conservation efforts. The Museum director, Veljko Petrović, insisted that, following the example from the occupation years, an independent institution for conservation activities should be established.
 This was realized in several steps. Firstly, in April, a special committee for creating the Register of Antiquities was formed under the auspices of the Museum, taking over the responsibilities of the former Institute. Subsequently, at the turn of 1945 to 1946, the committee evolved into a separate museum Department for the Protection and Scientific Study of Cultural Monuments, and by mid-1947, it became an independent institution as the Institute for the Protection and Scientific Research of Cultural Monuments. This institution took over all previously created documentation as well as leading experts and in 1960 it changed its name to the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments.
 Following the given facts, the Institute for the Protection of Antiquities from 1942 is a direct precursor to the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, with a continuous legacy. Driven by ideological reasons, the post-war authorities intended to demonstrate that numerous innovative moves of state administration were initiated during their tenure. Consequently, they endeavored to conceal or minimize initiatives undertaken by previous authorities, particularly the ones associated with the collaborationist government during the occupation period, whose entire activity was presented as contrary to the interests of the people.

Upotreba nasleđa u spoljnoj politici Republike Srbije - kratak pregled dosadašnje prakse i saveti za dalji razvoj

Using theoretical frameworks of museology and heritology, such as the fact that cultural artefacts represent a source of information, this article analyzes the use of heritage in Serbia's foreign policy through two case studies. Namely, the article offers an overview of some past practices, e.g. the state using Serbian medieval heritage in Kosovo and Metohija to prevent Kosovo from joining UNESCO in 2015, as well as actively using the Roman heritage to present Serbia as a part of the European discourse. The article also provides guidelines for potential further uses, i.e. practical advice on how to approach heritage and how to incorporate it most efficiently into Serbia's cultural diplomacy and heritage diplomacy efforts, so as to achieve certain foreign policy goals.

How Did the Archaic Become the Avant-Garde? The Case of Ljubica Marić (1909–2003) Through the Prism of Contemporary Sources

The historical-biographical method takes precedence in the first part of this study, focusing on the analysis of the heterogeneous and changing context of Ljubica Marić’s (1909–2003) work throughout her long life, with an overview of the most up-to-date biographic and monographic literature on the subject. This study also describes the composer’s research of the Byzantine musical heritage in Serbia––namely, the system of religious chants known as the Octoëchos or the Book of Eight Tones. These analytical considerations aim to determine how conflicting creative tendencies came to be reflected in Marić’s works through an analysis of two pieces from her opus magnum: Oktoiha 1 [Octoïcha 1] for symphony orchestra (1958–59; rev. 1998) and Vizantijski koncert [Byzantine Concerto] (1959) for piano and orchestra, with an overview of the genesis of her musical language. The discussion of the two selected works is followed by a consideration of their critical reception when they premiered. Finally, the paper reflects on Ljubica Marić’s later works and her legacy today.

Sustainability of Underground Heritage; The Example of the Military Galleries of the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, Serbia

This paper focuses on the underground military galleries and countermine system of the Petrovaradin Fortress near Novi Sad (Serbia). The Petrovaradin Fortress was presented within the working group Underground Built Heritage Reuse and Valorisation Strategies on the COST action Underground4value as a good example of tourist valorised underground cultural heritage in Serbia. The goal of the paper is to consider as widely as possible the options that could contribute to the sustainability of these galleries. Numerous field observations, complex research of the literature as well as other available sources, and interviews with visitors to the fortress were necessary for this goal to be achieved. The paper has special historical and practical significance. On the one hand, it represents a record in time concerning the condition of the Petrovaradin Fortress. The practical significance is reflected in the scientific contribution based on the critical analysis of the results obtained from authorities on the Fortress and visitors, as well as the ideas that the authors conceived or adapted from similar sites in the world, assessing that these ideas can be applied to the Petrovaradin Fortress. The results of the paper explain the aspects of ecological, economic, and social sustainability of the Petrovaradin Fortress, and indicate the need for it to be supported by various institutions.

