Page 226 - Dark Shades of Istria
P. 226
Concluding Remarks
spect. Moreover, many additional research methods and techniques
can be also useful in the advancement of knowledge in the social
dimensions of memory, e.g. focus group, in-depth interview, textual
or visual analysis. However, all these perspectives and research ap-
proaches go beyond the purposes and objectives of this study. The
same applies to dark tourism studies.
• different armed forces and military heritage were often pointed out
in this research, although they constitute a slightly wider perspective
of dark tourism and memory since they are not always or automat-
ically associated with trauma. It is necessary to take into account
that armed forces in Istria represent both the bright and the dark
side of history, and it is therefore appropriate to include them in the
research;
• the term ‘dark commemorative events’ is not universally accepted
and may involve tautology, necessitating further research, especially
when such events are associated with dark leisure and deviant be-
havior.
History and memory divide politicians (states) and other people, and
can simultaneously connect them. Those processes, arising from a dif-
ferent national and/or ideological background, can be found in the nar-
rower regional area (the trans-border region of Istria) or beyond. How-
ever, the search for antagonisms at all costs was not the purpose of this
research. Generally, this would be inconsistent with ‘Istrianity’ as a spe-
cific/distinctive regional characteristic. Nevertheless, this offers oppor-
tunities for further research, including a more systematic investigation
of the past and present differences in memorial practices. Comparisons
among ethnically mixed Croatian counties would also be interesting and
useful in this respect. The same applies to all other post-Yugoslav or post-
socialist states. All these future researches should not necessarily focus
solely on the dissonant heritage, damnation of memory (damnatio memo-
riae) and the related dark tourism, but also on the creation of memory
(creatio memoriae), as described by Omissi (2016). On the other hand,
the ‘touristification’ of memory as a negative social phenomenon is also
relevant for the exploration of Istria where tourism is well-developed. It
should be further examined how to combine professional, personal and
family obligations/duties and habits (e.g. holidays, vacations) as well as
knowledge and awareness, by participating at history-centric dark com-
memorative events (priorities). Hence, dark tourism typologisation de-
226
spect. Moreover, many additional research methods and techniques
can be also useful in the advancement of knowledge in the social
dimensions of memory, e.g. focus group, in-depth interview, textual
or visual analysis. However, all these perspectives and research ap-
proaches go beyond the purposes and objectives of this study. The
same applies to dark tourism studies.
• different armed forces and military heritage were often pointed out
in this research, although they constitute a slightly wider perspective
of dark tourism and memory since they are not always or automat-
ically associated with trauma. It is necessary to take into account
that armed forces in Istria represent both the bright and the dark
side of history, and it is therefore appropriate to include them in the
research;
• the term ‘dark commemorative events’ is not universally accepted
and may involve tautology, necessitating further research, especially
when such events are associated with dark leisure and deviant be-
havior.
History and memory divide politicians (states) and other people, and
can simultaneously connect them. Those processes, arising from a dif-
ferent national and/or ideological background, can be found in the nar-
rower regional area (the trans-border region of Istria) or beyond. How-
ever, the search for antagonisms at all costs was not the purpose of this
research. Generally, this would be inconsistent with ‘Istrianity’ as a spe-
cific/distinctive regional characteristic. Nevertheless, this offers oppor-
tunities for further research, including a more systematic investigation
of the past and present differences in memorial practices. Comparisons
among ethnically mixed Croatian counties would also be interesting and
useful in this respect. The same applies to all other post-Yugoslav or post-
socialist states. All these future researches should not necessarily focus
solely on the dissonant heritage, damnation of memory (damnatio memo-
riae) and the related dark tourism, but also on the creation of memory
(creatio memoriae), as described by Omissi (2016). On the other hand,
the ‘touristification’ of memory as a negative social phenomenon is also
relevant for the exploration of Istria where tourism is well-developed. It
should be further examined how to combine professional, personal and
family obligations/duties and habits (e.g. holidays, vacations) as well as
knowledge and awareness, by participating at history-centric dark com-
memorative events (priorities). Hence, dark tourism typologisation de-
226
