Remembrance of the Ottoman Heritage in Serbia : A Field Study at the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade

The thesis discusses the remembrance of the Ottoman heritage and presentation of Ottoman culture at the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade. The study emphasizes the role and importance of memory and historical interpretation in the contemporary museum practice at the museum. The historical memories of a collection of 6 curators will be discussed and represented in order to examine the influence these recollections have on the exhibition of culture in the museum. The thesis gives the reader a further understanding of the mechanisms behind the continuous neglect and lack of appreciation of the Ottoman heritage in the Serbian society. In line with the current research within memory studies, this study focus on a museum as a site of memory, or a "lieux de mémoire" in Pierre Nora's term. The author concludes that there is a lack of awareness and emphasis in the museum on the Ottoman heritage. She also argues that the museum as a site of memory does little to provide for an arena where memories of different cultures and identities are channeled and presented in the society. Further studies should also emphasize museum presentations in other Southeast European countries in order to discuss the ways in which folk culture, cultural history and memory are presented to the public.<p>Master program in International studies - specialization Eurasian studies