Pregled: časopis za društvena pitanja / Periodical for social issues
Pregled is a journal which had been, in the early years of publishing (February 1910 – April 1913), oriented towards scientific and social issues. Pregled was first published at a time when the Bosnian Council was being convened (1910) and amidst Austro-Hungarian attempts to strengthen its authority through the constitution. In this period, a strong dichotomy was felt among the parties, regarding the national issue, while religious intolerance dominated. In such a situation, the Pregled journal was initiated. The journal’s subject matter was precisely defined, as well as the issues it would deal with, including scientific, social, political, literary and economical issues. Only the documented, scientific articles in the field of sociology, politics, science, literature and culture were published. Prof. dr. Jefto Dedijer was the editor-in-chief, while the Serb Shareholding Printing Press printed the journal. In a relatively short time period, Pregled established itself as a journal dealing with a wide range of cultural issues, relying on the progressive public and promoting political ideas opposing those of the Austro-Hungarian national orientation. The journal’s associates had clear views on the national culture, politics and freedom and would oftentimes publish their numerous disquisitions on scientific, cultural and social issues anonymously. In the first phase, Pregled was mainly a review which focused on social, political and cultural issues. Its aim was to stimulate the awakening of the national awareness in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Although reasons why the journal Pregled, initiated by the domestic intellectual powers, stopped being published remain unknown, one can assume that the difficult situation and turbulence in all spheres of social, political and economic live of Bosnia and Herzegovina were the main causes. Pregled was published again on 7 February 1927, in the newly-formed state of Yugoslavia. Some former associates and initiators of the journal, together with a group of younger writers and cultural activists revived it. It became a weekly journal, published in a big format, with the same main thematic characteristic that had been defined before the war; this time enriched with excerpts from literature. Dr. Gojko Krulj was the publisher and editor-in-chief. Later those functions were performed by Borivoje Jeftić and Todor Kruševac. Dr. Jovan Kršić became editor-in-chief in 1932. He, together with Todor Kruševac, gave Pregled the recognizable appearance, until the year of 1942, when fascists attacked Yugoslavia. In May 1946, a year after the liberation, Pregled reappeared. New conditions of life in socialist Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was one of its republics, initiated it. At that time Pregled was a general review which sought to encompass all the problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the general problems of peculiar importance for the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. All kinds of scientific, artistic and journalistic articles were published. Pregled ceases being a general review in 1948, as it starts to bring an increasing number of artistic and literary articles. However, it remained a journal for social issues in the widest sense of the word. In 1949, publishing of the journal was stopped, under the explanation that the issues treated by it, except for economy, were also discussed in some new journals. In 1953, the publishing of Pregled was restarted with Hasan Brkić and Mladen Čaldarović as its editors-in-chief. Enver Redžić was editor-in-chief from 1964 until 1967. Pregled monitored and supported the work of self-managed structures in all the spheres of economy and social life, especially experiences in the socialist management of the economy. The journal dealt with the issues of older and recent history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the attempt to shed light upon some important events, through a historical-materialistic method, and remove different idealistic views, which made true understanding of the past difficult. Conceived in this way, Pregled was, in the period of ten years, among the few journals in the former Yugoslavia which autonomously, critically and courageously treated numerous economical, political, scientific-social and general cultural issues, thus gaining a significant reputation. A new editorial board took over the journal in 1967, with dr. Besim Ibrahimpašić as the editor-in-chief. The editorial board was located at the University of Sarajevo building, the 7/III Obala Street. University of Sarajevo became the publisher. (Pregled predavanja 1969/1970, University of Sarajevo, p. 21.). This new editorial board continued with the previously verified concept, so the journal abound in articles which carried the essence of the time it belonged to, all written with critical sensibility and feelings for the issues that needed to be addressed, discussed and judged. It treated all that was progressive in the tradition and reality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, Europe and the world. From 1971 to 1974 a new editorial board came to the scene with dr. Arif Tanović as the editor-in-chief. The journal focused more strongly on domestic issues and processes, examining all that was of the essence and stimulating all that was progressive. That was a journal which accepted no dogmatism and sectarianism, for which no issue was a taboo and no name was untouchable. All the subsequent editorial boards and editors (for example, Franjo Kožul, Fuad Muhić, Radovan Milanović) continued the work based on the best traditions of the previous boards of editors. Pregled enables the reader to learn about the current social issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as about the current political and social issues in Europe and the world. Promotion of critical discourse with a strong humanistic resonance makes Pregled a source of intellectual inspiration and an inspiring obligation to go forward. The last issue of Pregled was published in late 1990, when Džemal Sokolović was editor-in-chief. After a 13-year-long break, in 2003, University of Sarajevo started publishing Pregled again.
