serbian nationalism Photo

Photographer’s Note

Guca festival. In theory gypsy brass bands festival, it is now full of Serbian nationalists, including extreme ones. Plenty of Serbian flags next to tshirt stands with souvenirs praising Serbian war criminals , generals, and politicians. Drunken men in fur hats and military outfits are selling army gear and chanting about claiming back their lost lands in Bosnia. Very little gypsies, apart from band members, and they are usually minding toilets or selling some iron junk on their little stands, while parade passes trough this strange crossover of black market, typical commercial festival and political rally, accompanied by constant Kusturica soundtrack.

jurarafal has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Polonaise (5638) 2007-09-03 19:11 [Comment]

Show Comment

bracasha75 (22387) 2007-09-03 23:46

Hello Swiatek
I ask me only how you have save your live there and came home in one peace
SHAME YOU

jurarafal (265) 2007-09-04 1:24

A wiesz nygusie, że się zgodzę z pierwszym comments'em, taki jakiś bajzel na tym zdjęciu.
To do ciebie niepodobne. so.. drop it ;-)!
A co do Serbii to ludzie którzy z tamtąd wracają mówią dokłądnie co ty.
Straszne w którą stronę skręca nasza "Jevropka".

Furachan (0) 2007-09-04 3:42

Cool and intelligent shot, Swiatek, that manages at once to cast a critical eye on the proceedings while shooting the thing in a way that also allows in a degree of romanticism.
Grossly underrated, but that's nothing new. I always look forward to your next shot, man. Always...

mirko_ninkovic (484) 2007-09-07 12:57

Hi Swiatek,
I have impression that your photo was posted here not to prove "Serbian nationalism", but to promote some of chauvinist ideas of your one. Not even one word of your text can be perceived here, because this photo demonstrate traditional Serbian wedding. Not nationalism, war crimes, military outfits, or other stupidities. So, if you have some kind of preconceptions, you have to solve it, but not to share offending and rude comments about one country, or one people. This is not place for that kind of speech. If you have bad impressions about Guca or Serbia, thats other, but you don't have right to offend. Moderators should pay more attention on this kind of posts.
Thank you Swiatek, and I hope you will change this post.
Mirko

Mondaychild (1513) 2007-09-12 0:52

Hi Swiatek,

nationalism is everywhere, it´s in each country! Is nationalism in the US better? Because this is a "good" nation (they have to be good, they won each war)?
And concerning your note: the only nationalistic thing I found there are the souvenirs praising war criminals.
It´s not nationalistic to be drunk,
it´s not nationalistic to put up flags of his country,
it´s not even nationalistic to sell army stuff (in my country, there are even "Army Shops") ... and I also know that some Bosnians and Albanians still keep hand grenades under their beds (which is neither better nor worse as when the Serbians do that)

For your better understanding: I have many friends from the Balkan, most of them I know for 15 years or more (from school), I know both Serbians, Bosnians, Croatians, Albanians. I know they are all proud of their nation and think they are the best (and the others are bad) - that´s what their leaders told them for many many years (not only during the last war).

mondomistico (64) 2007-10-17 11:49

Dear Swiatek!

Tell me, what is this all about? What is your main message, that you want to tell us with this photo? Your message does not describe your photo.
Do you want to say, that all serbians are praising war criminals or what?
Why can´t serbian people meet each other on such a national festival in their own country in their old procession costumes?
What´s your problem? Why do you go to such a land and festival, with other words: "full of radical and insane nationalists"?

According to your name, it seems that your origins are coming from poland. You don´t have this kind of festivals in poland, where you fly your national flags in old fashioned national costumes?

I don´t know why you´ve posted this unnecessary message, but I believe, there is a little bit of hate against serbians in your words.

sevilfertinger (2) 2007-12-21 17:56

by all your fotographs the best thing is your political view and it makes how you see the world..