Ulica Maršala Tita Rebecca Wise Serbia, a country more closely iden3fied as the main aggressor in the Balkans War, is a country struggling with its past in order to move forward. A country stagna3ng economically with its infrastructure crumbling, a growing Diaspora, ageing popula3on and the new genera3on of intellectuals leaving for beaer opportuni3es and higher salaries in the West. It is a country of constant frustra3ons, latent uneasiness about how it is seen by those outside of its borders and confusion as to its iden3ty since a pride of its history is ocen seen as a poli3cally aggressive standpoint. The most famous date in Serbia s history is that of 1389, the year of the BaAle of Kosovo, when the Serbian principality fought for independence from the OAoman Empire. It came to be seen as a symbol of Serbian patrio3sm. Its significance for Serbian na3onalism returned to prominence during the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo War when Slobodan Milošević invoked it during an important speech in Gazimestan in 1989, the 600 th anniversary of the baale. The speech has since become famous for Milošević's reference to the possibility of "armed baales", in the future of Serbia's na3onal development. Many commentators have described this as presaging the collapse of Yugoslavia and the Yugoslav Wars. The BaAle of Kosovo is also seen as one of the reasons why Serbia refuses to accept Kosovo as an independent country, too much of Serbian history is seen as taking part in this area, too much of its iden3ty is held there. The long term consequences of a country post war are many, even more so for a country which was the aggressor in that war. There are economic consequences; the destruc3on of infrastructure (NATO bombing is es3mated to have caused $30 billion in damages), the loss of industry, the impact of a large influx of refugees (es3mates put this figure from between 500,000 to 850,000) and UN Economic sanc3ons from 1992 95 which caused a massive rise in infla3on. Furthermore, how are Serbs to iden3fy themselves now, with their historical past, dragged into the poli3cal speeches of the war, and therefore mired by Milošević s rhetoric? When a pride in being Serbian is so ocen seen as being na3onalist. And so we can see how Serb pride is interlaced with Serbia s feelings of shame.
This is a documentary of the state of Serbia as it is today, looking at just one road as a representa3on of the country. Ulica Maršala Tita, its name harking back to the Communist days of Marshal Tito, was the longest road in ex Yugoslavia, located in the Serbian region of Vojvodina, one of the richest and most fer3le areas of the country. The road originates just outside of Novi Sad, Serbia s second largest city and reaches almost to the Hungarian border. This is s3ll one the richest areas of the country but acer the war many of the industries, which, thrived here, have been lost. There is an obvious level of frustra3on felt by the people in Serbia and with that a percentage of people who s3ll believe Na3onalist Ideals are the way forward. Poli3cal slogans are sprayed on walls, moaos from different fac3ons, posters for poli3cal candidates age and become torn, adding to the plethora of symbols on walls and bus shelters. Industry in Serbia is struggling. Agriculture, on the whole is a coaage industry with most of the work being done by hand, people are unable to mechanise the processes due to the costs involved. Construc3on on malls and roads is either slow to develop or halted since funds are low. At every level there seem to be barriers to progress. (For an explana3on of all graffi3 seen in photos please refer to the footnotes at the end)
Graffi3 reads Serbia 1389 To the lec of the door, is a plaque and flowers commemora3ng a child that died in the factory acer it was closed down and became derelict. The inscrip3on reads; "At this place ended dreams, happiness, laughter youth was ex3nguished 27 June 2002 The graffi3 on the wall at the back, just seen, reads; Naš kraj, Naša pravila Our hood, Our rules
At the top lec are elec3on posters for Milu3n Mrkonjić a Serbian poli3cian. One of the founding members of the Socialist Party of Serbia with Milošević, he ran for President in 2008, finishing fourth. Currently he holds the posi3on of Minister for Infrastructure in the Serbian Government. Šešelj Srpski Junak Šešelj Serbian Hero Vojislav Šešelj is the founder and leader of the Serbian Radical Party. Currently on trial at the Hague for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. A law graduate and youngest PhD holder in ex Yugoslavia at only 25 years of age he has chosen to represent himself and does not intend to call any witnesses in his defence as he believes that the prosecu3on has not presented any real evidence against him. He s3ll has a large following in Serbia and on the 2nd December 2006, about 40,000 people marched in the Serbian capital in support of Šešelj during his 28 day hunger strike in The Hague acer the ICTY had denied him the right to choose his own defence counsel. In 2007 he led his party's list of contenders in the General Elec3on despite being in the Hague. His trial is suspended un3l further no3ce. Below in black is wriaen 12 Mart Ne Zaboravimo 12th of March Let s not forget This date refers to the the First Serbian Uprising, the first stage of the Serbian Revolu3on which lasted for nine years and approximately nine months (1804 1813), during which Serbia perceived itself as an independent state for the first 3me acer 400 years of OAoman and Austrian occupa3ons. The 12th of March was the date that the Sultan issued an order for all in Serbia to support the uprising. Later, acer the success of the first uprising and failed nego3a3ons with the Serb leaders, the Sultan organised a military campaign which in turn led to the Second Serbian Uprising.
Graffi3 reads as follows; 4 C`s (note this is the Cyrillic "C" therefore in La3n it is an "S") Samo sloga Srbina spasava Only Unity Saves the Serbs Serbia s moao and a popular slogan, displayed on the Serbian cross as well as in their coat of arms and therefore on the flag of the country. СПО SPO Srpski Pokret Obnove The Serbian Renewal Movement A Serbian Poli3cal party led by Vuk Drašković. The party ran in the first elec3ons acer the communist period and he is seen as reviving the Serbian three finger salute. The party finished second acer Milošević but kept up their protests of Milošević via mass demonstra3ons which ocen clashed with the Police and Military. He has ocen fostered na3onalist feelings, aaemp3ng to rehabilitate the Serbian Chetniks as well as the Monarchy. Šešelj Srpski Junak Šešelj Serbian Hero (see explana3on on previous photo)