Iz ciklusa „Svijetli dodiri duše” (autorica slika: Adela Nurković-Kulenović) / From the Series „Svijetli dodiri duše“ (paintings by: Adela Nurković-Kulenović)
The paintings "U središtu duše", "Na raskršću" and "Sloboda" are part of the series "Svijetli dodiri duše" (by Adela Nurković-Kulenović), which the artist experiences as a personal diary of painterly moments.
Copyright (c) 2026 Pregled: časopis za društvena pitanja / Periodical for social issues https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Azijsko inovacijsko gospodarstvo pokreće rast i globalne promjene na tržištu / Asia’s Innovation Economy Driving Growth and Global Market Shift
This text is a translation of an article originally published on the official website of the World Economic Forum, available at: the World Economic Forum website Translated from English and adapted by: Aleksandra Hohnjec, mag. oec. and mr. sc. Jadranka Dorešić, dipl. oec. (fluence999@gmail.com; jadranka.doresic@gmail.com)
Uloga Fikreta, bodybuildera sa osmjehom, na život žene Suade / The Enduring Agency of Fikret the Smiling Bodybuilder in Suada's Journey
This text is a translation of the article "The Enduring Agency of Fikret the Smiling Bodybuilder in Suada’s Journey", originally published in English in Anthropological Notebooks, 31(2), 2025. Translated from English and adapted by: Dr. Petra Hamer (petra.hamer@ff.uni-lj.si) This article examines the agency of a deceased husband as it continues to affect his former wife’s life. Over thirty years have passed since he became one of the countless victims of violence during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 1990s. Today, his wife keeps a memorial room in their hometown, preserving his memory as the first and most celebrated Bosnian bodybuilder, and ensuring that his legacy endures. These continuing bonds serve as both a mourning process and a celebration of his life. Two forms of agency of the dead are presented in the article: material and spiritual. The material agency is expressed through physical markers of remembrance such as the tombstone, the memorial room, and the commemorative plaque. The spiritual agency manifests in the dreams his wife experiences, which provide her with a sense of connection and guidance. This analysis examines the agency of the dead through the individual act of maintaining bonds with the deceased, while situating the narrative within the broader context of Verdery’s concept of the politicization of dead bodies. This approach highlights how personal mourning intertwines with collective memory and cultural significance.
Zaboravite semitizam! / Forget Semitism!
This text is a translation of the final chapter of Joseph Massad’s book "Islam in Liberalism", Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2015. Further information is available at the publisher’s website: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/I/bo19211851.html Translated from English and adapted by: Mirza Čerkez, prof. (mirza.cerkez@unsa.ba)
Umjetnički otpor u opsadi: umjetnici Sarajeva 1992–1995 i kulturna borba za slobodu / Artistic Resistance Under Siege: Artists of Sarajevo 1992–1995 and the Cultural Struggle for Freedom
This text is a review of the photography and document exhibition: “Sarajevo 1992-1995”, Dani Kantona Sarajevo, May 08. 2025, Galerija Preporod
Prikaz knjige: Mediji kao instrument međunarodne intervencije: Kuća od karata / Book review: Media as a Tool of International Intervention: House of Cards
This text is a review of the book: Nidžara Ahmetašević, Media as a Tool of International Intervention: House of Cards, Routledge, London and New York, 2024
Ustavna i institucionalna izgradnja države Bosne i Hercegovine / The Constitutional and Institutional Building of the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina
This text is a review of the book: Muhamed I. Mujakić, Institucije države Bosne i Hercegovine, Sarajevo, Udruženje Pravni institut u BiH, 2025, 436 str.
Hasanovo „sadivanje novog svita“ / Hasan's „Sowing of a New World"
This text is a review of the book: Enes Karić, Zime Zaručnice – doživljaji njemačkog vojnika Hasana, „Ilum“ Bužim, 2025.
