Page 225 - Dark Shades of Istria
P. 225
Concluding Remarks
estimate that there is no significantly large discrepancy between the
real and the analysed number of events;
• there is no universal typologisation of dark sites/events – see sub-
chapter 2.2 ‘Dark Tourism Typology.’ The selected typology of Ken-
nell et al. (2018, p. 948) and Frost and Laing (2013, pp. 36–42) showed
its weaknesses, because it allowed the simultaneous classification of
concrete events into several types, e.g. different events of the w w i
centenary can be treated as ‘Significant anniversaries,’ ‘Dark exhi-
bitions’ or ‘Memorial services, opening of memorials, concerts, per-
formances.’ The typologisation depends on the researcher’s decision.
Hence, Seaton’s (1996) typology of dark tourism sites has proven to
be insufficient, as dark/memory events can also take place for vari-
ous reasons in places/spaces that do not have any special memorial
meaning, e.g. sport halls or cultural centres. However, only warfare
tourism as the type of dark tourism related to military conflicts is
included in the research. Accordingly, 35 of the 126 analysed events
from media reports remained non-typologised for this reason or as
a result of missing/insufficient data;
• methodologically speaking, dealing with categorical variables limits
statistical analyses, wherein the only correct approach is always to
follow the objectives and the hypothesis/research questions. In ad-
dition, the number of analysed research units can impact the results,
although it should be noted that this analysis does not rely solely on
the sample, but on the population;
• the researcher’s objective understanding of mythologisation and
politicisation turned out to be problematic, especially when media
reports were substantively modest. The editorial policy and writing
style, worldview and cultural background of the journalists as well
as the researcher severely impede the work and objective decision
of the researcher. According to ethnologist Hrobat Virloget (2015,
p. 535), the researcher’s neutral approach is practically impossible in
the study of memorial practices in the Upper Adriatic. In fact, this is
also congruent with constructionism and some thoughts described
in sub-chapter 7.1 ‘Research Philosophies and Approaches;’
• memory can be investigated from some other perspectives, e.g. the
philosophical, ethnological, anthropological, theological, psycho-
logical, and artistic one, which applies to the study of death as well;
the biological or medical perspectives are also relevant in this re-
225
estimate that there is no significantly large discrepancy between the
real and the analysed number of events;
• there is no universal typologisation of dark sites/events – see sub-
chapter 2.2 ‘Dark Tourism Typology.’ The selected typology of Ken-
nell et al. (2018, p. 948) and Frost and Laing (2013, pp. 36–42) showed
its weaknesses, because it allowed the simultaneous classification of
concrete events into several types, e.g. different events of the w w i
centenary can be treated as ‘Significant anniversaries,’ ‘Dark exhi-
bitions’ or ‘Memorial services, opening of memorials, concerts, per-
formances.’ The typologisation depends on the researcher’s decision.
Hence, Seaton’s (1996) typology of dark tourism sites has proven to
be insufficient, as dark/memory events can also take place for vari-
ous reasons in places/spaces that do not have any special memorial
meaning, e.g. sport halls or cultural centres. However, only warfare
tourism as the type of dark tourism related to military conflicts is
included in the research. Accordingly, 35 of the 126 analysed events
from media reports remained non-typologised for this reason or as
a result of missing/insufficient data;
• methodologically speaking, dealing with categorical variables limits
statistical analyses, wherein the only correct approach is always to
follow the objectives and the hypothesis/research questions. In ad-
dition, the number of analysed research units can impact the results,
although it should be noted that this analysis does not rely solely on
the sample, but on the population;
• the researcher’s objective understanding of mythologisation and
politicisation turned out to be problematic, especially when media
reports were substantively modest. The editorial policy and writing
style, worldview and cultural background of the journalists as well
as the researcher severely impede the work and objective decision
of the researcher. According to ethnologist Hrobat Virloget (2015,
p. 535), the researcher’s neutral approach is practically impossible in
the study of memorial practices in the Upper Adriatic. In fact, this is
also congruent with constructionism and some thoughts described
in sub-chapter 7.1 ‘Research Philosophies and Approaches;’
• memory can be investigated from some other perspectives, e.g. the
philosophical, ethnological, anthropological, theological, psycho-
logical, and artistic one, which applies to the study of death as well;
the biological or medical perspectives are also relevant in this re-
225
