in response
I recently received the following comment on the entry, “on identity” :
“I’m curious as to why you wrote about cultural identity. Is this something that you’re interested in or do you confront it? I realize “confront” sounds negative, but I’ve been facing it pretty much throughout life. Now I have 2 small girls and am protective about how they are exposed and will be exposed. Thanks.”
In response…
My interest in cultural identity has been sparked by my work with a Bosnian named Nazif Hasanbegovic. He has been pushing the concept of a reconstruction or establishment of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian identity since the ethnic cleansing in BiH in the 90s. His approach to defining such an ideological framework is very pragmatic and can be experienced through tangible media and design. He creates advertising campaigns aiming to break down various barriers that exist between people throughout the country. He works to shift the unhealthy paradigms that still exist within BiH.
My interest and subsequent confrontation of the concept of cultural identity has been spurned on by a project that we did together in the small town of Travnik. The city is in the countryside of Bosnia, and while it possessess many rich attributes, it has found itself sustaining progressively self-destructive habits. This can be seen in the neglect of its historic landmarks, the patterns of movement within the urban environment, and within the mentalities of the citizens of its community.
There, we found that many people consider particular places and things to represent the city, but that few individuals spend significant quantities of time in those places. Instead, their patterns of movement and daily habits convey that they are living and working in ‘new’ parts of the city, the very parts that they often indicated held little intrigue for them.
For example, the Konzum [a mixed-use shopping center] and those businesses within proximity to it were attracting people consistently. And the housing that a great majority of citizens were living in was a relatively non-descript apartment complex that was gradually beginning to obscure the view of the mountain range behind it. All of this is leading up to a great decay of a what once was a coherent urban cultural identity. The very things that give the city of Travnik its unique qualities are the very things being precluded by ‘big business’ and consumers have cast their votes [dollars] at the homogenous Wal-Mart equivalent in the city to the point that its best landmarks and attractions are fading from importance.
This can translate into the United States, but not directly. Because that we are such a melting pot, it is difficult to establish what specifically our cultural identity is. We must apply the concept to our local communities because who we are as a nation is an amalgam of many cultures. On a small scale, claiming and defining a ‘concrete’ identity is manageable and eventually nationally influential.
What makes our locale unique? How do we capitalize (in spirit and in dollars) on the qualities and places within our communities that comprise our cultural identity? How do we refuse to vote our dollars toward businesses that destroy opportunities for original thinking and healthy action?
If we can start thinking locally, in a holistic manner, we can help to define our cultural identities. This means, in agriculture, economy, politics, architecture, etc. Individuality within our scope can be embraced, destructive mental and actual borders can be broken down, and we can move toward a better future. This could all seem incoherent, but if this hasn’t answered the query…perhaps, I can further expound or articulate.
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