Digitisation and Data Management of Archaeological Heritage in Serbia (1991-2020)

In the Republic of Serbia, digitisation of cultural heritage was recognised as a segment of cultural development, while the digitisation process is understood as part of a complex system of managing cultural heritage in institutions of protection, such as museums, institutes for the protection of cultural heritage etc. By focusing on the issue of electronic/digital archaeological heritage management in Serbia's institutes for protection, this article briefly describes the national framework of archaeology in the country and presents some crucial moments in the journey towards digitisation and electronic management of archaeological heritage in Serbia since the 1990s. It also discusses recent efforts by the Ministry of Culture and Information in terms of regulating the procedure of cultural heritage digitisation and establishing a common information system. Finally, it identifies current challenges in archaeological data management in cultural heritage institutions and briefly discusses possible future scenarios.

Views on the (Serbian Orthodox) Church Calendar as an Element of Cultural Heritage in Serbia

The Serbian Orthodox Church is considered by a number of Serbian citizens to be the “guardian” of tradition and cultural heritage. Issues related to church reforms are thus often particularly sensitive, and are perceived by some of the public as a danger to the preservation of cultur­al and religious identity. On the other hand, there are opinions in favor of reforms. In this context, the issue of church calendar reform is of special interest. Although it has been raised for more than a century, it is still as relevant as in the first attempts at the reform thereof. This paper explores the attitudes on online platforms in Serbia on this issue. Is the church calendar perceived as an integral part of the cultural heritage? What are the pros and cons of calendar reform? What would be the consequences of its potential change?

The Relation of Music Archiving and Intangible Cultural Heritage in Serbia

Speaking from an ethnomusicological standpoint, this paper elaborates on the use of recorded sound and audio-visual material for the purpose of documenting particular musical elements in Serbia, according to the concept of UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. There is a difference between contemporary field recordings for archival purposes, according to the ICH concept, and the employment of already recorded historical legacy. Through the example of music elements from Serbian national register of ICH, this paper will raise the questions of ethnomusicological politics of field recording and digitization of archived historical recordings, as well as analyze the politics of heritage management. Based on ethnomusicological and archival experience, the aim of this paper is to offer a model of application of sound archive for the future, which can effectively contribute to the concept of intangible cultural heritage in Serbia.

Tradition of Demolition: Architecture of Terror—Urban Destruction as a Political Message, or How the Destruction of the Ottoman Heritage in Early Modern Serbia

The revised Serbian history introduced by the mainstream Western scholars and media in the early 1990s developed the trope of "Serbian nationalist expansionism," which was responsible for most of the Balkan problems since the Ottoman departure in the early 20th century. The evidence of Serbian expansionism over the non-Serbian, predominantly Muslim territories was sought in the assertion of deliberately targeted Ottoman/Islamic architectural heritage in all territories they attempted to conquer. This article, following the summative timeline analysis of the changing fortunes of Belgrade's architecture between 1521 and 1919, challenges this view. The article argues that most of damage done to the Ottoman/Islamic heritage in the early modern period of the Serbian nation state (1804–1914) was through neglect of the inherited ruins from the period when the Serbs did not exercise influence over the process of urban destruction. It asserts that the occidentalization of Belgrade coincided with "the age of capital," in Hobsbawm's sense, following the struggles for liberation, which could arguably be seen as part of the great European "age of revolution." The article juxtaposes modern mainstream Western interpretation of destruction of the Islamic heritage in Serbia with well-evidenced fate of the architectural heritage in situ.

Rad Aleksandra Deroka na srednjovekovnoj arhitekturi i njegov značaj danas

Meticulous record of more than 300 medieval structures, extensive fieldwork on numerous archeological sites, more than 100 texts and several critical books on medieval architecture mark professor Aleksandar Deroko's work on preserving medieval architectural heritage in Serbia and the former Yugoslavia. They are all aptly illustrated with his drawings and photographs. Deroko's genuine interest in medieval architecture and its preservation shaped his student days between the two world wars, a period also characterised by a clash between traditionalism and modernism in architecture. Destruction from war, public negligence of medieval heritage, the so-called "golden rush" when many hoped to uncover lost medieval treasures, and the overall lack of clear methodologies for the preservation of architectural heritage displeased young Deroko, who often publicly expressed his opinion on the urgent need for medieval structures to be saved and restored, and in particular religious architecture. Even his undergraduate thesis for his architectural degree, which focused on the Church of St. Sava in Belgrade, was inspired by medieval religious architecture and its values. This paper addresses the relevance of Deroko's work today, especially in the light of his understanding of medieval architecture as art and a dynamic cultural symbol relevant for architectural practices.

