Bitef

27 th SEPTEMBER

*1 / HOUSE OF CULTURE OF THE FACULTY Imm ■ g FOR MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION

HEARTEFACT & 48 BITEF 14

HISTORY AND ART: AN ANTINOMIAN COUPLE? ROUND TABLE

Historical events of the 20 th century affected all those living in this territory in the same way but they also carry an individual and completely different meaning for different communities. There is practically no single written history of the Balkans because it is the subject of mutually exclusive interpretations and narratives. All the cultural diversity of the region and individual and human values which are the values of a society vanish from these narratives. One hundred years since the outbreak of World War I and two decades after the Balkan conflict the debate raises the question about the relationship between historical facts and arts and culture which do not address major historical narratives and facts and deal instead with human destinies, fears, sufferings and hopes such as exist in every historical period. For a region often said to be burdened with too much history characteristic of major devastation and suffering

as well as with exclusive nationalistic narratives dividing history into ours and theirs, the issues such as culture of remembrance and responsibility are vital topics which largely determine the present political and social situation. The chief question is how do arts and culture contribute to the discussion of these topics and what is their role in explaining and raising the awareness of our present through our past. Just as the productions of This Grave Is too Small for Me by Biljana Srbljanović directed by Dino Mustafie and Tomb for Boris Davidovich by Danilo Kiš directed by Ivica Buljan ask what is the role of the committed theatre in modern society, so is this debate closely related to committed culture, and particularly the role of artistic and cultural creators in the creation of a new social reality in the Balkan region.

The project was supported by EFC, the European Cultural Foundation and Forum 2FD. Key speaker: Svetlana Slapšak Moderator: Milica Jovanovič

48 Bitef 14

Debate programme

H EARTE FACT