Page 212 - Dark Shades of Istria
P. 212
Istrian Memories in the Dark Tourism Context: The Quantitative Analysis
dissonant heritage, which foster ideological and political confrontations
in the Upper Adriatic (Cattunar, 2012; D’Alessio, 2012a; 2012b; Klabjan,
2010, p. 401; Miklavcic, 2008; Orlić, 2012) – especially when extreme right
positions are expressed. They also reflect the post-w w i i socialist rev-
olution, characterised by torture, imprisonment and executions of cler-
ics – see Grah (2009), Veraja (2013) and Trogrlić (2008; 2012; 2014) – as
well as other anti-communists and more democratically-oriented com-
munists (Oblak Moscarda, 2016). In the dark tourism context, they can
be typologised as ‘war tourism’ (Fonseca et al., 2016; Kužnik, 2015; Kužnik
& Veble, 2017), ‘grief tourism’ (Kendle, 2008), or ‘communism tourism’
(Kužnik, 2015; Kužnik & Veble, 2017), while classifying them as ‘holocaust
tourism’ – as mentioned in the previous chapters – seems exaggerated.
Cluster 3, as the most extensive cluster, contains dark commemorative
events with different historical backgrounds, and is therefore the most
‘colourful.’
‘Independence war-related dark commemorative events’ (Cluster 4)
are related to the last military conflict in Europe in the 20th century,
which, however, did not significantly affect Istria – see sub-chapter ‘Af-
ter the Slovenian and Croatian Declaration of Independence.’ Their im-
portance for the independent Croatia and Slovenia and the short time
distance from the conflict are evident from the participation of uni-
formed representatives of repressive bodies and war veterans. Moreover,
autobiographical memory, which is related to past events people experi-
enced themselves (Halbwachs, 1992) or similar first-generation memory
(Hirsch, 2008) are characteristic only of members of this cluster. Sub-
chapter 6.4 ‘Other Contemporary Memorial Practices and Dark Tourism’
accurately describes the circumstances and facts which each single dark
commemorative event relies on. Today, events such as National Day, Vic-
tory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Day of Croatian Defenders,
and Independence Day are organised in Istria as well. Similarly, some tra-
ditional dark commemorative events can be seen in Slovenia, too. These
events, e.g. the Day of Restoration of the Primorska Region to the Moth-
erland or Sovereignty Day do not take place at the same place each year.
In the dark tourism context, they can be typologised in a similar way as
wwi/wwii-related dark commemorative events.
Four clusters quantitatively correspond to the four case study events
identified in Table 8.1 and then described in the following sub-chapters.
In this selection, special attention – with a qualitative analysis of two dif-
ferent events from the time immediately after wwii – was devoted to this
212
dissonant heritage, which foster ideological and political confrontations
in the Upper Adriatic (Cattunar, 2012; D’Alessio, 2012a; 2012b; Klabjan,
2010, p. 401; Miklavcic, 2008; Orlić, 2012) – especially when extreme right
positions are expressed. They also reflect the post-w w i i socialist rev-
olution, characterised by torture, imprisonment and executions of cler-
ics – see Grah (2009), Veraja (2013) and Trogrlić (2008; 2012; 2014) – as
well as other anti-communists and more democratically-oriented com-
munists (Oblak Moscarda, 2016). In the dark tourism context, they can
be typologised as ‘war tourism’ (Fonseca et al., 2016; Kužnik, 2015; Kužnik
& Veble, 2017), ‘grief tourism’ (Kendle, 2008), or ‘communism tourism’
(Kužnik, 2015; Kužnik & Veble, 2017), while classifying them as ‘holocaust
tourism’ – as mentioned in the previous chapters – seems exaggerated.
Cluster 3, as the most extensive cluster, contains dark commemorative
events with different historical backgrounds, and is therefore the most
‘colourful.’
‘Independence war-related dark commemorative events’ (Cluster 4)
are related to the last military conflict in Europe in the 20th century,
which, however, did not significantly affect Istria – see sub-chapter ‘Af-
ter the Slovenian and Croatian Declaration of Independence.’ Their im-
portance for the independent Croatia and Slovenia and the short time
distance from the conflict are evident from the participation of uni-
formed representatives of repressive bodies and war veterans. Moreover,
autobiographical memory, which is related to past events people experi-
enced themselves (Halbwachs, 1992) or similar first-generation memory
(Hirsch, 2008) are characteristic only of members of this cluster. Sub-
chapter 6.4 ‘Other Contemporary Memorial Practices and Dark Tourism’
accurately describes the circumstances and facts which each single dark
commemorative event relies on. Today, events such as National Day, Vic-
tory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Day of Croatian Defenders,
and Independence Day are organised in Istria as well. Similarly, some tra-
ditional dark commemorative events can be seen in Slovenia, too. These
events, e.g. the Day of Restoration of the Primorska Region to the Moth-
erland or Sovereignty Day do not take place at the same place each year.
In the dark tourism context, they can be typologised in a similar way as
wwi/wwii-related dark commemorative events.
Four clusters quantitatively correspond to the four case study events
identified in Table 8.1 and then described in the following sub-chapters.
In this selection, special attention – with a qualitative analysis of two dif-
ferent events from the time immediately after wwii – was devoted to this
212