Roman Baths in Čačak – (In)Feasibility Study

The case of the Roman baths in Čačak presents the study of the marginalization of the heritage of Western Serbia. Although situated in the modern centre of the city Čačak, from the time of their discovery in 1970, the baths have remained hidden from the public view, considered as an obstacle by the inhabitants, local small business and the city administration. The theoretical consideration of the location of the baths indicates minimal risks for their successful revitalisation in relation to their environment, but in reality the attempts at their material preservation have been utterly unsuccessful. The missing link in effective revitalization of this site is the lack of the constructive relationship baths – individual – community, of the climate they mutually create in the space, or the particular characteristics of the space itself. The key for the protection of cultural heritage in Serbia lies in the education of the local public, cooperation with the local authorities in the changes in the urbanistic policies of the city, and taking the cultural heritage as the incentive for local development and identity, and the example of the Roman baths in Čačak may indicate the path for overcoming the obstacles.

Institutional limitations in the management of UNESCO cultural heritage in Serbia: The case of Gamzigrad-Romuliana archaeological site

Previous studies have shown that there is a lack of interdisciplinary understanding of how urban dynamics and cultural heritage interact with each other. In the light of this problem, the paper first examines new institutional theory as a theoretical framework for connecting UNESCO cultural heritage policies and land-use policies. Secondly, it specifically explores the institutional limitations related to the management of UNESCO cultural heritage in Serbia through the case study of the Gamzigrad-Romuliana archeological site. Since new institutional theory considers institutions as formal and informal organizations, in addition to considering the rules and procedures that build patterns of behavior, this paper analyzes: the stakeholders involved in the management of Gamzigrad-Romuliana and related decision making; the policies and plans at different levels of spatial organization (from international to local) that are important for Gamzigrad-Romuliana; and the methodological and procedural framework used to formulate these policies. The strengths and weaknesses of the institutional framework in Serbia are defined, and recommendations for its improvement are made.

The challenges of planning in the field of cultural heritage in Serbia

Serbia is characterized by a rich cultural heritage and cultural diversity, as well as by a developed system of protecting cultural property. The current trend is that of a constant increase of the number of registered cultural properties under protection. Urban settlements in Serbia are characterized by specific typological characteristics and recognizable architectural typologies that are valuable architectural heritage as well as an urban identity factor. Together, protected cultural property and architectural heritage belong to a wider concept of urban heritage in the sense comprised in the modern charters on the protection of cultural heritage (HUL). The primary starting point of the paper is that the law and plans in Serbia must become more sensitive to the context. In addition to protecting registered property, the protection of buildings and other structures that are not cultural heritage should also be introduced. However, current planning practice in Serbia does not sufficiently recognize cultural heritage in the wider sense of urban heritage, nor does it affirm it as an important resource for sustainable development. By analyzing the planning context, the problems and challenges in terms of institutional, legal and governance frameworks, as well as planning methodologies, can be identified. The paper is a contribution to the contextual analysis within the National Strategy for the Sustainable and Integral Urban Development of Serbia (currently developing within a wider team of experts), with the aim of affirming the cultural potential of Serbia and incorporating the topic of cultural heritage as a resource for sustainable development into Serbia?s development programs and projects.

Beyond punitiveness? Governance of crime and authoritarian heritage in Serbia

This article sets out to examine the degree to which democratic transition in Serbia after 2000 has brought about a democratic mode of crime governance in the country. It is shown that while penal norms and policies have undergone a significant degree of democratization in that their outlook has tended not to be punitive, the judiciary (and, to some degree, other actors in the penal field) has been increasingly inclined towards punitive practices. Taking an institutional approach to explain this discrepancy, the article argues that pockets of authoritarianism in the executive have survived the transition to democracy and have continued to exert pressure on the judiciary in ways that have influenced judicial decision-making towards greater punitiveness.

