Page 188 - Dark Shades of Istria
P. 188
Istrian Memories in the Dark Tourism Context: The Qualitative Analysis
These regional anthems, as well as the County’s flag, however, gave the
event a regional character at the symbolic level; all these facts in ‘Croat-
ian Istria’ derived from the Statute of the Istrian County (Statut Istarske
županije, 2009). At the symbolic level, all dark commemorative events
were extremely rich. If we continue with the event in Kućibreg, then we
must point out that – in addition to the national symbols of the three
countries, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy – there were many symbols of anti-
fascism, which are, especially outside of Istria, usually understood very
differently and cause dissonance in society (dissonant heritage), i.e. the
red star and the image of Josip Broz Tito.²⁹ The Istrians’ attitude to these
symbols on the political and also broader social level is, generally speak-
ing, positive or neutral, since they are also used at other w w i i-related
dark commemorative events.³⁰ At the event in Kućibreg, (Yugoslav) com-
munism, with which these symbols could be linked, was never publicly
mentioned – this context of symbols is thus recognised as less relevant
in the present example.³¹ It can be concluded that the polysemy of these
symbols (anti-fascism and the liberation of Istria on the one hand and
communist violence on the other) evidently does not create major prob-
lems in contemporary Istrian society, where anti-fascist values prevail
– see also sub-chapter 6.3 ‘w w i i-Related Memorial Practices and Dark
Tourism.’
Other observed dark commemorative events were less controversial
in terms of the symbols publicly presented there, although events dif-
fered significantly when taking into consideration this criterion. Reli-
gious events were predictably marked by classic Catholic symbols, in-
cluding solemn religious rituals, which were carried out according to the
usual procedure; the state, municipal and county’s flag as well as the flag of
Vatican City were also observed in Lanišće and Svetvinčenat. The open-
²⁹ The purpose was only to identify and not problematise these symbols, so we simply want
to remind the readers of the recommendations adopted by the ‘Council for Dealing with
the Consequences of Undemocratic Regimes and Tumultuous Reactions in Croatian So-
ciety’ – more can be found in the Postulates and Recommendations on Specific Normative
Regulation of Symbols, Emblems and other Insignia of Totalitarian Regimes and Movements
(The Council for Dealing with the Consequences of Undemocratic Regimes 2018).
³⁰ This argument is based on the previous author’s research, e.g. Šuligoj (2017a).
³¹ Anti-fascism is included in the Statute of the Istrian County (Statut Istarske županije,
2009) and Constitution of the Republic of Croatia (Ustav Republike Hrvatske, 2010). The
State Constitution relies also on anti-communism, and expresses the symbolic and formal
meaning of these values. The Slovenian Constitution does not contain similar provisions
(Ustava Republike Slovenije, 1991).
188
These regional anthems, as well as the County’s flag, however, gave the
event a regional character at the symbolic level; all these facts in ‘Croat-
ian Istria’ derived from the Statute of the Istrian County (Statut Istarske
županije, 2009). At the symbolic level, all dark commemorative events
were extremely rich. If we continue with the event in Kućibreg, then we
must point out that – in addition to the national symbols of the three
countries, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy – there were many symbols of anti-
fascism, which are, especially outside of Istria, usually understood very
differently and cause dissonance in society (dissonant heritage), i.e. the
red star and the image of Josip Broz Tito.²⁹ The Istrians’ attitude to these
symbols on the political and also broader social level is, generally speak-
ing, positive or neutral, since they are also used at other w w i i-related
dark commemorative events.³⁰ At the event in Kućibreg, (Yugoslav) com-
munism, with which these symbols could be linked, was never publicly
mentioned – this context of symbols is thus recognised as less relevant
in the present example.³¹ It can be concluded that the polysemy of these
symbols (anti-fascism and the liberation of Istria on the one hand and
communist violence on the other) evidently does not create major prob-
lems in contemporary Istrian society, where anti-fascist values prevail
– see also sub-chapter 6.3 ‘w w i i-Related Memorial Practices and Dark
Tourism.’
Other observed dark commemorative events were less controversial
in terms of the symbols publicly presented there, although events dif-
fered significantly when taking into consideration this criterion. Reli-
gious events were predictably marked by classic Catholic symbols, in-
cluding solemn religious rituals, which were carried out according to the
usual procedure; the state, municipal and county’s flag as well as the flag of
Vatican City were also observed in Lanišće and Svetvinčenat. The open-
²⁹ The purpose was only to identify and not problematise these symbols, so we simply want
to remind the readers of the recommendations adopted by the ‘Council for Dealing with
the Consequences of Undemocratic Regimes and Tumultuous Reactions in Croatian So-
ciety’ – more can be found in the Postulates and Recommendations on Specific Normative
Regulation of Symbols, Emblems and other Insignia of Totalitarian Regimes and Movements
(The Council for Dealing with the Consequences of Undemocratic Regimes 2018).
³⁰ This argument is based on the previous author’s research, e.g. Šuligoj (2017a).
³¹ Anti-fascism is included in the Statute of the Istrian County (Statut Istarske županije,
2009) and Constitution of the Republic of Croatia (Ustav Republike Hrvatske, 2010). The
State Constitution relies also on anti-communism, and expresses the symbolic and formal
meaning of these values. The Slovenian Constitution does not contain similar provisions
(Ustava Republike Slovenije, 1991).
188