Progonjena dvjema aktualnim guernikama, Europa traži svoj moralni trijumf / Haunted by Two Contemporary Guernicas, Europe Seeks its Moral Triumph
Gonjen dvjema gernikama, koje lakomisleno zovemo sukobima, bez kraja i jasna početka - Palestinom i Ukrajinom - te zarobljen u ciklusu konfrontacijske beznade, europski kontinent se ćuti demoralizirano i dezorijentirano, deindustrijalizirano i obespravljeno. Svjedočeći gubitku sopstvene geopolitičke centralnosti, raspadu globalne suradnje — moglo bi se reći: deglobalizaciji (slowbalisation)— svojom nutar-njem razognjištavanju, urušavanju društvene kohezije i pucanju međugeneracijskog ugovora. Europa očajnički traži ne samo stabilnost, već i svoj moralni trijumf.
Views and Opinions / Pogledi i mišljenja
Od Sjedinjenih Američkih Država do Kine: Međunarodna razvojna pomoć kao instrument geopolitike / From the United States to China: International Development Assistance as an Instrument of Geopolitics
International development aid is a means by which a certain country can implement its own geopolitical goals in a certain area. In the paper, we will try to present how international development aid has an effect in the geopolitical context, and we will examine what its main goals are. This type of activity is most often noticeable in large powers such as the United States of America and China, but it is evident that the countries of the European Union are also continuously investing their resources in this segment. In the context of the methodological approach, historical, polyeconomic, analysis, data collection2, compilation, and synthesis methods will prevail in this work. The main results we reached indicate that international development aid is a geopolitical tool of great powers, which can achieve the desired results, but not necessarily, which is our main hypothesis. The paper will present examples of how great powers use development aid for geopolitical purposes, from the end of the Second World War until today, and that this type of action is a globally widespread phenomenon.
Naučna komunikacija u svjetlu tehnoloških (r)evolucija / Scientific Communication in the Light of Technological (R)evolutions
In today's world, scientific communication is evolving rapidly due to advancements in information and communication technologies, the growing market for scientific information, and the influence of national and international research policies. This evolution addresses the needs of diverse scientific communities while also shaping their functionality and cohesion. Scientific communication involves informing, educating, and raising awareness among the non-expert public about science-related topics. It has evolved to include various digital platforms, interactive media, and personalized content delivery methods.
Kosovska neovisnost u dnevnoj štampi BiH / Kosovo's Independence in the Daily Press of BiH
This paper analyzes the ways in which four of the most influential daily newspapers in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Dnevni avaz, Nezavisne novine, Dnevni list, and Oslobođenje – reported on the declaration of independence of the Republic of Kosovo on February 17, 2008. The study covers the period from February 15 to 20, 2008, focusing on the forms, styles, and methods of news transmission regarding the preparations for the declaration day, the act of independence itself, celebrations in Kosovo, the security situation, protests in Serbia and Banja Luka, and international reactions. The analysis is based on content analysis methodology, with special emphasis on the phenomenon of interpretive polarization. In the context of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a multiethnic state, media discourse often reflects ethnically segmented readerships, significantly influencing the interpretation of political events. Particular attention is given to the role of the media in shaping public opinion and political attitudes during moments of historical significance. Therefore, the research considers not only the informative but also the interpretive and educational functions of print media. The selected newspapers represent the most widely read sources of information in the country, and their analysis offers insight into how ethnic and political contexts shape journalistic approaches to regionally significant issues.
Alternativni načini rješavanja porodičnih sporova: Smanjenje troškova i očuvanje najboljeg interesa djeteta / Alternative Dispute Resolution in Family Disputes: Reducing Costs and Preserving the Best Interests of the Child
How can economic approaches contribute to maximizing family welfare, while highlighting the ethical limitations of economic analysis when it comes to the best interests of the child and the family’s wellbeing? This question lies at the heart of discussions within the economic analysis of law, particularly regarding the role and effectiveness of mediation/family mediation as an alternative method for resolving family disputes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The authors of this paper examine the application of alternative dispute resolution methods, with a specific focus on mediation, within the context of family law. Mediation is analyzed as an effective tool that reduces financial and emotional costs, accelerates legal processes, and facilitates a more private and less adversarial way of resolving conflicts among family members. While the economic approach to dispute resolution emphasizes cost reduction and efficiency, the paper underscores the necessity of aligning these principles with fundamental legal norms, particularly the principle of the best interests of the child, which must remain a priority. Through a comparative analysis, including the Bosnian-Herzegovinian experience, the paper discusses the usefulness of mandatory mediation in reducing the burden on the judicial system, while also questioning the preservation of voluntariness as a foundational principle of mediation. Based on these insights, the paper suggests a combination of flexibility and mandatory elements, depending on the type of dispute and the parties involved, as the optimal approach. Furthermore, it highlights the need to adjust the legal framework to allow for broader application of mediation, while ensuring compliance with ethical standards and safeguarding the rights of all participants in the mediation process. In conclusion, the paper emphasizes how alternative dispute resolution methods, considering economic cost parameters and the protection of the best interests of the child, represent a key opportunity for enhancing the family law system, reducing the burden on judicial institutions, and safeguarding the long-term interests of children in family disputes. In the absence of accurate indicators of the success of mediation/conciliation in family law disputes, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, future research would offer clearer guidelines for the improvement of this institute and thus give a picture of its economic efficiency/inefficiency.
