engleski

Generative Power of Discourse: Political and Social Meanings in the Croatian Popular Music

We discuss trends in Croatian popular music which reflect the redistribution of values as it took place in the context of post-war circumstances deriving from the break up of the former Yugoslav state, accompanied by transitional (EU oriented) processes in the country. There are two main (political) sides determining the context, one of which is heavily marked by the memories of the conflict itself (nationalist orientation), while the other seems to feed itself on the pre-war nostalgia (Yugoslav orientation), both of them – in different ways – seeking to find refuge behind the officially adopted political course, the European one. The popular music seems to be playing an important role in supporting both kinds of political sentiments and forms trends on both poles. One of these carries out the nationalist agenda (merging heavy-metal and ethno sounds ; best represented by the powerful iconic figure of Thompson), and the other, politically less popular, which feeds itself on pre-war nostalgia, tends to disguise its political message under a standardized form of urban rock (the paradigmatic case being that of Let 3, a rock-band from the city of Rijeka). The "dialogue" spreads itself across a politically more neutral central space of light musical entertainment, often translating itself into a conflict of values (a confronation of a rural vs. urban ; traditional vs. progressive ; genuine vs. artificial etc.). What appear to be musical issues are in fact social and political ones (deeply connected to the transitional circumstances which produce pressure for speedy changes in country's legislature ; to the redistribution of wealth, political power and social influence ; social repositioning of groups and individuals ; identity search ; ongoing debate on values), where music renders itself as tool to the interests which go far beyond music itself. This paper aims to penetrate beyond the surface of this phenomenon and to reveal the interconnectedness of music, politics and social processes in the current Croatian context.

post/transitional discourse; popular music; folklorization; production of meaning

Naslov rada podliježe mogućoj uredničkoj preformulaciji