„Not exactly out of Europe, yet somehow on the fringes of the Orient“ : Slika Balkana u časopisu National Geographic (1888–2013) Cover Image

„Not exactly out of Europe, yet somehow on the fringes of the Orient“ : Image of the Balkans in the National Geographic Magazine (1888-2013)
„Not exactly out of Europe, yet somehow on the fringes of the Orient“ : Slika Balkana u časopisu National Geographic (1888–2013)

Author(s): Nemanja Radonjić
Subject(s): History
Published by: Udruženje za društvenu istoriju

Summary/Abstract: Authors of the National Geographic throughout the 20th century confirmed the centuries old prejudices about the Balkans. They placed the Balkans in the interspace, between Europe and Asia, between the past and present, between Orient and Occident. Balkan boundaries were constantly redrawn. In the magazine, a spreading of the Balkans is noticed following the political changes after World War One. However, at certain times, certain parts of the Balkans were included in Europe, or at least left out of the Balkans, especially Greece. The ominous name „The Balkans“ was most frequently used to signify the area we examined, which was covered in the reportages of the National Geographic. Southeastern Europe, Near East, Eastern Europe and so on wеrе used only rarely. Most of the mapping the National Geographic did was in fact that of “philosophical geography”. Strict generalizations are noticeable in authors imagined Balkans – states, teritories, cities and villages are painted as hosting only one kind of people (highlanders or villagers for example). This generalizations are long lasting and remain hard to break from even after 110 years of the Balkans in National Geographic. The authors, have overwhelmingly tried to confirm prejudices created about the Balkans and fill this space, that mostly remained on the periphery of the American imagination, with stereotipical images. These images changed depending on the current American foreign policy, and prejudices in the magazine itself. The real situation in the Balkans was far less important to the representation of it.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 73-97
  • Page Count: 25