The last Byzantines: perceptions of identity, culture, and heritage in Serbia

Focusing on material culture, this article considers a range of issues concerning the cultural policies, ideologies, and identities that have underlain Serbian development since the Middle Ages, and tests some widely held yet previously uncontested views. In particular it questions the Serbs' perceived affiliation with the Byzantine Empire and challenges the view that this affiliation was so pervasive that it influenced Serbian development and national formation in the modern age. It is argued that Byzantium had little if any role in the Serbs' cultural development - neither in historical memories nor in surviving traditions. Serbia's Byzantine culture is largely a myth developed in the 1930s by the Serbian clergy as a corollary of the Russian-inspired Svetosavlje ideology. This myth was meant to dislocate Serbia's cultural identity from its secular European sources and reposition it closer to Orthodox Russia.

The spatial planning, protection and management of world heritage in Serbia

The paper indicates the importance of spatial planning as a specific instrument for the protection and management of World Heritage sites in Serbia. The paper analyses the obligations set forth in the international and national documents and legislation relevant for spatial planning, on the one hand, and World Heritage protection, on the other hand. The notion, criteria, method of zoning, systems and approaches to the management of sites inscribed on the World Heritage List are shown through the concept of World Heritage. The paper also emphasizes the importance of adopting management plans for all World Heritage sites and their incorporation into the national legislation and planning documents, primarily into the special purpose area spatial plans. It also gives examples of special purpose spatial plans in order to consider the treatment of World Heritage in these documents, and to make proposals for improving the spatial planning and the existing protection and management of the World Heritage sites in Serbia.

Beyond Punitiveness? Governance of Crime and Authoritarian Heritage in Serbia

This article sets out to examine the degree to which democratic transition in Serbia after 2000 has brought about a democratic mode of crime governance in the country. It is shown that while penal norms and policies have undergone a significant degree of democratisation in that their outlook has tended not to be punitive, the judiciary (and, to some degree, other actors in the penal field) has been increasingly inclined towards punitive practices. Taking an institutional approach to explain this discrepancy, the article argues that pockets of authoritarianism in the executive have survived the transition to democracy and have continued to exert pressure on the judiciary in ways that have influenced judicial decisionmaking towards greater punitiveness.

Common Histories, Constructed Identities: Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Rebranding of Serbia

Even though Serbia is especially rich in intangible cultural heritage and folklore, there is still no established register of intangible cultural assets in Serbia that could evaluate particular elements of folk heritage. The ethnographic heritage of Serbia is rich in spiritual values related to customs, celebrations, music, song, dance, stories and legends, and this type of heritage is presented through numerous festivals, gatherings and tourist events. The Network for the Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage was formed in 2012. Of the twenty-seven proposals submitted, six representative elements of ICH that reflect the ethnic cultural identity of the Serbian nation were initially chosen: the feasts for patron-saints, the St. George's Day ritual, a folklore dance called kolo, singing with the gusle, flute playing and rug making in Pirot. These elements play an important role in the creation of national identity and have the potential to become significant for tourism in Serbia. In this study, some of the elements proposed for the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage are described, and their importance for the cultural identity of the Serbian people is explained.

Prospective Perspective: Visual Anthropology and/as Intangible Cultural Heritage in Serbia

Although only recently recognized by the Serbian government (in 2010), intangible cultural heritage constitutes an indispensable part of anthropological research programs in Serbia. We juxtapose current Serbian national and socio-anthropological practices toward ICH and discuss the importance of these practices for the safeguarding of this heritage. Furthermore, we focus on visual anthropology and visual ethnography to explore the possibilities, benefits and limitations of visual technologies in the safeguarding process. Last, we apply the idea of the humanities and social sciences as ICH (and not only the organized exploration of it) to visual anthropology in order to merge the gap between the decontextualization of ICH and its safeguarding. Key words: intangible cultural heritage, safeguarding, visual anthropology and ethnography, Republic of Serbia, policy, social sciences and humanities as cultural heritage

Conservation of paleontological heritage in Serbia: From philosophy to practice

Serbia has a rich paleontological heritage that includes both, fossiliferous sites and fossilized remains and traces of once living plants and animals. Their study allows paleontologists and geologists to understand and interpret the evolution of life on Earth, ancient environments and past climates, to establish the age of rocks and to correlate rock units in different part of the world. Fossiliferous sites and fossils are not only an integral part of geodiversity and geoheritage but also important component of our national natural and cultural patrimony. Criteria for evaluation of potential paleontological heritage are suggested along with required conservation strategy in order to ensure that these phenomena, inherited from the past will still be with us in the future.