Svenska reseskildringar av Balkan

undergraduate thesis

• Title (english): Swedish travelogues through the Balkans
• Author: Marta Miošić
• Mentor: Janica Tomić (mentor)
• Committee member: Mišo Grundler (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Janica Tomić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-09-17, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; German Studies

Abstract

Ovaj se završni rad bavi balkanizmom kao osobitim zapadnjačkim diskursom o Balkanu u švedskim putopisima. Zahvaljujući specifičnoj naravi putopisa, koja dozvoljava jasno izricanje određenih stavova, mišljenja i pretpostavki, oni postaju plodno tlo za dodatno razvijanje i učvršćivanje balkanističkih stereotipa kao činjeničnog stanja. Najveći doprinos kritici balkanizma svakako je ostvarila Maria Todorova u svojoj knjizi Imaginarni Balkan (1997.) Osim Todorove, u ovom se radu spominje i knjiga Polutani dugog trajanja (2014.) autora Andree Matoševića te autorice Tee Škokić, koja nudi kritiku balkanizma ne slijedeći u cijelosti kritički smjer Todorove. Unatoč nesuglasicama, važno je izvući valjan zaključak iz obaju kritičkih pristupa tom fenomenu, svakako podcrtavajući njegovu prisutnost, kao i činjenicu da nam znanje o Balkanu dolazi sa Zapada, koji neprestano, svjesno ili nesvjesno, sudjeluje u njegovu hermeneutičkom stvaranju. Švedski se putopisci, naročito oni spomenuti u radu, u svojim opisima Balkana i Balkanaca oslanjanju na stereotipe, opisujući fleksibilnu kategoriju Balkanaca kao primitivnu, surovu, barbarsku i neuglednu, odnosno i sami doprinose stvaranju novih imaginarija.

Abstract (english)

This thesis explores the presence of Balkanism, manifested as a particular Western discourse on the Balkans in Swedish travelogues. Due to the very nature of the genre, which allows opinions, presumptions and attitudes to be expressed straightforwardly, travelogues offer a breeding ground for the Balkanic stereotypes to thrive and further establish themselves as facts. Balkanism has been thoroughly examined and criticized by Maria Todorova in her work titled Imagining the Balkans (1997.). In addition to Todorova, this thesis refers to Bastards of Long Duration (2014.), written by Andrea Matošević and Tea Škokić, the work which explores and criticizes Balkanist discourses but does not strictly follow the line of criticism in Todorova. Despite the differences, it is important to draw a valid conclusion from both critical approaches and once again draw attention to the existence of Balkanism and the fact that it is the West that continuously partakes, consciously or unconsciously, in the hermeneutical construction of the knowledge and understanding of the Balkans. Swedish travel writers, particularly those discussed in this work, have greatly contributed to the phenomenon of balkanism by adhering to stereotypes in depicting the peoples from the Balkans as nothing but primitive, rugged, barbarian and unsightly.

• Keywords: Balkan; balkanizam; zapadnjački diskurs; putopisi; stereotipi
• Keywords (english): The Balkans; balkanism; western discourse; travelogues; stereotypes
• Language: swedish
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:843117
• Study programme: Title: Swedish Language and Culture (double major); Study programme type: university; Study level: undergraduate; Academic / professional title: sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) švedskog jezika i kulture (sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) švedskog jezika i kulture)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2021-09-17 18:36:31