Parades of Monuments and Memorials: Transformation of Memory, Place and Identity in a Slovak City
Parades of Monuments and Memorials: Transformation of Memory, Place and Identity in a Slovak City

Summary/Abstract: The paper focuses on monuments and memorials construction, reconstruction, removal or relocation in Slovakia in the context of post-socialist urban development. It focuses on monuments and memorials illustrated by a set of examples and narratives from the city of Banská Bystrica. Monuments are built structures erected to commemorate an event or a person of historical importance. As significant landmarks they are an important part of city-making, but often also carry a political message. The post-socialist reinterpretation of the past, confrontation with the legacy of several political regimes, particularly communism, reveals its traces in the urban landscape of Banská Bystrica and reflects the constant contestation over urban space and its representations. The paper focuses on monuments and memorials construction, reconstruction, removal or relocation in Slovakia in the context of post-socialist urban development. It focuses on monuments and memorials illustrated by a set of examples and narratives from the city of Banská Bystrica. Monuments are built structures erected to commemorate an event or a person of historical importance. As signifi cant landmarks they are an important part of city-making, but often also carry a political message. The post-socialist reinterpretation of the past, confrontation with the legacy of several political regimes, particularly communism, reveals its traces in the urban landscape of Banská Bystrica and reflects the constant contestation over urban space and its representations.

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