Digitalni nekrolozi i 'posthumni' identiteti: Fenomen virtuelnog života nakon smrti / Digital Obituaries and 'Posthumous' Identities: The Phenomenon of Virtual Life After Death
The phenomenon of digital obituaries and posthumous identities is increasingly shaping the way contemporary society perceives death, remembrance, and the grieving process. Death no longer signifies the complete end of social presence, as digital profiles of the deceased remain active on social media platforms even after physical death, enabling a continuity of symbolic connection with them. This paper explores the emotional, psychological, social, ethical, and legal dimensions of digital memorialization, focusing on the impact of virtual spaces and algorithmic reminders on the grieving process and emotional resolution. A qualitative approach was employed in analyzing secondary sources, grounded in contemporary theories of identity, grief, and digital legacy. The paradoxes of digital mourning are analyzed, wherein memorial profiles and digital obituaries may offer a sense of presence and support, yet simultaneously prolong emotional attachment and hinder acceptance of loss. The paper also examines how the algorithmic functioning of digital platforms generates memories and reminders without sensitivity to the emotional state of users, potentially burdening the grieving process further. It raises critical ethical and legal questions surrounding the management of digital identities after death, including unclear ownership, control, and rights to content removal. The complexity of survivors’ emotional responses and the growing significance of digital legacy further reinforce the need for clear regulations aligned with the psychological dimensions of grief and ethical principles of dignity. In this context, digital memorialization emerges not only as a form of remembrance, but also as a challenge requiring thoughtful consideration within the frameworks of mental health, social practice, and legal accountability.
Analiza bibliotečkih usluga u tretmanu ovisnosti: Studija iz terapijskih zajednica, centara za rehabilitaciju i zavoda za bolesti ovisnosti u Bosni i Hercegovini / Analysis of Library Services in Addiction Treatment: A Study from Therapeutic Communities, Rehabilitation Centres and Addiction Treatment Centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina
This research aims to examine the availability and organisation of library services in therapeutic communities and addiction treatment centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A quantitative method was used to collect data through a questionnaire conducted in several institutions. The obtained data was analysed using descriptive statistical methods. The results show that four out of seven institutions have a library, none of which has a formally regulated operation or employs professional library staff. The library funds mainly contain religious, spiritual and literary publications, most frequently supplemented through donations. The use of libraries by residents is limited, records of use are rarely kept, while cooperation with the city libraries does not exist. Only three institutions implement bibliotherapy as part of their work program. The research indicates a low level of development and institutional support for library services in these institutions, but also their potential in the rehabilitation of addicts. The obtained results can serve as a basis for improving these services through staff empowerment, better equipment and inter-institutional cooperation.
Ideologijia u semiotici prostora / An Ideology in the Semiotics of Space
Imenovanje realnog, fizičkog prostora izvan Evrope vršeno je najvećim dijelom s pozicije svojevremenih kolonijalnih sila – Velike Britanije i Francuske. Tako su nastali pojmovi/nazivi Bliski istok, Srednji istok, Daleki istok i sl., pri čemu se ovi pojmovi/imena situiraju u skladu sa udaljenošću od imperija kao Centra. Navedeni pojmovi/imena su znaci koji, kao znaci, u semiotici prostora proizvode određena značenja (semioza), a uopće nisu vrijednosno neutralni. Oni izražavaju poziciju moći Centra koji sebe određuje kao Centar i mjerilo vrijednosti. Tako postaje evrocentrizam koji je bremenit ideologijskim potencijalima i koji imenovanjem geografskih cjelina s onu stranu Evrope, na Periferiji, postavlja ideološku platformu za svoju supremaciju i kolonijalnu akciju, podrazumijevajući potrebu da svoju nadmoć demonstrira različitim formama zaposjedanja Periferije. Na taj način se u semiotici prostora proizvode obilna i intenzivna značenja. U naznačenoj dinamici odnosa Centar – Periferija javlja se i orijentalistika koja svojim najautoritativnijim dijelom funkcionira kao instrument ideološkog evrocentrizma.
