Socialism and Transition Period Through the Lens of the Novel Series Smogovci

Hrvoje Hitrec prvi je roman iz ciklusa Smogovci objavio 1976., a posljednji 1996. godine. Riječ je o romanima Smogovci, Smogovci i strašni Bongo, Zbogom, Smogovci, Smogovci i biće iz svemira te Smogovci u ratu. Romani su pisani u doba socijalizma i tranzicije, što je i vrijeme same radnje. U romanima je prikazana socijalistička i tranzicijska svakodnevica Zagrepčana, to jest stanovnika Naselka, Nebodera i okolice. Bez obzira na to što je riječ o ideološki obilježenom razdoblju, naglasak nije na ideološkoj komponenti. Prevladavaju gospodarski problemi, koji podrazumijevaju gospodarsku krizu, to jest inflaciju, nezaposlenost, te politički problemi, koji za sobom nose rat, a zahvaljujući popularnoj kulturi doznaje se više o kontekstu vremena. Kroz analizu radnje, likova i jezičnog stila prikazano je kako je Hitrec predstavio svakodnevicu obitelji Vragec i njihovih susjeda tijekom socijalizma i tranzicije u Hrvatskoj. Osim romana, postoji i televizijska serija s naslovom Smogovci, a s obzirom na njenu veliku popularnost, pružen je i osvrt na nju i na kontekst njezina nastavka te je napravljena usporedba romana i ekranizacije.Hrvoje Hitrec wrote Smogovci, a series of fiction novels, between 1976 and 1996. The series includes 5 novels: Smogovci, Smogovci and the Incredible Bongo, Goodbye Smogovci, Smogovci and the Alien From Outer Space, and Smogovci in the War. The novels were written and set during the Socialist and Transition periods. They are depicting everyday activities of the era, specifically of people living in and near Naselak and Neboder. Regardless of the ideological component of the periods, the novels don’t focus on ideology. Instead, they focus on economic woes which signify economic crisis, inflation, unemployment, and political problems surrounding war times. Thanks to depictions of pop culture during that time, readers can learn more about the context of the two periods. Through the analysis of the plot, characters, and the writing style, we will follow how Hitrec depicted the everyday life of the Vragec family and their neighbors. The novels were also adapted into a popular television series Smogovci. Because of its popularity and impact, we will also review the television series, the context of its sequel, and compare the novels with the television adaption