KURSADZIJE - "A THERAPEUTIC LULLABY?" - ANALYSIS OF A POPULAR DOMESTIC COMEDY SERIES Cover Image

"КУРСАЏИЈЕ"- ТЕРАПЕУТСКА УСПАВАНКА? АНАЛИЗА ПОПУЛАРНЕ ДОМАЋЕ ХУМОРИСТИЧКЕ СЕРИЈЕ
KURSADZIJE - "A THERAPEUTIC LULLABY?" - ANALYSIS OF A POPULAR DOMESTIC COMEDY SERIES

Author(s): Marija Krstić
Subject(s): Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, Film / Cinema / Cinematography
Published by: Институт за етнологију и антропологију
Keywords: "Kursadzije"; national stereotypes; Serb peasant; ethnic humor; Yugo-nostalgia;

Summary/Abstract: This paper analyzes Serbian television comedy series "Kursadzije" and its popularity with Serbian audience. The kursadzije are representatives of nations of former Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia and participants of the course for "Special Balkan Forces" - all are nationally stereotyped, while the Serb is also socially defined, as "Peasant Serb" (Srbin-Seljak). The series demonstrates the effort to define Serb identity through stereotypes and humiliation of other members of former SFRY. I analyzed the contents of the DVD edition of "Kursadzije 1-5", and used the results of interviews with fans and viewers of the series, and an interview with Sasa Pantic, actor and screenplay writer of "Kursadzije". Despite poor quality of the series which is mostly based on use of ethnic humor, this sitcom is very popular among various social, educational and age groups in Serbia. Therefore, aim of the research was to reexamine reasons why is such (re)construction of Others important to the audience, and is "Yugo-nostalgia", viewed as craving for better times, one of the reasons for huge acceptance and popularity of the series.

  • Issue Year: 9/2009
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 137-152
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Serbian