Hronotop čekaonice: Narativi o opsadi Sarajeva / Chronotope of the Waiting Room: Narratives of the Siege of Sarajevo
The paper presents the concept of the chronotope of the waiting room and explores its characteristics through a corpus of works about the Siege of Sarajevo. The waiting room is depicted as one of the dominant chronotopes in twentieth-century art, with antecedents in literature about epidemics and sieges. Its key features include the spatial isolation of a community, the suspension of time within that isolated space, the disruption of symbolic order, and the spread of violence like contagion within it. The effort of all artistic works analyzed is emphasized in their fight against the evil affecting the community by fostering empathy and individualizing each victim. The paper primarily analyzes the novels The History of a Disease (Istorija bolesti) by Tvrtko Kulenović, Diary of an Exodus (Dnevnik selidbe) and Introduction to Floating (Uvod u lebdenje) by Dževad Karahasan, the theater production Waiting for Godot (Čekajući Godoa) directed by Susan Sontag, as well as the films Death in Sarajevo (Smrt u Sarajevu) and The Perfect Circle (Savršeni krug).
Copyright (c) 2025 Pregled: časopis za društvena pitanja / Periodical for social issues https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Umjetnost, kultura i opsada / Art, Culture and Siege
This paper by Hana Bajrović Čardaković and Nihad Kreševljaković analyzes the cultural resistance in Sarajevo during the siege, with a particular emphasis on the role of theatre. The Siege of Sarajevo (1992-1996), the longest in modern history, resulted in widespread suffering and destruction. However, art remained a vital form of what is termed cultural resistance. Through various means of expression, particularly theatre, artists endeavored to preserve humanity and a semblance of normalcy amidst the brutality of war. The Sarajevo War Theatre, established in 1992, became a symbol of resistance and provided a space for confronting the harsh realities of conflict. Engaged art, as articulated by Jean-Paul Sartre, reflects the social and political challenges of the time, and Sarajevo's artists conveyed narratives of survival and hope through their works. During the siege, Sarajevo hosted thousands of cultural events, including 57 premier performances by theatrical institutions. The theatrical landscape's internationalization, bolstered by the arrival of notable artists such as Susan Sontag, further strengthened cultural resistance. The paper underscores the significance of art as an essential human necessity, one that cannot be stifled even under the most arduous conditions, and emphasizes the importance of art as a synthesis of the aesthetic and the ethical.
O angažiranom i didaktičkom u umjetnosti / On Engaged and Didactic in Art
Experience is never simple, one-dimensional, mono-medial, or temporally linear: its rhizomatic form spreads through space and time, and its scope, complexity, and intensity are defined by its subject. In a similar way, those strategies, that may also be epistemic, manifest within art: those are strategies derived from such experience and that reflect it. They imply the need to understand the polysemies of the world and, in practice, involve avoiding the affirmation of known truths. If we accept the assumption that art has the ability to be a tool for improving life, then this ability can only be located in empowering the audience, specifically through pointing to ways of avoiding the passive adoption of narratives and identities shaped by dominant systems of thought. The goal is provocation: instead of presenting drama before the eyes of the audience, it offers a "drama of perception" whose action continues in the life of the spectator. The outcome is art with active participants, rather than viewers – passive voyeurs seduced by images (Rancière). If destabilization of meaning is a prerequisite for creating space for fantasy, does art that didactically delivers unambiguous messages hinder the establishment of an emancipated spectator and thus obstruct the realization of its self-determined function—engagement and change? And does it consequently become a means of disempowering the institution of art within social frameworks?
Socijalno angažirana umjetnost u Bosni i Hercegovini između dva svjetska rata / Socially Engaged Art in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Period between the Two World Wars
In the Yugoslav cultural and artistic space, between the two world wars, social art did not have a unified concept – stylistically, aesthetically nor ideologically. Permeated by diverse cultural and historical roots, sociopolitical challenges and material conditions, social art, however, in its diversity and plurality, insisted on active participation in transforming the existing social reality. Social engagement manifested itself through all available media, forms and strategies of artistic practice. The artist had, on one side, been employing traditional art forms to convey sociopolitical ideas and ideological messages or to express resistance and a clear anti-war attitude, while on the other side they have been exploring new artistic approaches and thus producing various avant-garde and innovative artistic expressions. By interpreting the complex sociopolitical, cultural and historical conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, within the context of related tendencies of Yugoslav art of the period, this paper explores the socially engaged artistic practices which aimed to activate the social function of art and affirm the social aspect of artistic practice. The paper demonstrates the measure in which the turn towards socially relevant themes also incentivised formal innovations and avant-garde breakthroughs in oeuvres of Roman Petrović, Petar Tiješić, Voje Dimitrijević and the art collective “Collegium artisticum.ˮ The paper, a segment of the broader doctoral research on socially engaged and avant-garde activity in fine arts, architecture and synthetic theatre in the interwar period in Bosnia and Herzegovina, opens new possibilities for interpreting and evaluating Bosnian-Herzegovinian social art in the said period.
Odbijanje položaja nijeme žrtve u izvedbenoj poeziji palestinske autorice Rafeef Ziadah / Resisting the Position of the Mute Victim in the Spoken Word Poetry of the Palestinian Author Rafeef Ziadah
Spoken word poetry is crafted for public performance, created with the intent of being heard and observed, rather than merely read. Common themes in contemporary performance poetry are social injustice, violence, identity issues, and gender and racial discrimination. Palestinian-Canadian poet Rafeef Ziadah addresses the plight of Palestinians in her works published across three albums—Hadeel, We Teach Life, and Three Generations. Her poetry explores their war-related suffering, the prolonged apartheid policies against them, displacement, and life in the diaspora. Additionally, her themes encompass the status of Arab women, homelessness, widespread disenfranchisement, and the suffering experienced by marginalized groups—including women, children, and migrants. The suffering of others, often encountered through media, frequently leads to a certain saturation and indifference (Sontag), accompanied by a cynical perception that not all human lives merit equal sorrow (Butler). Thriugh her poetry, Ziadah rebels against the callous perpetrators and indifferent media, vehemently refusing to let Palestinians be rendered mute and passive subjects of reporting. She restores human dignity to victims, grants them voice and identity, advocates for resistance on their behalf, grieves for them, thus affirming that their lives are worthy of being lived.
Emotions and Literary Engagement in the Representation of Social Reality / Emocije i književni angažman u prikazivanju društvene stvarnosti
Considering the importance of the cultural coding of emotions and the number of current studies that investigate the expression, representations and functions of emotions in literary texts, and starting from J.P. Sartre’s theses on human emotions and engagement presented in his essay Engaged Literature, this paper will connect these two phenomena by investigating representation and the function of fear in the novel by the contemporary Croatian writer, Damir Pilić, Kao da sve je normalno (As If Everything’s Normal) (2018). Sartre defines emotion by anticipating contemporary constructivist and cultural approaches when claiming that emotion is always an expression of a certain way of life and worldview common to a class or an entire age. Thematizing the post-war reality in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and dealing with the consequences of the traumas left on citizens by war crimes, Pilić represents fear as the central emotion of his novel on the levels of its content, symbolism and genre. After explaining the relationship between emotions and literary engagement in the representation of social reality (according to J.P. Sartre), the analysis of the text in question will develop the hypothesis that Pilić posits fear as Sartre's "synthetic unity of affectivity", meaning that every feeling and every form of psychic life is actually a manifestation of the individual's social position and is closely related to the feeling of the collective. This paper will also consider how the author's intentions affect form and creative process (the genre hybridization of the political and social novel with elements of narrativized photo reportage and horror).
Pravo na grad u urbanoj fantastici Terryja Pratchetta / The Right to the City in Terry Pratchett’s Urban Fantasy
This paper examines how representations of everyday life in urban fantasy, insofar as they lie outside the utopian and the dystopian, reflect real anxieties, but also desires and needs, related to urban development and life in cities. Fantasy excellently expresses numerous social problems and tackles the issues of gender, racial, and class identities in a unique way. Significant historical, political, and social issues are also woven into the fantasy narratives through the literary representation of the lived space, but how they thematize the problems dealt with by urban sociology and critical urban theory, especially those related to the concept of "right to the city", are almost unexplored. Through the example of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, it will be investigated which practices of everyday life correspond with some of the most significant conclusions and requirements of critical urban theory. The work of urban theorists such as Henri Lefebvre, Alan Jacobs, Donald Appleyard, Jane Jacobs, and others will be consulted. J. R. R. Tolkien believed that fantasy appeals to the reader because its narratives are shaped around basic human desires. It will be shown how, by fueling the fantasy of a dialectic between a space of adventure and a place of safety, a vibrant and fulfilling practice of urban everyday life, and a community that actively participates in it, this kind of literature can help to mobilize these desires and encourage work on the appropriation of urban space.
Odnos prema društvu u Aristofanovim komedijama / Society in Aristophanic Comedy
This paper deals with various aspects of the relationship to society in Aristophanes’ comedies. The analyzes include all eleven preserved plays of Aristophanes, and the focus is primarily on the internal logic and issues of dramatic technique: the initial dramatic situation, characters, action and the relationship between the characters and the plot. In this way, an attempt is made to point out Aristophanes’ dramatic construction of society in the comedies themselves, in order to open up the most important wider, genre and historical problems on that basis. In the introduction of the paper, the framework is briefly established with the help of the basic theses of the traditional approach to Aristophanes, in the context of the study of the so-called political comedy, as Aristophanes’ plays were defined by Albin Lesky. The chapter “Dramatic Construction of Society in Aristophanes’ Comedies” presents the results of the research of all Aristophanes’ plays individually, in accordance with the given methodological principles. On this basis, the chapter “Aristophanes’ Contradictions” develops a discussion on the most important highlighted features of Aristophanes’ poetics, in order to conclude by pointing out the broader problems that the analysis of dramatic technique leads to. On the trail of selected traditional critical literature, but also with the significant influence of examples of a contemporary approach, this paper accepts the regularly emphasized thesis that Aristophanes was deeply rooted in his historical and cultural context, in constant dialogue with current social issues. Nevertheless, although a framework of historical dimension is inevitably introduced, the aim of this paper is to indicate the very technical basis of Aristophanes’ plays, which is claimed to be a reliable literary foundation for discussions about Aristophanes’ social involvement.
Angažovana umjetnost – da ili ne? / Engaged Art – Yes or No?
The aim of this paper is to try to summarize and problematize, and then to offer some theses that were discussed at the Scientific Meeting entitled Engaged Art. The gathering was held on April 18, 2024, in the premises of the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo. Eighteen speakers participated in this Conference. Approaches to this topic were interdisciplinary (fine art, novel, poetry, theatre, film, drama, etc.), historically different (contemporary, ancient Greece, 19th century, etc.), so the following questions were highlighted, which this text underlines: what is engaged art today anyway?, is art in itself already engaged or is there really a special genre of "engagement"?, is engaged art connected to ideology, and if so, in what way!? These and similar questions are the subject of this work.
The Institute for Literary and Cultural Studies of the NIRSA Center of the University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Philosophy, and the Department of Comparative Literature and Information Sciences, University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Philosophy, organized on 19 April 2024 an international scientific conference "Engaged Art", held at the University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Philosophy. Seventeen authors from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro participated in this scientific conference. We are pleased to publish nine scientific papers that were developed after presentations at this gathering.
Digitalna era transformacije univerziteta: Izazovi i prilike za društvene i humanističke nauke / Digital Era of University Transformation: Challenges and Opportunities for Social Sciences and Humanities
The digital era generates extremely complex transformative processes in educational institutions, particularly universities worldwide. We are witnessing a transformation of the entire concept of knowledge and the understanding of its purpose and role. The implementation of digital resources and platforms opens up a whole network of possibilities for greater access to knowledge/information and global connectivity among academic communities. Tools such as online libraries, digital databases, digital archives, and various platforms for virtual collaboration are now available to students and educators. However, with this progress come significant challenges and open questions, especially for the social sciences and humanities. These disciplines face a dilemma: will the digital transformation advance or marginalize them? Digital platforms offer advantages in terms of accessibility and innovation, but they also bring dangers. It is inevitable that digital platforms enable faster access to information and innovative teaching approaches, but they also carry numerous risks for the future of education as a whole. There is an increasing trend of pronounced marginalization of the social sciences and humanities, partly as a consequence of the strong focus on STEM disciplines, which are often at the center of attention due to their technological nature and the profit they generate. Moreover, the hegemony of capital-interest trends, which favor technical and market-oriented approaches to education, threatens the traditional mission of universities as spaces for the development and generation of healthy trends in contextual critical thinking. Profit-oriented concepts of education, supported by neoliberal ideology, focus on technological and market-valuable disciplines, while the social sciences and humanities risk being pushed aside. There is a clear trend of favoring various forms/models of hybrid teaching, which combine online and in-person lectures. The loss of physical interaction can negatively affect the development of critical thinking and dynamic discussion in the social sciences and humanities. At universities that have historically been bastions of critical thinking, neoliberal pressures, and direct attacks on critical/liberatory thought are supported by rapidly growing concepts of exclusively profit-oriented paradigms of rationality. Additionally, the digitalization of education and the digital transformation raise the question of the future of the concept of the "knowledge society," which is increasingly being profaned. In this context, the "knowledge society" becomes a concept losing its authenticity, as knowledge is increasingly used as a means for market prosperity, rather than as a tool for the development of broader societal progress. Controlled neoliberal societies, driven by the hegemony of capital-interest trends, increasingly influence the direction of university development, leading to attacks on critical thought.
Uloga digitalne humanistike u transformaciji društvenih i humanističkih nauka / The Role of Digital Humanities in the Transformation of Social Sciences and Humanities
Digital humanities is an interdisciplinary academic field that connects digital tools with research in the humanities and social sciences, combining traditional humanistic methodologies with contemporary technologies. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview and analysis of current topics in digital humanities, with a particular focus on the method of distant reading. The analysis is based on works indexed in the Web of Science databases, specifically within the Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI) and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). The corpus consists of 28 scholarly articles. The results of the analysis show that the papers can be grouped into two thematic categories: the first includes studies that engage in critical reflection on digital humanities as a field, while the second comprises works that focus on the practical application of digital humanities methods in various academic disciplines. The most represented works are from the field of literary studies. Special attention is given to encouraging the academic community in Bosnia and Herzegovina to consider integrating digital humanities approaches into their own research practices. As an illustration of the possibilities offered by digital tools, the paper includes a case study using the Voyant tool.
Rodne studije na Univerzitetu u Sarajevu: Prekinuta institucionalizacija / Gender Studies at the University of Sarajevo: Interrupted Institutionalization
This paper examines the status and potential of gender studies programs at the University of Sarajevo. It presents the history of gender/women's/feminist studies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a primary focus on the postgraduate and doctoral gender studies programs. The postgraduate program in "Gender Studies" was offered from 2006 to 2012, while in 2013, a doctoral program in "Gender Studies" was launched, admitting only the first generation of students. Through an analysis of relevant documents, including curricula, announcements, reports, and other supporting materials, the key aspects of the program are discussed—from the content of the courses to institutional and economic barriers. The study identifies circumstances that have negatively impacted the further development and institutionalization of the program, as well as links to a decline in student interest, limited financial resources, program expenditures, and the commercialization of the program at the University of Sarajevo. Although the "Gender Studies" program formally exists and represents the only such educational program at the University of Sarajevo and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, no calls for new admissions have been made for over a decade. This analysis invites a discussion on the potential for reactivating the program, with the aim of advancing gender studies in the academic context of the country.
Univerzitet i budućnost humanističkih i društvenih znanosti: Znanost u doba etnopolitike / University and ahe Future of Humanities and Social Sciences: Scienece in the Age of Ethnopolitics
The future, university development importance and perspectives are topics that imply strategic thinking about the knowledge concept that would ensure theoretical, cultural and general human orientation in a time of far-reaching life transformations. In the epochal changes that have befallen upon humanity, when it is difficult to follow historic-cultural and scientific-technological processes, it is necessary to preserve the idea of a Bosnian university that would be the backbone of the maintenance and development of Bosnian society and its plurality. Humanities and social sciences within the university have a special place and importance for the social content and conceptual schemes of an era. They cannot be replaced by skills or technical achievements, and therefore it is necessary to preserve and develop their essential mission in the work of the university.